The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-25
The New Suffrage Movement.

MISS ADELE NJ. ILLDE.
This circular has much Significance
because of the character of the ladies
whose names are appended to it. So far
as we know, none of them has taken part
in the women's rights agitation of the
last 40 years, and hitherto they have not
been among those who were active in
demanding the suffrage for women. The
radical women's rights agitators like
Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony have
not had them among their followers and
have not enlisted their sympathies.
They have represented feminine conserv-
atism or the prevailing feminine senti-
ment, and hence have kept aloof from
the little band of women who have
struggled for years and against so many
discouragements to arouse i'll their sis
tiers desire for political privileges
which would put them ON an equality
with men in the state.
1t Is true that Mrs. jacob, for in
stance, was one of the first American
women to enter the regular medical pro-
fession, and that she has won much dis
tinction in that field, but she has not
been publicly associated with the wom-
ems rights agitators who have been en-
gagged in ceaseless fight for those priv
ileges during the whole of her successful
professional career. She began by con-
tenting herself with resisting the preju-
dice, then almost universal, against
what was called the enlargement of
''women's sphere" which opened for
them other activities than those pursued
in the seclusion of the home or the
schoolhouse. At the time when she pre-
pared herself for the medical profession
it was brave step for her to take, but
since that day it has become a matter
of course for women to engage in any
honorable occupations for which they
can fit themselves.
With the sole exceptions of the en-
Payments that require rude masculine
strength and endurance, they are now
successfully pursuing every department
of business and professional industry in
numbers so great that their appearance
in competition with men no longer at
tracts attention. If woman has her liv-
ing to make or practical abilities which
she wishes to exercise, public opinion
finds no fault with her if she goes out
into the field of industry like a man. She
can do as she pleases about it, whether
the occupation be trade manufacture, Il
profession, the public service, the stage,
the platform or any other career for
whlca She L. competent, and she suffers
nothing in public or private estimation
IN c.4aclueHce. She rather gains III es-
teen because Of her self reliance and
export nice SHOWS that she loses nothing
Of tie feminine charm that is in her.
TINS great advantage was won by
women during period when the cause
OF WOmen's rights, as represented by the
mere agitatOrs for woman suffrage,
seemed to be going backward rather than
making progress Women We're strug-
Cling for social rather than political
rights, but now having conquered in the
first field this circular looks as if they
were beginning to have aspirations for
equal triumph in the other Having dem
men in private business, they are grow
ing confident of their ability to join with
them i'll the management of the affairs
Of the state They are not wildly agitat-
ing to accomplish their purpose by dint
of vociferation, but are calmly and
quietly organizing to influence the rea-
son and the justice of the coming consti-
tutional convention 1t is noticeable,
too, that the headquarters of the commit
tee of ladies who sent out the circular
we have quoted are at resort Of fashion
in the Fifth avenue and not in a place
with which radicalism or eccentricity is
associated. This indicates that the pres
ent movement expects to receive aid and
impulse from social forces which hith-
erto have turned with indifference OF re-
vulsion from efforts to obtain woman
suffrage. Therein consists its great sig
nificance.
Undoubtedly if this committee repre-
sents the sentiment of a great body of
the intelligent women Of the state its
petition to strike from the state constitu-
ton the word 'male" as qualification
for voters will not go UNDECIDED. When
ever women generally want the suffrage