The herald., 1895-03-13
SECRETARY CARLISLE SCORED


BY WOMAN
To the Editor of The Herald:
In your issue of the 10th was report
of an interview with John g. Carlisle, on
woman suffrage. In referring TO it
neighbor said he thought it ought to be
answered. While it does not seem that
anything in it can have any effect in de-
laying woman's Acknowledgement, it may
be we'll to notice such of his assertions as
are deserving of comment.
Mr.. Carlisle said that when women
want the ballot they will get it," Very
| good; though the fact that they VIII get
it is too apparent to need the confirma-
ton of John c. Carlisle. And Mr.. Car
isles reproof of the interviewer for using
the word allow in reference to women
voting, led to the hope that the gentle
man had some respect for womanhood.
Continued reading, however, was dlsap..
pointing; it is only for the rights 81 9!
that he has any consideration. will not
say respect, for we do not require those
we respect to "begn for what is their due.
While the gentleman does not approve
! of women voting, he thinks that III the
wives, daughters neices, ETC.. OF eacn
aw-maker should come to him and assail
him with hugs, pettings. kissing and ten
der purrings, and beg for the ballot they
would get It. For when he would open
his mouth to protest and find 1T covered
with soft white hand what could be
done?"
Is not that beautiful manner fol-. an
American statesman to answer so serious
u question as one involving the import
ant right of suffrage? But every man to
| his tastes. This is only another illustra-
| ton of his want of regard for justice as
manifested in his financial policy. Pos
| sibly there are men among legislators VINO
| are incapable of being influenced by rea-
Of in tica and ONLY
| be won in that way. But the women who
| are asking for the ballot are not those
| who are willing to obtain that, or the
granting of any wish in such manner,
even by their husbands and uncles, to
say nothing of the 'etc. w They, prefer
of their friends and legislators. Nor is it
| just to believe that any considerable
| number of Congressman would allow
| themselves to be corrupted in any such
indecorus manner. Mr.. Carlisle is! doubt
less speaking only for himself.
| Again, "if she is widow and lays a
claim before the court it is nearly always
granted her-not on grounds OF justice.
but by right of her SEX. And pray
what are the rights of her sex? Is it the
right of her sex to violate law with I'M
punty? And suppose the party against
whom she brought suit were also
widow. what then?
And again. ''if she commits crime
she is not often punished, unless it be
| for the most heinous and atrocious
offenses; and if she be pretty. even then
the jury can't see any guilt in her case.
0, Mr.. Carlisle! what slur on your fei-
low mani What farce does this repre-
sent courts and juries to be. l appeal to
the Judges of Los Angeles to say If this
be so. If it is true that men are in
| 6uenced when deciding cases OF 'heinous
and atrocious offenses" more by, pretty
faces than by law and evidence, then in
deed is it of the utmost Importance that
women should be voters and serve on
iuries, in order that society may be pro-
| tected fromsvlolent men as from vicious
| men. -,
How proud men should feel of their
logically minded, marvelously profound
statesman. Surely this interview should
be copied into the foreign journals that
thew may be led to appreciate the unusual
wisdom OF our lawmakers. But really
one is forced to the conclusion that the
| secretary was not fairly reported or that
he was simply perpetrating joke, or that
he is wanting in appreciation OF common
proprieties and fitness OF things. Let us
hope it is the former.
This question of the right of half ma
ion to representation is too serious sub
iect to be lightly treated or put down by
rudeness. Could it have been settled by
Unfair means it would have been settled
long since for there have, since the frs
woman suffrage convention was called
been men who have endeavored to Kill
it bv ridicule and false representation
But no Just cause can be put down by
such means as calling names, crying 'olt
maids, /" and such other disrespectful de
scriptions as INDUCED in by the coarse
minded men of the past and Secretar,
Carlisle of the present.
Many years ago when women first en-
tered colleges those students and profes
sors who feared competition Of women en-
deavored to drive them out, by making /
yery, and unnecessarily, unpleasant TO
them by coarseness and vulgarity; just a
it seems from reports some of the men OIL
the Colorado Legislature are doing now
with the hope doubtless OF shaming on
the mother element But although
/ made the lives of women students yer
, unpleasant, almost uncomfortable, it d.
not prevent women becoming physicians
People had the sense to sec that there wa
no more improperly in studying til
t nature and cure of disease with me
than in being treated by them when O
o beds of sickness. And the friends
woman's acknowledgements may rest a
e sured that the intelligent readers of tt
a Los Angeles Herald are not going to
preiudiced against cause or the ,wome
! who advocate it, by such silly jokes
4 these of Mr.. Carlisle We need not fe
them. since we have justice and the teac
= ings of the constitution of our country {
S our side. Notwithstanding all the a
a verse and unjust criticism that has bee
. employed, the woman suffrage sentime
has been increasing, slowly, perhar
but surely, until now it has more frien
i than any political party in existence.
a NJ. V. l..