The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-08-25

I \
pointed at the progress it has made n
several states and its incorporation in the
platform OFF political party which IL
destined in the near future to assume
the reins OF government. Indeed, 1t ia
difficult to understand how that party,
composed as it is Of the ablest, brainiest
and most patriotic men of the nation,
should commit such an error. Perhaps
| it was in order to enlist: ths.s sympathisa
Of woman and prompt her to exert her
influence with the sterner sex in behalf
Of the new party. II such is the case It
was sagscious though unique method
to adopt. s
It is source of qualification to know
that the greatest opposition which has
hitherto developed against the move
ment has come from women themselves.
This has been abundantly demonstrated
in the recent New York constitutional
convention, where the proposition was
defeated chiefly by the opposition Of
women: This is fact which must not
be lost sight off, for it will prove to be
the strongest Eoulvark against it's adop-
ton. , .s
It is urged by woman suffrage en-
thusiasts that it is necessary for woman
to have access to the ballot in order to
obtain her rights. How long will it take
woman to discover: that the church has
long ago given her' her rights? It is only
through this agency that she can hope
to have her rights: maintained and per-
petuated; for should this. great NORA
force be eliminated from society she
would again lapse into the condition in
which she was in pagan times.
Again, it is asserted that her partiei*
patton in political affairs would have q
tendency TO elevate the moral standard.
1t is erroneous to suppose that morality
can be inculcated in men Of the age
when they are eligible to vote; the time
to make men good and MORAL is when,
they are boys, aud the place to do it ia
in the home; and it,. is In the perform
ance of this most Important duty tha3.
woman discharges her highest and
noblest obligation to- the state, and If
she neglects this important function aai
her efforts at the polls would be futile.
But let us suppose the powess of KcT,
eminent to be in the, hands of women.
The enactment Of laws aaao involyes
their enforcement. Imagine wonaen
shouldering q mualset TO- enforce their.
own mandates when tbs presence at q
mouse in the room, wo,sld drive the most
of them into hystanics~ Tha entrance of,
women into politaos waaald be followed
by chaos, disorder and anarchy.
Women are devoidk at the essential
qualifications requisite for the intaaligent,
application of the ballot. They ara not
sound philosophical thinkers; in fact,
their attention is, never directed to, nan
WITH, the great questions they
would be callad upon to solve. Neither
are they logical. Women, as q, rnas,
want Their own way, and it ever We
should get 8 senate composed Of woaaen.
that august body would be- apt to lose
it's 'senatouial dignity" and decoruna.
There i.t anosher matter. which must
not be lest sight of in discussing this
question. It is the dissansion which.
might arise between husband and WIFE
where. each entertained different poll
ical views: and I think it will be con-
coded by the most rabid woman sufrag-
list that family brawls aud qparrels. are,
already too numerous
But why confer privilege on woman
which she could not enjoys Why i'm
pose burden which she, is unable to
bear? 1t is fact that during the time
of woman's life when she is most in.
telligent she is almost wholly incapaci-
tated from going to the polls and per-
forming the other duties incumbent on
q voter, unless, forsooth, she neglects
that other and moro important function
the care of the family; and if she hap
pens to be poor mans wife she is on
t,rely deprived of this privilege, and
herein lies the greatest danger to the in
terests of the workingman and the party
with which he is identified.
The use of the ballot involves grave
responsibility. Next to our duty to our
Creator that which we owe to our coun-
try is the most important. This duty
We perform when we record our vote at
the ballot box. But it is doubtful
whether we have performed in the past
or whether we are now performing this
duty properly for the common veal; in
fact popular government is on trial and
a few years hence will demonstrate
whether we are intelligent enough to en-
ioy this priceless boon. To add vast
army of incompetent and irresponsible
voters to the already large number
would be productive Of the direst con-
sequences. Woman is the divinely con-
stituted queen Of the home. 1t is here
she yields her influence for good or ill;
hove che ahonoa tha deatinias of the