The San Francisco call., 1896-08-03
"WoMEN DO NOT WANT TO VOTE


.WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO VOTE ."
1t is often said that the majority of women
do not want to vote, but who can say or know
the number who 90 want to vote? Tens OF
thousands have openly expressed their wish in
the affirma tive; still more thousands acknowl-
edge that they believe the demand to be just,
and that they cherish in secret a desire to have
a voice in the election OF officials to govern
them, but fear to come out openly because
some male relative upon whom they are de-
pendent is s.bitterly' opposed-this male rela-
tive being often very decent sort of man.
1t may be said that these women ought to be
braver. Are they, however, less lacking in the
courage of their convictions than men who
acknowledge their belief in woman suffrage,
but fear to let it be known on account OF sup
posed jury to business or political interests?
1t requires unusual moral courage, as well as
disinterestedness in woman, to express
opinions favorable to woman's enfranch1se-
ment, until at least there is a fair prospect OF
obtaining it. The comfort of her individual
life and her social consideration usually de-
pend upon the goodwill of those who hold the
undue power. Women will never express
general desire for suffrage until the men OF
their little worlds have ceased to ridicule ana
despise them for it. Senator ii. w. Blair OF
New Hampshire expresses himself very fully
on this point:
There are many reasons. why some women
declare themselves opposed to the extension
of suffrage to their sex. Some well-1eo ana
pampered, without serious experiences In lie,
are incapable of comprehendlng the SUBJECT at
all. Vast numbers, who secretly and earnestly
desire 1t, from the long habit OF deterence 10
the wishes of the other sex, upon whom they
are so entirely dependent while dlstrancnlseo'
and knowing tae hostility of their "protec-
tors to the agitation of the subject conceal
their real sentiments and the "lord' OF the
family referring this question to his wife, who
has heard him sneer worse than Sneer at
suffrgists for half lifetime, ought not TO ex-
pect an answer which she knows viii SUBJECT
her to his censur and rid1cule or even his un-
expressed disapprobation.
George William Curtis, the editor for so
many years of the "Easy Chair" in Harper's
Monthly, touched upon the same point in his
genial, witty way in one OF the last issues be-
fore his death. He gives q supposititious con-
versation between an elderly wit and comely
young woman in a crowded omnibus, the wit
having asked his son, sitting in his lap, why
he did not get up and give the lady his seat.
If the comely maid had suddenly and
sweetly asked the elderly wit whether he was
true American, and believed that taxation
and representation should go together, he
would have promptly replied, ayes MA am"
But if she had then whipped out her logical
rapier and thrust at him the question, "Are
you, then, in favor OF giving me voter" his
cleverness and his courtesy would have
blended in his reply, Madam, when women
demand it they will have it," 1t is the uni
versal reply of the ingenious patriot, who is
aware that the argument is against him, but
who is still unconvinced.
Mr.. Curtis then makes the comely maid bring
forward in rapid succession the queries: HAS
1T been the general custom of Legislatures to
wait until everybody interested in reform
asked for it before granting it?" "Whether
Imprisonment for debt was abolished because
poor debtors as a body requested it. or because
it was deemed best in the general interest that
it should be abolished"; "Whether hanging
for stealing leg of mutton was renouneed be.
cause the hapless thieves demanded it, or be- |
cause Romilly showed that humanity and the |
welfare of society and OF respect for law re- |
quired it"; 'Whether the slave trade was |
stopped and the West Indian slaves emanci- |
pated by England because the slaves petit
toned, or because Parliament thought such
reforms desirable for the interests of Eng
land"
But, even if large number of women do not
desire any change IN the constitution, that |
would be very bad reason for Withholding |
the elective franchise from those who desire |
1t. Senator Blair says;
If the right (of suffrage) exist at all it is an
individual right, and not one which belongs to |
class or 10 the sex as such. Yet men tell US |
that they will vote the suffrage to women |
whenever The majority of women desire it |
Are, then, our rights the property of the ma |
jority OF the disfranchised class to which we |
may chance to belong? What would be said II |
it were seriously proposed to recall the suffrage
from all colored or from all white men because |
a majority of either class should decline or for |
any cause fail 10 note? know that it is said |
that the suffrage is privilege to be extended |
by those who have it to those who have it not. |
But the matter OF right, OF moral right, to the |
franchise does not depend upon the indiffer- |
ence of those who possess 1t or of those who do |
not possess it to the desire of those women |
who wish to enjoy their right, and to discharge !
their duty. If one or many choose not to |
claim their right, it is no argument for depriv-
ing me of mine or one woman OF hers.
From all points of view. the argument that |
women do not want to vote proves to be no ar |
gained they can exercise it or not as they |
power on their part. 1t is not proposed to
'force suffrage" upon any one, but only to
give every qualified woman the option or not
as she plesses, just as qualified man has the
option. And which is the more creditable to
who say, "Let each woman do as she chooses"
do as we choose?
1t seems fitting to close with another quota
ton from the EASY Chair:
"The tabled stream that sank from sight and
emerged far away still flowing, is an image of
the course of all progress. The argument which
establishes the reason ana the benefit of reform
does not, therefore, at once establish it, still
less complete it. There are obstructions, de.
lays disappearance; but still the stream
flows, seen or unseen, still it swells and reap
pearing far from where it vanished, moves
brimming to the sea-" ELIZABETH SARGENT.