The record-union., 1896-05-17
EQUAL, But NOT ALIKE.
4 GenderleSS Generation Of Persons in
PettiC0atS.
Calm and Forcible Statement in Re-
gard to the Coming Woman
Suffrage Campaign.
(From the Santa Cruz Surf.)

F'rom the Santa Cruz Surf)
The absorbing subject in Santa Cruz
for couple of days is to be the suffrage.
One Of the questions before the people
in this State to be answered in Novem-
Der is, Shall the suffrage be extended
to woman?
A convention is now in session in the
Methodist Church in this city, the pur-
pose of which is to say 1t Shall
In view of the tendency and gravity
of the matter it is time for those who
already have decided opinions on the
subject to express them, and each is in
duty bound to contribute to the formu-
lation of public sentiment to the extent
Of their ability and influence.
The Surf is opposed to the extension
Of the suffrage to women.
It's opposition is based ON two prime
reasons. First, we do not believe that
a majority, or in fact any considerable
number of women desire the suffrage.
Second, we deem it unwise for society
as now constituted for woman to exer-
else the suffrage.
We state our position frankly, and
hope not to be misunderstood
Our observations and all the 'infor-
nation we can obtain lead us to believe
that seven-eighths of the mothers,
wives and daughters Of California do
not desire the suffrage, and would re-
gard its imposition upon them with
dread, and in many instances with
alarm.
Most women believe that the burdens
borne by their sex are quite sufficient
without adding the responsibilities and
obligations that would inevitably at
tend the suffrage. If this is true, if
women as a class are not seeking the
suffrage, but rather to avoid it, then
that reason is all sufficient to govern
the action of any voter.
The progress of the campaign will de-
velop the state of sentiment among
women and determine whether we are
right in this assumption or not.
The second objection Of the Surf" is
based on social and not on civil grounds
1t is absurd to suppose that women as
voters would upset the Government
There are some evils that no doubt
| would be aggravated, and some abuses
| remedied, but there would not follow
ernment.
Women have reigned and ruled in
other lands and other times, and their
dominion has not been marked by ex-
| traordinary purity or achievement
Mankind, including gomankind, is not
made righteous sbw Hgal enactment, to
the degree that isF popularity supposed
| and legislation would be controlled by
precisely the same Influences that exist
to-day If the number of voters was
doubled. But socially there are grave
reasons why the suffrage should not be
imposed upon woman.
There is much said In the agitation
Of this subject about the equality OF
the sexes.
Most of this stuff is simply bosh. In
the lower forms Of Afe, there is little to
distinguish SEX but as the scale OF
creation arises, the sexes are differently
endowed by nature, and this variation
in the human being is increased and
enhanced by civilization and cultiva-
| ton. In the worm that crawls, there
are no privileges or burdens Of sex
Male and female must seek their own
sustenance unaided} and provide for
their own shelter.
But with the development of sex
characteristics there is constant de-
Walton in the duties devolving by ma
ture upon the sexes. The fatal blum
der in all this talk about sexual equal
| ity is that the terms equal and alike
are confused. Men and women are
equal but they are not alike, and the
destiny Of the race was not designed
| to be wrought out by women aping the
manners and usurping the duties OF
men.
The most alarming tendency Of the
times to-day is the invasion of women
into the masculine work Of the world
The boys Of the present generation
| as class have deteriorated to a de-
| plorable degree as compared with the
young men Of two generations ago. in
| chivalry, in spirit and in purpose.
| No man ever achieved anything
worth the while for the world to note
who was not inspired and impelled
| thereto by the love Of some woman, and
| any movement which tends to make
woman more assertive and less at
tractive is bad for society," and will be
unfortunate for the race.
Meanwhile, pending the vote on next
! November, we must give the agitation
OF the question respectful attention.
| There are some sincere women who
| believe that their sex would be bene
flted and politics purified by giving the
ballot to women They should ALWAYS
| command a courteous hearing There
are more women, however who are "on
the stump" actuated by a consuming
lust for notoriety, to whom a line in
print is more precious than a husbands
or lovers kiss, and for whom the ap-
piause of crowd is sweeter than the
prattle of children. From such, young
lady, withdraw thyself. Their example
| is more pernicious than that Of the har-
| lot.
| If the suffrage is to be extended let
it be to real women, and not to a gem
derless generation o. persons in petit
| coats.