Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-06
Written for the Register.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Elizabeth Bufum Chace i.

In the month of March, in the year
1875, when John Adams, of revolution
airy fame, was in Philadelphia abosnd-
ing the Continental Congress which is
sued the Declaration of independence,
his wife, Abigail Smith Adams, wrote 10
him as follows: Il long 10 hear that
you have declared an independently;
and, by The way, in the new code OF laws
il will be necessary for you 10 make,
des.na you to remember the ladies and
b. more generous and favorable 10 them
Than your ancestors. Do not put such
unlimited power in the hands OF hus-
bEnds. Ii particular care and attention
are not paid 10 the ladies, we are deter
mined to foment rebellion, and will
not hold ourselves bound 10 obey any
laws in which we have no voice and rep
resentatiOn." This letter, which en-
braced th- whole doctrine OF the equal
tty and enfranchisement Cf women, was
written enc hundred and twenty years
ago. The most ardent woman suffra-
igist says nothing stronger or more de-
cisive to-day. Abigail Adams was not
alon= in her determination; Cor she says
eve ans determined" Tne air was full
Of the revolutionary and re1ormatory
spiri,. The women heard Their nus
bands and their brothers declare the doc
tr.ne of self-governmenL They heaId
them say Governments derive thelr
Just powers from tbs consent Of the gov
erneH." Taxation without representa-
zion is tyranny All persons are Dom
free and equal" A few OF those nople
women like Abigail Adams and Mercy
Otis Warren were sensible enough 10
see that these principles applied to wo-
men as well as to men; that women were
as much interested in establishing
soOd government as men were. we
Shall never know how they urged ana
ried to persuade the weaker women
the remonsrants of those days-of the
importance of building their new nation
on q foundation OF justice and righteous
ness. But we can imagine how the talk
of their afternoon teas was OF liberty and
equality for women. John Adams re-
ply TO his wife's letter is not to be FOUND
in history; but perhaps he advised ner
to be conten, in her proper sphere.
Perhaps he told her that, II she per
sis,ed IN her demand, it would upset tne
whole plan of establishing a republic.
Rut if She would wait, when the victory
was wen. and the government esjaD-
Eshed. they might take the women IN.
At anv rate. she waited, and did not
.foment a rebellion" and women have
waited ever s.nce, with marvellous pa
tisnce.
But all through the years there have
been whisperings Of dissatisfaction, with
The dependent. inferior. almost helpless
condition of women. which mas now ana
then broken out with something like a
threat TO "fomant a REBELLION But al
Vows the strongest charaterisis OF wo-
man her love of husband and children,
her fondness for peace and quiet. her
s=nsz of duty to family and home have
held her back from any open demonstra-
ZION Of rebellion against established Gus
toms. Trained in the belief thai IL Is
The dutv Of women to obey, to submit
70 authority. to have no opinions OF their
own mr. if they have any. never to eX-
nress them in public Il has taken years
og conflict 10 induce any considerable
norton of the women Of this land 10
listen 10 the voices of conscience and or
reason. which teach that true welfare
NJ mankind demands that women shall
he n,aced on an equality with man, in
all the DEPARTMENTS of life; and that
so only. can she best fulfill the duties
of the wife. the mother the home-ihah-
or. the friend and the citizen.