Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-09-25
SHALL WOMAN HAVE SUFFRAGEp

Paper read at the convention of the
District w. G. T. u:
If there is any subject under discus.
sion in the political and social world
o than another it is: Shall woman
have suffragep Shall men permit wo-
men, who have served them 80 long in
silence and subsection, to come out
from their side, from whence they
were taken, throw off the veil and
walk with equal rights and privileges ?
Why she should ask him is a mystic
rious question. Human nature re-
ceives infinite qualification in ruling
owe something; therefore, man is not
satisfied with the dominion of the
world, but wishes to include woman,
too, along with the rest of his servants,
she being intended his partner in
the beginning by the Creator of all
things. 1t is true, but man need not
take the advantage of it, that sin sent
q blight over everything good and
right, but Christ came to Danish the
foe to freedom and lift up humanity.
Farther, you glance back in the be
nighted regions of ignorance and hea-
thendom, deeper woman suffers, denser
the veil, not worthy to be seen by the
lords of creation. 1t seems incredible,
but it is still true only to the extent
man is civilized and christianized, just
thus far is woman permitted to assert
her rights, walk, talk freely by her
husband s side, vote too, if she is so in.
clined.
Woman is Gods best and last crea-
ton. She was not made in mans i'm
age, but in Gods own likeness, not as
mans servant, but a helpmeet, equal
in brain-power, superior in morals, af-
fections and fidelity. She was taken
fIom his side, not to be crushed by the
arm above, but to be sheltered and
protected, not as IN inferior, but an
equal, not in a few things, but in all
things.
l am not quite sure but that it was
Adam who first ate the forbidden fruit
from all circumstance s and the living
evidences that sex bears day after day.
First, they are first to sin, and cling
longer and less willing to give it up,
than woman Secondly, we are told
in holy writ that it was Adam who
was called to give an account for his
disobedience. Surely, if Eve had been
the one, she would have been called
first, hut not 30. adam, where art
thou?" He wanted to excuse himself,
and having no n else, packed the
whole affair upon his wife. How
shameful! And she, poor thing, dare
not open her mouth, or ever expose
him, and to this day she con es across
the same experie nee, now and then.
He says, "This oma Thou gavest to
me did eat, and gavest me to eat" Did
mortal ever hear such q cowardly as
sertion? He ought to have taken it up,
on himself, whether he did it or not
that is the position of a gentleman.
And old satan sat concealed behind
the fig trees and Kissed him on. He
gets behind there sometimes yet.
Physically, she is said to be weak.
My observation is, there are more
scrubby, weak men than women The
world is full of strong, fine looking
women, brave and grand, towering in
tellects, capacitated for work, wherev-
er it be. Many men are dwarfed and
stunted from dissipation, and trying tc
carry all the business of the world,
and all the business of the women, up
on their own shoulders, thus shorten
ing their days, and making innumera'
BILE widows and old maids. 1t is in that
regard woman invaluable interest to
assist them. or course, God bless
them, there are sc many good hus
bands and brothers who honor theil
wives and daughters in the affairs Of
life that they give all women a peep Of
happiness which may dawn on all the
sisters in the neal future, and make
life M sweet song. And yet, sac
indeed, some of the brothers, and lot
of the dear sisters, say it is degrading
to go to the polls, the only way tt
bring peace and freedom to home ant
native land. What is the matter will
the pollsp The same men are there W,
associate with and meet every day. L
there Is bad behavior and rough Ian
guage, it is because woman's presenc
is wanting. What will the sisters d,
who want to go to the Atlanta Expo
sitiony Men will crowd the cars, crow
the city, crowd the buildings-they will
be everywhere. l believe some me-
are so selfish and tyrannical the.
would actually commit suicide if the
were assured woman's cause woul'
win, and the modest sisters woul
swoon at the thought of such a thing
l suppose they expect to look throug
their husbands eyes while they liv
and when they die look to them to an