The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11
THE VOTING MOTHER.
Published by Request Of the America
Woman Suffrage Association,

Published by Request Of the American
Woman Suffrage Association.
The right of suffrage for women has
been claimed with unanswerable argu-
ments, and Is being slowly granted. The
benefit of woman suffrage to the COM
munity has been enlarged upon these
many years, and 1t Is in many respects
unquestionable. The right OF the mother
to vote for the protection Of her child Is
also point storngly made, and one diff
Guilty to combat, but that the woman her.
self and especially the mother will be the
most benefited, is not often claimed. 1t
Is, however, one of the strongest grounds
that can be taken.
Government by universal suffrage Is
most valuable, not for the preeminent ex-
cellence of Its official forms, but because
u makes better men. The governed man,
less valuable as a citizen than ne who
forms his mind and uses 1t In the free
atmosphere of fully representative gov
ernment. Suffrage as social function Is
educational and elevating to those who
exercise it, A non-voting class, living
with voting class. Is at perpetual dis
advantage; and, where half the communi-
ty vote and the other half do not, the
vastness OF their numbers In no way alters
their relation. which Is that of governor
and governed. A class which is governed
has not the same knowledge of. interest
in or sense OF responsibility to the coun-
try they live In, or the wise and just ad-
ministration of its affairs; 1t is politically
inferior. not only in the expression of
Judgment and will, but in the possession of
Judgment and will which comes only by
such freedom OF expression. When this
voteless. governed, and, therefore. politi-
cally inferior class. are persons of such
immense racial Importance as the mothers
OF the community, 1t becomes q serious
matter.
j
So long as the inferiority of the nom
voting class can be confined to a certain
proportion of the community, and per
haps exploited by the voting portion to
some common service, II Is not so hope
lessly bad; but, when the inferiority of
the non-voting class is transmitted by
steadily supplied by association in tho
daily living of all the inhabitants, it
means a great racial drawback. The
growth OF true democracy with all that
1t means In mental and moral power and
clarity, Is incessantly thwarted by the
political condition of our mothers. They
do not live in a democracy at ALL but
in despotism. We do not live in our
government, but under archaic forms long
since passed away from the mans world.
Our sons. our voting citizens, are all
born of and reared by non-voting citizens
who cannot possibly be capable of trans
mitting the enlightened ideas. the breadth
or vision, the power of calm Judging,
cial function in q free government. The
government by women in the family itself
is too often but a despotism, mild. af-
fectionate. full of privilege and mater
nalism." but not free and not just.
Thus we have a constant succession of
young citizens growing up to assume the
duties of representative government, en-
tering upon the large social responsible
ity where the good of the whole and the
vi Oh nf nah al H..
mind: yet each with his own mind in
herited from a million subject mothers,
trained carefully by the loving dominance
of her who rules all the more despotcally
in the little world of home because she
has no range In the larger one. and full
to the brim Of the inordinate pressure of
close personal interest. Thus II is that
our politics lack SO much Of the large
craftsmanship which can legislate with
far-seeing wisdom for all men and all time
and remains so largely a grab-6ag where
each man tries continually to turn things
his way that he may better provide for
his own local. personal and family inter-
est.
When all our women vote that will mean
that all our mothers will he full practis-
| Ing citizens. When they have practise
citizenship while. they will earn to +
| evils. and not hope to do them up like
weeks wash. They will he more ,patiant
with the mighty criminals of our time
who are often as helpless a product of cir
Gums tances as any panper. and will not
| imagine that such crimnals ls ran ho spanked
and forgiven like the baby. They will
learn to understand social life and its
| processes as they do not now: also to un-
| derstand men and their processes and be
| more Intelligent friends with them: also
to understand home life in relation to the
worlds life-and that means much When
| We have voting mothers. we shall have
| wiser sons. better government and hap
| pier homes.
| Charlotte Perkins Sfeison