The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-05
WOMAN AND MAN.

II appears 10 US that the women suffrag-
ists have rather the better OF the argument
tina, has been procipitated by the man
sufiraris.s liz our neig boring State,
Massachusetts,.
II we were to Judge OF the merits OF
tbs debate up to the present point we
should be disposed to give our decision
in favor OF the women.
The question at issue is embodied in
the following act OF the Massachusetts,
Legislature passed last June:
"section /. All persons qualified to vote
for school committee shall. at the next
State election, have an opportunity to ex-
press their opinion by voting yes or no
in answer TO the following question:: Is
it expedient that municipal suffrage be
granted to women?
"sectIon 2. Equal opportunity shall be
| given to men and women 20 register prior
| to SAID election -
This act was an especially big thing for
| the women sufragists TO secure in that it
permits call persons qualif ed to vote for
school committee" to express their opin-
ions on the question OF universal suffrage
in municipal elections, and women are
already qualified to vote for school COM
mittees and are thus eligible to vote on
the broader proposition.
The result of this condition is that the
anti-woman suffragists have been stirred
to unwonted activity since the votes OF
men alone are no longer to be depended
upoiSto maintain their cause. The first
note of alarm at the "danger" came from
a rapidly thrown together organization
that called itself the "Man-S ffrsge As
sociation," that issued pronunciamento o
protesting against enlarged woman suff-
rage and calling upon the men and
women alike OF Massachusetts, to vote
"No" on the proposition. The arguments
set forth were not particularly new or
effective, but signed to the document was
an imposing list Of distinguished names
on the publication OF which as opponents
of woman suffrage the man suffragists
evidently most depended for securing
weight to their protest. OBS
These gentlemen, or at least the leaders
Of them, are men OF wealth and social
position. But -. the woman suffragis
after demolishing their demurrer, which
is not difficult task, smartly take up the
matter OF the distinction OF the names to
| point out that such distinction should
not, OF itself, carry the weight that the
imposing list assumes to have. There is
President ELIOT Of, Harvard, for in
| stance. He signed . remonstrance against
equal rights some years ago and II there
is one thing now firmly planted as one Of
the principles OF Americanism it is that
OF equal rights. Aud others Of the name.
arc those OF men whose opinions are
worth more on questions OF stocks ana
bonds than Of political ref4m or human
rights
Our esteemed contemporary, The wo-
mans Journal, recalls that, during the
long career Of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS in
the House of Representatives az the cham
pion Of the sboiition OF slavery, she
found the chief part OF the gentlemen OF
Boston and its vicinity, the leading law
yers, the rich merchants, the successful
manufacturers, not only opposed to him,
but entertaining toward him sentiments
OF personal dislike and even vindictive-
ness.
"The conservative, nsciencsless respect.
ability OF wealth was, as is usually the
case with it in the annals OF the Anglo
Saxon race, quite In the wrong and pre-