New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-20
THE DFFE1T or UOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Tho advocates OF woman suffrage nave peeh
defeated in the Constitutional Convention ny
n INA iority so large AS apparently To cAci"dr III
possibility of rcopening the case. Inc! Pr'o'
ably were never so sangline of success as lroh'
their unguarlcd predictions some OF thcm ap
p.orcd to he In point Of fact there never was
any substantial reason 10 believe that they wouh
win and their disposition 10 find encourage
ment in the size Of the minority Is credtaple
both 70 their sagacity and 10 their temper
Throuchou, the long campaign which they Dc
c,n last winter. or rather which they resumed
in nrosnoct of a hearing before body when
b,d nower 10 act they have been listened 10
No, only with courtesy but with respect for the
ororcv Intelligence and skill which they have
dovo,od 10 the cause The sincerity OF their
convictions was undsputed. and the ardor win
uh;cb thev proclaimed them finally aroused
their oppononts. and especially their sisters. 10
q scarcely less vigorous and, from the nature
If the case. still more impressive demonstration
Of interest in the question which the CohVeh'o"
was about TO settle for another term OF years
Then was seen the singular spectacle OF women
emerging into public view FOR the purpose OF
protesting against the bcstowal OF pon''ca'
oouolltv upon them. thus consentlng TO pup
Lefty for the lime Doing ildl INV. h't"'
permanently obscure.
That this unexpected and aggressive deleh'e
was dramatic IS undeniablc. and II doubtless
produced considerable effect upon inc Puo''c
mind Whether or not II governed man! 'o'H
in thc Convention We have no means OF Know
Ing with certainty. but II Is reasonable 10 sup
pose that thc majority against the propoS'"on
was larger than Il would have been II so man!
thousand women had not taken means 80 uii-
usual 10 prove that they did not want the IRAN
chisc At least. the advocates OF popular Test
hv ballot might otherwise have D"'n more
numerous In this instance. as heretofore me
logical weakness Of the argument FOR III" GIT
Of a new privilege 10 women has been 'hht II
did not carry So much as suggestion OF Will
ingncss on their part TO surrender any "f me
creor privileges which they now enjoy by law
and custom. Inasmuch rs they must inevitapy
be relieved from the necessity OF r'h'or'hs
many important services TO society. an'' iur'
thcrmorc So long as their claim Ia sp"clhl con
siJcration as regards property and maintenance
is allowed their title 10 political equality l. ho'
likely to be- proved. Nor is there So much f"r'"
rs thc promoters Of the movement seem :" MINK
in the contention that women need the ballot
in order 10 procure other concessions ny lh''HS
Of H. for they hav" already obtained ny me
votes Of men numerous advantages when are
far more likely 10 be- multiplied hereafter than
withdrawn.
The practical question. therefore. has been ana
will continue 10 be- In every similar controversy
whether or not The welfare Of soricly would u"
rro,notcd by woman suffrage. With all IN" ~
spcct 10 those who are perhaps NOR" hrlnly con
WINGED than ever that men are selfish animals
we feel bound 10 assert our belief that me ma
iorltv ~ the delegates 70 The 'onsiituii"hni
Convention have been rs solictous ns III" minor
ity 10 decide this question unsclh'hly. Ih"ir
action has been inspired by The highest mo'iv"s
and So far rs sentiment has influenced their
Judgment II has been sentiment 81 reverence
for The sex In whose supposed honor ana IN
forcst the appeal which they have refused was
made