Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-05-08
CORRESPONDENCE
ScmphrOnicuS Does Not Favor
Woman Suffrage.--Not by
Kcltt Full.

Woman Suffrage.--Not bya
Acltt Full.
EDITOR ADVERTISER / believe
all thinking men agree that tn"
question of woman's suffrage is
one of the coming issues. 1t has
not only been agitated in the
northwest, the political ho!-hed
of the Union, but is even attracting
attention and gaining advocates
in South Carolina. "Thc Woman $
Equal Rights" party represented
by Mrs. Ne1eett is stronger III this
State than one would imagin",
having ali official organ in the Al
l.eville Medium, and gaining over
such scholars and orators as Col.
Ellison Keitt, the noted political
crank. Even the Greenvilie Ncws
hopes that Mrs. Ncbeett's move
ment will heal the cancer which
has been grawing the v!tals of our
State I'll these years. Others think
that by allowing the women to
vote, we can Obtain! q white ma
ioritv. Some strong-minded wo-
men "prate" about inherent
right" slavery III free land"
Goods latest and best creation, "
etc. Col. Keitt in a howery etfu-
sion some weeks ago, lamented
tue fact that blushing maidenhood
and charming wldowhood should
be powerless to secure redress of
grievance at the ballot box. |
purpose to set up objections to
several positions taken by this
learned doctrinaire, but do not
wish by so doing to draw down on
my luckless pate the relentless
fury of some new-Aedged Jean
Dare.
The gallant Col. says that ,he
presence of the ladies would pu-
rify our much-to-be-deplored elec-
ton methods. The foul-mouthed
lout with his clubs, knives, and
pistols, says he, would disappear.
He seems to think that her very
presence would make these brutes
recoil with shame. That they
(women) being less corrupt than
men, would be more likely to cast
an unbiased ballot.
Now has a woman an inherent
right to vote? The responsibility
attached to voting seems to be en-
tirely overlooked by garrulous
fanatics on the subject of wo-
mans suffrage. Voting for GER
tain law, carries with it the duty
of defending that law on the bat
tie field, if necessary. Yet if wo-
nell were to vote and carry & cer-
tain measure, their actual civil
duty would end there. With a
man it would be different. If the
law or legislative enactment
caused disturbance and war, the
men could be forced to answer for
this law on the field of strife,
while the women would be under
no such responsibility. Would that
be fair? Some may say man
ought to submit to this inequality
through gallantry TO the fair sex.
But this is mere evasion of the
question. Our government gives
equal privileges to all. This is a
peculiar genius of our government
equal privilege, equal response
biIity, equal burden to all voters.
Would a woman's presence pu-
rify the election machinery. |
don't see how it could. 1t might
restrain stray oath now and
then, but the swearing and drink
ing is not so very prevalent at the
polls as in days Of yore. Most men
frown down this sort of thing.
Left to themselves, men in the
process of time will make such
conduct cease TO be reproach to
our country and people. But even
granting that men were mere
brutes around the polls, would the
presence of women retard them in
their vicious course? Nay, verify,
how often at public gatherings
have we seen the sense of modesty
of our fair women insulted by
hoodlums and black-guards who
seek such occasions 10 display
their low breeding? Not even the
influence Of woman can touch m"n
without shame.
Giving women the right of tram
chise would be drawing them
away from their rightful sphere.
Col. Keitt even with all h S flowers
of rhetoric culled from every field
of literature, cannot set aside cold
facts. Mix the pure and the i'm
pure and the result will be impure.
Once put aside the charm thai
chivalry has thrown around the