The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-18
TILE MOMAN ON DECK.

Auc EnBllSn NhNhi Doafu nave JuSt put
Lady SPENCER to the test OF "A rigid ex-
animation, which she has passed with
honors, receiving license certifying the
admiralty's entire satisfaction of her
ability TO fill the rank of captain. II is
understood that Lady SPENCER took this
step simply to enable her to act as captain
of her own yacht, where, like many an
other women, she desires to be on deck
and vested with authority.
There is every indication that this
deck-treading ability is likely to increase
marvelously in the next half century.
And long before then these little yachting
trips that now satisfy the ambition Of
many will have been set aside as fit only
for child's play. Woman is going to tread
the quarterback OF the ship of state-or
fail, for the first time since she over-per-
suaded ADAM to eat apples, in having her
own way.
Those women OF New York State whose
desires do not end ballotward have taken
alarm at the political privileges likely TO
be granted them together with their more
progressive sisters, and have organized to
prevent the responsibilities OF citizenship
from being thrust upon them. And they
are wise in realizing that, unless they
make some such organized protest, they
will find themselves voters whether or
no. And this In the State where, within
the memory of many still living, EMMA
WILLARD introduced the higher educa-
tion OF woman by founding Troy Semin-
ary; and was told for her pains that she
would be "sending the cows to school
next"-while the Empire State folded its
arms and refused to give dollar toward
her enterprise
In Massachusetts, it is war to the knife
between the women and the General
Court. The Legislature thinks it would
be pretty attention to allow the wo-
men, as well as the male voters,
to come to the polls next November and
cast their ballots for or against their
right to municipal suffrage. Now, none
of the legislative members opposed to
equal suffrage had word to say against
this way OF settling the question; in fact,
several OF them earnestly supported it.
So some Of the women are very naturally
suspicious OF this alarming willingness
on the part of the lords and Lawmakers
of creation.
There is much difference OF opinion
even among the leaders. Miss ALICE STONE
to improve every legal opportunity offered
them for casting a ballot in favor of
their cause. Mrs. LIvERMoRE, on the
O. her hand, thinks this scheme Of the
November elections exactly like the action
of the mean man who bids his dog
"speakn for the piece of meat held up,
while all the time there is no intention of
letting the dog have the morsel, anyway.
The Massachusetts, Woman Suffrage
Association comes out strongly with
set of resolutions scourging the Legisla-
ture and its "sham referendum"
These are bat few Of the evidences on
the part of the women that they mean to
win.
Mrs. HENRoTrN, the president of the
Federation OF Womer's Clubs, said I'm
recent speech that the club work was
changing and that each year it took on
"more and more OF the civic form" And
it is the case that many even of the
smaller clubs that began with the read
ing OF English literature enlivened by
"musical numbers on the program, are
now vesting their efforts in the study of
civil government and political economy.
These clubs and their name is legion
are the training schools where by and by
there will be an exodus of well-informed,
well-equipped women who shall demand
for themselves redress for their long
imposed "taxation without represen-
tation."