The morning call., 1894-05-23
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST SUI
FRA0E.

We have received a circular from the
anti woman suffragists-whO are ladies'
setting forth reasons why in the opinion
OF the signers the suffrage should not be
granted to women. TIE circular states
that women have no grievances which can
not be redressed through existing agencies
that the possession of the suffrage would
not tend to enhance either the interests OF
woman or of society, but that on the con-
trary it would tend to degrade her by i'm
posing a privilege which she could not
exercise without confessing her inability
to perform the corresponding duties which
adhere to the responsibility of civil gov
eminent.
This last is the most substantial argu-
ment that has been adduced against female
suffrage. Women cannot be soldiers or
policemen they are out of place as law
yers or judges; therefore they ought not
to be voters. Plausible as the argument
seems, it is a fallacy, as a moments re-
Election will show. a large proportion of
men are unfit to be soldiers or policemen
or lawyers, yet n one thinks Of chaIleng-
ing their right to vote on that account.
Men who are deaf, or blind. or lame, or
afflicted with chronic infrmities are unfit
for military service or for service as police
men. yet they enjoy the full nights of
citizens.
The circular makes the point that all
controversies resolve themselves at last
into an appeal to the strongest. and that
women could not make such an appeal.
That proposition merely applies to societies
in a natural state. In civilized societies
the jus fortioris is no longer in force. In
our time public opinion and the dictates of
conscience are mere powerful than physi-
cal force. Nations are more frequently
restrained by the impolicy of injustice and
by fears of the ultimate danger Of pursu-
ing a selfish course than by the dread of
defeat in battle. II it were not so weak
nations would hold their existence at the
mercy of strong nations, and powers like
Germany and Russia and China, which
CAP put millions of men into the field,
would dominate the world.
That the circular emanates from pro-
lessor of obsolete theories may be inferred
from the following paragraphs:
s. 1t is assumed that the possession of the
ri ght Of suffrage would be an eleVating and re-
fnng Influence for women. Has it been so
with men? Certainly at no period of the his
tory of the country have there been so many
complaints as to the indifference of the edu.
Gated classes and Of the venality Of ignorant
citizens as at this time. Judging by the effect,
therefore, of universal suffrage upon man, and
considering the more emotional nature of
woman, it is q fair inference that the confer
ring OF the suffrage upon them would be de-.
grading rather than an eleVatlng ana refining
influence.
a reas0ner who argues that men have
deteriorated under universal suffrage does
not really deserve to be considered seri-
Ously. Such person should be invited to
compare the measure of intelligence pos
sessed by the masses of the American peo-
pie with that of the rural laborers OF the
last generation in Great Britain and to get
his information from truthful sources. He
might then be trusted to answer himself
The true doctrine in the subject is that
the heavier the responsibilities which are
laid upon an individual the larger his ca
pacity becomes to fulfill them. We cannot
form an opinion as TO women's fitness to
deal with political questions until we have
made it an object for them to become
acquainted with them.
Opponents of female suffrage should at
least make an effort TO show the mlschiefs
it would entail. Assertions that 1t would
"unsex men and women by destroying the
sanctity and privacy Of the family circle
and home life" are mere propositions.
which rest neither on fact nor reasoning.
AS reasonably might it be said-as it used
to be said-tbat the study of history and
science by girls would unfit them for mat
rim0ny. If there is any danger lurking in
the admission of women to the suffrage
let it be shown. But to influence the drift
of public opinion it must be a real danger
which can be described in words that can
be understood. 1t must not be vague plat
itudes about the home circle and the ss-
cred duty of maternity. All that part of
the business has been duly considered,
and honorable women. who would rather
be dead than fail in their duty to their
homes and their families. are quite content
TO take the risk Of becoming citizens as
we'll as wives and mothers.