The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-19
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Correspondent Who Thinks 1t
Should BE Abandoned.

A Correspondent Who Thinks 1t
| Should BE Abandoned.
To the Editor:
l cannot rid myself of the impression
| that grand mistake was made by our
party championng woman suffrage. l do
| know where it worked mischief, where
many more votes would have been cast
| but for this The opposition to this inno-
| walton may rest nothing but prejudice;
| but what can you do? Is there anything
| stronger, harder to remove than preju-
dice? To a biased mind every attempt to
| drive him hence only fastens him the more
| tenaciously to his preconceived ideas.
| Either of the old parties is afraid to touch
| this question and why should our party
! pick up and advocate what the others have
| time and again repudated? Even if it
can be shown that it is right to the read
| ing, philosophical portion of the people.
| there is controlling class of voters in
| this country today who will not vote with
| a party that advocates it; and as our
party must depend upon the average or
| common people for it's recruits, why should
| we persist in forcing upon them what is
| SO obnoxious as to drive them hence? 1t
| is possible that some time in the future
| this measure may become so popular that
a party may adopt it and succeed, but
other and weighties measures and reforms
are demanding recognition, reforms that
are absolutely necessary if our republic is
to survive; and these can be achieved with
out woman suffrage. So the friends of re-
form and good government cannot wait
for what is making such snail like head
way Now Mr.. Editor l have no hest
fancy in saying that it is nearer success
this moment than it will ever be again
I fin in no ho1iQ hot
cal intelligence of the American people
will place it's seal of condemnation upon
a measure that can in no sense achieve
reforms that cannot just as we'll be gained
without such aid. 1t is alleged by the
advocates of this measure that woman's
presence in politics is needed to purify
politics. This might appear plausible per
maps, II 1T can be shown that woman as
sex is superior morally to man. Will
any philosophical mind take this position?
Then, if no better morally, what has so
ciety gained by the experiment? | am
willing to admit that they are equal and
this is the extent of my concessions But
look but for moment at the depth of
fraud and degradat ton to which the aver
age voter has descended, even the Repub-
I lican party, to carry the last election and
tell me, my friend of law order and good
society, would you wish to have our wives
sisters and mothers subjected to the same
cruel and demoralizing conditions and
in pursuit of success have you the least
assurance that they would scruple to use
the same tactics to win? This admitted
and what have you gained? Nothing but
a humiliating failure. Do you believe wo-
men would enact more beneficient laws
than men? Do you think woman would
legislate for woman better than man does?
Has your experience through life led you
to the conclusion that woman loves wo-
man better than man does, and therefore
she would exemplify this superior love by
enacting more salutary laws? Honor
bright now, would the average woman en-
act better laws for your wife than you
would do? 1 trust the coming meeting
of Peoples party leaders at st. Louis will
well consider this matter. 1 want to see
the platform eliminated of every dead
weight, every ism that tends to anchor it's
progress. ! am aware that every change
or modification will be target for our
INSCRIPTIONS enemy to shoot at, but a par
ty of reform must adopt improvements
whenever suggested, and keep struggling
and improving, not simply on the score of
policy, but because it is right. If the Peo-
pies party is not soon successful God help
this country. Shylock has won victory
which in magnitude has never been equaled
by any party in this nation, and it fills
the mind of lovers of the right and good