The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-23

Takes Issue WI n Or. hoDlnson.
Editor of THE T IBUNE:
DEAR SIR:-In the sermon which the
Rev. G. L. Ro binson preached on Sunday
evening last, on woman suffrage, he views
the question as men in all past ages have
done, viz; from the conditions which man
himself has made. Did the same circum-
stances surround all women us environ
the favored few who make up the large
portion of the reverend gentleman's con-
gregation, there might be 20 reason why
the subject should be considered in any
other light.
But do men always, even In the house.
hold, do the digging and the delving? Are
women given only that work for which
they are best fitted ? In the household
economy OF the laboring or 10 wer class es
are women always given the lighter aad
easier tasks And pray who instituted
the division Of labor which has been the
rule through the past ages Has not man
always taken unto himself that portion Of
work which he chose and which pleased
him and left to woman whatever he
might not care to be troubled WITH Has
this distrib ution OF labor always been tie
same in all countries ? To-day in some
parts of Germany and South Africa you
may see the woman harnessed to the plow
AlOun bluC Ol Tue uOTs6 VI OA, bpCb uldu
there consider her the weaker vessel,
''the delicate, exquisite vase which may be
ruined by careless or rough handling ~
Woman has managed the home and
reared the children, BECAUSE she could do
that best, but does it follow that she
would perform these womanly duties less
faithfully had she q voice in the making Of
the conditions of government IN
der which she and her chill.
dren must Live? Would she not rather
feel more pride and pleasure in the per-
formanee OF those homely duties, knowing
that she had it in her power to aid in
making all the conditions outside Of that
home such rs would insure Its safety and
protection ? Would not her responsibilities
really be lessened. One-half the energy
expended in striving to overcome the eX-
ecrable conditions under which imam
made laws" have placed her would enable
her to cast a ballot at every election. read
all the debates in both houses OF congress-,
find out all about the Wilso IN bill, the in
come Tax and the Samoa and Hawaiian
situation, and still have plenty of
time left to do fancy work and gossip with
her neighbors, SO that she may be in no
danger Of unsexing herself or losing her
"sweet womanliness."
In the states where women have had
the franchise for years, have women in
any class of society become less womauly,
have not homes been as well cared for anu
children as carefully reared as before
And do not good" men in these states
hold the humblest and poorest woman in
Just as true reverence? We point the
reverend gentleman to the history of Wy.
oming aud North Dakota for an answer.
But then all men are not good men aud
just because of this comes in the real no.
cessify for woman suffrage. Woman
needs protection much more than adora'
ton.
If the ballot in the hands Of q man is 9
protection to bin against evil men and
unjust laws, would it not effect a like
purpose for tins woman had she the right
to its use? Will the sons of sucn mothers
as may be able to teach their children il
regard to the political, us well as the 80
cial problems Of the day, be worse citizens
because they have received their political
training at the hands Of q pure, trut
woman : Should not such training be In
finitely preferred to that which Is giver
by designing d~emagogue' md politicians
What does Mrs. Humphrey Ward meal
when she says: 1--WE are convinced tina
the pursuit Of q mere outward equality
with men is not only vain but democrat
izingY' By outward equality" does sh,
mean the DOMINIC of male attire, tn,
smoking of cigars, or the hundred and Oh,
manly lUibles which males ure won't t.
indulge in? If this is what she mean
then we quite agree that 1T is not onlN
vain but demornlizing," and that i
would lead to u total misconception o
woman's true dignity and special mission.
If she means that the power 10 cast he
vote into the ballot box would 80 unse,
her as to leave her no longer the form an,
likeness OF d woman, we take as much ex
ceptions to her statement as the reverent
gentleman would probably do TO her the
ology. MRS. A. +. YosT.