The record-union., 1896-05-06
OPPOSED TO THE WOMAN SUF-
FRAGE MOVEMENT.

lot, since it is the natural right of every
human being to have that which by
honorable ambition and clear capacity
he or she may aim to secure, and be-
Heves he or she can wisely possess and
use But the demand Of certain Of the
women of this day for the privilege Of
entry into the field of politics as voting
factors is not a question to be debated
upon the basis Of abstract natural
right.
We concede to woman the same alb
stract right that is exercised by man.
She is his social equal, and every right
that is essential to her pursuit Of hap
piness she should enjoy. But she should
not be projected into the political activ-
titles of government, because it is mex
pedient, since it will not contribute to
her we'll being, but will divert ner from
those high and important functions in
which she is the superior of man, and
for which by nature she is especially
commissioned.
To place the ballot in the hands of the
women of the country would not be for
her good, and on that ground, for one,
the Record Union has opposed the
movement and will decline TO support
the agitation in favor of the adoption
of the eleventh amendment. It is not
because we are in anything whatever
opposed to the sex which their sisters,
mothers and wives honor and embel-
lish, but because of jealous regard for
the sex and those functions imposed
upon it by nature that men holding
with us oppose the new movement.
1t is because of our regard for woman
and her happiness, and for her sanctity,
SO to speak, that the Record Union"
has for years battled against the sui
cidal drift of woman into business, and
that ''unsexing," to use a common
term, which her contact with the busi-
ness world inevitably produces and to-
wards which there is such an unhappy
tendency. For the same reasons we
oppose her introduction into political
fields.
We shall expect to be misinterpreted,
to have our motives impugned and our
assertions denied relative r. the posi-
ton the Record Union" takes in this
matter, for it is ever the fate of those
who resist the importunate and hysteri-
ca; demand of class of misguided
''reformers'' to be misunderstood by
that class, and to be misrepresented by
some of it's champions. The Record
Union does not charge that the women
suffragists will Intentionally and will
fully do these things. By no means,
but the very logic of the arguments
they employ and the very nature Of
their sex impels them to such course
unconsciously. They can no more
avoid it than they can resist the natural
impulse to breathe.
This very fact, to our mind, Is a Co
gent reason why it is unwise 70 invest
them with the ballot. Because they are
wisely created emotional beings; be-
cause they are wisely created with less
of the judicial capacity than man that
they may be the better human beings
in the sphere of action for which ma
ture has intended them; because any
interruption of the natural course that
directs them in that sphere tends TO
their discomfort and degeneracy. and
similarly to the injury Of men Of whom
they are the mothers, are reasons
among others why the "Record-Union"
opposes the investure of women With
another duty, in addition to the many
they now have to perform, and which
cannot be even undertaken by men
without reversal of the natural order.
For, if under her natural right the
limitations be removed that keep her
frcm the polls, the privilege granted
will carry with 1t the imposition Of
duty, neglect Of which will result in in
jury to the political state. To merely
confer the privilege and not insist up
on the exercise of the duty with which
1t is interviewer, would be to make a
mockery of suffrage and farce Of
elective activity.
Moreover, it is inexpedient and un-
wise because the best of the sex do not
ask for, expect, or desire the imposition
of the new burden and duty. In say
ing this we distinctly disclaim any re-
Election whatever upon the integrity, the
virtue, the social character or the intel
ligence and sincerity Of those who are
battling for woman suffrage with a
persistency, courage and vigor that
command admiration. But we do mean
to say that what these woman suffrage
agitators esteem the best of their sex is
not level with the conception which we
in common with those who entertain
similar views and in common with the
vast majority of men, have Of the higher
qualities of womanhood. We do not
however, propose at this time to much
debate that branch of the question, but
state our position concerning 1T that
there may be no misunderstanding
about it. Our respected female friends
of the woman suffrage movement will
therefore understand that while we con-
cede them sincerity and honesty we do
not consider them of the best of their
sex In the essentials that in our opin-
ion crown the noblest womanhood.
It Is urged that because a class does
not as such demand a right to which it
is entitled, is not a sound reason for re-
fusing the grant, since a class deprived
of a privilege is not always the best
judge of it's own interests. But If this
is conceded for arguments sake, and