New-York tribune., 1894-04-20
DEBATE ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE
THE REV. DR. HUNTINGTON THINKS
MEN SHOULD DO ALL THE VOTING.
MRS. EDWARD cURTIs-MRs. CHARLES
nI.N-IcL r..S l. u NL,sT PLEA

A. RUNKLE's EARNEST PLEA
meeting 70 discuss the question OF woman sur
frage was held at the home of Mrs. Edward Curtis
No. q Washington Place, yesterday evening. IL was
under the auspices OF volunteer committee OF
prominent women, OF which Mrs. Henry NJ Sanders
wife OF the Rev DR.. Sanders OF No. iS Flfth-aVe-.
is chairman. There were about one hundred ana
twenty-five representative women in the spacious
parlOrs and hallway, and the liveliest interest was
manifested throughout the proceedings Mrs curtis
presided. and in calling the meeting to order briefy
stated is object. The opening address was an elo-
quent argument In favor OF woman suffrage by
young society woman whose modesty LED her 10
withhold her name from publication.
The Rev DR. William r. Huntington. rector OF
Grace Protestant Episcopal Church Broadway. near
Tenth-st.. then took the floor against woman SUI
frage In opening his address he said that. stand
ing there in a room the walls OF which hung a
large and handsome portrait OF George william
Curtis. and in his old home. II almost seemed sac
regous for to speak against q principle
which he had e,oquenty and beautifully up
held. but the speaker believed that were Mr..
Curtis present his liberal and tolerant spirit
would lead him to say that all men must be
allowed to speak what they believed to be the
truth Dr. Huntington then said In substance
that he opposed TO the extension OF parliament
a-y suffrage to woman because he thought II
would have a demoraizing tendency. Its advocacy
led to rsconception Of womans true dignity and
special mission. Woman suffrage would tend to create
personal struggles and rivalry among women FOR po-
litlcal preferment and to stir up strife in families
He quoted opposed TO woman suffrage Horace
Bushnell Francis Parker and Mrs Humphry Ward,
whom he characterized as one or the so ae. o moy s
pjcion OF being under ecclesiastical contro.
CONSERVATIVES becoming RADICALS
Mrs Charles A. Runke replied to DR.. Hunting
tons argument point by point saying at the out
set that she had come prepared TO make an eIo-
quent" speech, but would put it aside in order TO
confute his allegations which she Denied line
upon line" She declared that had Bushnell lived
to-day he would undoubtedly have changed his
views and took strong ground against any and all
objections made 70 the higher education OF women.
Dean Swift and Charles Lamb had argued tnat
authorship by woman was ffSra & pu. d auv not Of
the brightest and ablest authors were women. Women
tive OF generation became the radlcal OF tnc
succeeding one and would so coniinue m oiIr tn "a
equality OF should be universally recognized
Miss Adele NJ. Field made one OF her striking
speeches in favor Of extending the ballot 10 women
She said that there were about @CU more ha.Ve- a
born women than nativeborn men IN thls Statee'
and that If women should be given the sn, Ign o u6
frage which clearly belonged 10 thenl' theI. "J .Hu
be at least 10000 more natve-born women tnan
& b meR Women wond be sure to vote the
right way on all moral questions IN of
Miss Field dwelt fOrcibly upon the sigllncarlce QI
the motto Of the French Republic-lAoerty' Equal
ity and Fraternity"
LESSONS FROM PER1CLEs's TINE.
The Rev Dr. Huntington said he thought that
fraternity" should precede liberty anu equa'-
ity" He referred to the condition Of women IN the
time OF Pericles when certain Of them were hlgh'y
educated and yet immortality existed among them'
in spite OF their high Intellectual culture $780,,
Mrs Runke replied that the immorallty reierrel
IN existed only because the women had no voice IN
The tribunal OF public affairs. She again denied
that the extension OF suffrage 10 women Wou.d tend
10 stir up strife in families. There were many
homes ,o-iay she said. in which there existed dif-
ferences Of religious political and social opinions;
and vet they homes OF love. harmony ana
happiness and lr-efutably proved that dnerences
OF opinion among individual members OF families
did not necessarily. by any means cause family
dlssenslon. ~, -.
Or Huntington said there was. undoubtedly great
danger that the extension Of suffrage 10 women
would not only lead 10 unseemy strife among them
FOR public office but that 1t would also tend TO
lessen the number OF marriages which would be
very undesirable result
Mrs Runkle replied that the natural vanity OF
woman would lead her to decline any office for
which she unfit. but that II she had the gifts
that would enable her f any specified office and
she wanted that office no power on earth cou.d
hold her back.
An address also made agains; woman suffrage
by Mr. Cross. and several In favor or 1t ny other
speakers. II,
The New-York City Woman Suffrage League Will
hold a meeting the home OF Mrs. Snaw. No lVo
West Eghty-second-st.. tomorrow evening, 70 dis
cuss the question Of striking from the Constitution
the word male" Addresses will be made by Mrs.
Blake, Mrs. Eliza Archer Conner and others.