The Irish standard., 1894-11-24
N--P0LITlCS
Ward McAllister, of New York's
"4OO," Takes Hand in the
Question Now Slightly
THE PUBLIC MIND,

The Reformation Of Politics the
Last Thing in the World
Women Should Attempt.
The discussion Of the question whether
women shall participate in political af-
fairs with men is now matter agitating
the public mind, says Ward McAllister,
of New York. The formation of league
of ladies of high character and position
for the purpose of assisting in reforming
alleged corruption in our city affairs has
brought this matter up for consideration.
The argument in favor of this movement
apparently appeals to many women. 1t
has evidently been inspired to some ex-
tent by the clergy, who imagine that the
refining influence of woman will have a
beneficial influence on our political af-
fairs.
This Utopian view, if it could be car
ried out, would certainly mark an era in
our civilization. If their political pri-
maries could be conducted like Sunday
school class and their elections carried
on like an afternoon tea party no doubt
she introduction into politics of the fe-
male element would be great boon.
Unfortunately, how ever, all this is not
practical. Nature has endowed woman
with certain characteristics. From the
beginning Of the world to the present
time woman's place has been the attend
ing to household affairs and rearing Chi
dren. duties sufficient to engross all her
time, If properly attended to, with the
further social work which their respect
i've conditions call for. There are many
women of middle age almost as strong
mentally as mon, capable of excellent
literary work, with great executive pow
or, possessed of strong moral courage,
and in some cases in this respect eupe-
rior to men, but these are the excep,
tions.
Politics is, however, universal IN its
scope, and if the franchise is given to one
woman it must be given to them all, and
we take it for granted that if women
have to enter the political arena, it is on
an equality with men. The influence OF
women in politics has unfortunately been
in most cases baneful. It began with
Mother Eve, who caused Adams fall,
and Helen, through whom Troy was lost;
Cleopatra, whose evil genius ensnared
the conqueror of the world; Lucretia
Borgia, a monster Of crime; the cruel
Catherine de Med1ci, who caused the
massacre of st. Bartholomew; Bloody
Mary of England, whose history we are
ali familiar with; Madame de M Malntenon,
through whose influence the Edlct of
Nantes was revoked; Catherine of Rus
sia, the most dissolute of sovereigns, and
countless others. It seems that when
ever woman goes out of her sphere to
meddle with political matters we always
have the same story of weakness and
wickedness.
Nothing in this world equals pure,
unsullied, right-minded, lovely woman,
Tor she approaches the angelic aud d.
vine, but, on the other hand, when
woman starts out to reform the world
she tramples on all her fine womanly at
tributes in aspiring to initiate man.
While the true woman Is the highest
type of humanity, the degraded woman
is the lowest, lower even than the most
degraded man. Certainly in women,
whenever she is given power. far exceeds
that of man. Recall the times of the.
Reign of Terror, when men and women
were first placed on an equality in the
sight of the law. In the days of the
Citizen and Oitizeness the ferocity and
cruelty of the women were similar to
that of wild beast, and they gloated in
the blood that flowed from the victims
of the guillotine. While it is true that
this frighttul history has not repeated
itself in Wyoming and Dakota when the
franchise was given to women, yet female
suffrage has SO completely failed there
that the women themselves prayed for
its repeal.
Women as reformers must needs look
into mems characters to prepare their
political states. In doing this the pure
woman is completely lost, for she has got
to buffet the world as men do. Women
are to be judged by different standard
from men. Notwithstanding the fact
that many women Of the present day
proclaim that the same code Of morals
should apply to both sexes. we know this
idea is absurd, for women's position in
the world 40 mothers must be without
the slightest suspicion to1establish the
legitimacy of the next generation.
a = paat days women who went out, ,of