New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-21
FEMININE ELEMENT IN THE STATE

FEMININE ELEMENT IN lf1r$ oiHAA~'
WOMEN DO NOT SEEK TO BE LIKE MEN. BUT 10
GIVE THEIR COUNTRY THEIR AID
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: listened with great interest yesterday 10 tho
Rev DR. Parkhursts sermon TO women, ana hearuy
agree to the principles he laid down. AL the same
time I noticed with surprise that he evidenty
did not recognize that those very principles lie At
the foundation OF the present movement Tor woman
suffrage II is precisely because they perceive ''
womanly qualities pcrvade every fibre OF a womans
being; that her heart and mind have a dis'hc.
value different from and complimentary 10 tna' VI
man. and that these qualities find no adequate rep
resen,ation In the State that earnest women are
everywhere awakening to their duty In this matter
We no longer think right to listen to the Impulse
that bids us pass by this question because - nv
an agreeable one TO handle, because advocating :.
will subject us 10 criticism IN some qudi'e'' %
women who seek to be like men. 1t is because "s
are not Ike them and do not wish TO be thd' We
think we should have an opportunity 10 iinp
upon the State through our votes. those QUANTITIES
pecullar TO half the human famiy-and this NOT io'
ourselves for we are fortunate and happy and' IN
dividually have little to gain, but because we ~
our country and see her need OF what We can ee
Could every woman make an ideal marIiass. ar ~
which the qualities OF her heart and nlhd ,,rct
recognized by her husband as possessing 10 i've
,alue Of their own were he always whllns 70 SO
To- the expression OF these qualities due weisn, a.n
modify his own opinions the ,beIy husbands' But
ID
his il not the case: such marriages are the e.
canton and not the rule II is the motneriless u
our nature that longs to make right ana Pu,e own
dt,on. for the children OF the stare; our . oT
children N they have not already VIII IheftSD,1
I'm a few wears have passed peyond our caiv u,a
tho activities and responsibilities OF mature ,r:
ts The experience and knowledge or human hasu.e
,ye acouire in the years devoted TO rearing the"
NJ no value TO our country? 49,, 100, o,ar,
,rhe rsnIv NAV be made that all these soo puss
,ias can ind adequate expression through o. h.
channeIs But this Is not so: Inc quesuons ." -
cnntr1nt our advancing civilization can meyer H
sott,ed privately by any small body OF PeVPls' ~
se EEetidn We must meet them and STAND or Iam
az, me decisions we make. The ballot IS the Tny
~ Ia, which in country governed ny puipnS
onnlon individual citizens can make ther op'
felt. IA. ,,ho-a,. IN the heart Of
,'nn,r Ia a mower so great that. once Appeared 70
W. g. surelv viii be by leaders OF her sex, IL Is "a
nabe of imparting strong and pure Impulse ~ s
pUnc,Gs ~ the Nation II women are entranchisseu
tbe hsst OF their sex will not be slow IN utnzlns ~,
awer in behalf of all that is noblest IN NatiOnsi nie
md nolIcv The same unselfsh purpose Wnlcn has o.
iiracteI The complicated charitable enterprises vi
tbe mast ffty wears will spend Itself without reseSse
I'm leading the mass OF less enlightened "oine" W
,,sa their political power for noble ends . 49,.
/ Non vvh6 love their country cannot aHoru 10 smut
ont tho mighty influence which i firmly DeieVe. en-
Troncbised woman Is destined TO exert Tor tne hs,,
et interests OF the Nation. Some VIII say tnat evai
NAV come with the good. But what OF tnis: uoou
is stranger than evil. I.iberate the gooI even ~
wi,h n the evil also must be set free. Inc eye VI
faith sees clearly on which side lies the vict2ry
! New-York May IL, 1894 NJ W. W