The record-union., 1896-07-05
A home WOMAN.
Her Reasons for Opposing Woman
Suffrage.
Woman's Encroachment on Mans
Domain Disturbing Ele-
ment in Society.


widely discussed, by the protagonists in
the movement, on the platform, in the
pulpit and the columns of our great
daily journals, for many months. The
three political parties which stand for
ideas have recognized in it real, live
issue of the campaign, and such treat
ment by them is well, because 1t is in
accord with the American spirit, which
recognizes that no question is settled by
by evasion or equivocation. Possibly
the average male citizen, taking note OF
the activity of the few, has come to
the conclusion that the many want the
responsibility of the ballot, and have
decided to say Yes to amendment H.
Such conclusion on his part would be
premature. He should remember that
all this stir comes from a modicum OF
the ladies of California, and that the
thousands of mothers in the homes, who
are not accustomed to appearing before
the public, and who possess some edu-
cational training. some prophetic in
sight and some ability to express dis
approval, have rarely been heard from
Therefore, according to all sincerity and
lurity of motive to the pro-suffrage
women, take great pleasure in inform
ing the voting citizens that / represent
a much larger constituency than does
Miss Anthony.
My first reason for rejecting the bal
lot, in the name Of the home women OF
California, is that the vast majority OF
them Notwithstanding the agitation of
the question in this country since lS4S,
actually shrink from it. Not wanting
it. it would not be just to give it to
them; consequently there is NO injustice
in Withholding it from them. The COM
paratively few women may not, in JUS
tice, demand it for the already bur-
dened many, and the manhood of Cali
fornia has no right to increase expendi-
lures, complicate election matters and
impose burdens upon the vast majority
to please the small minority.
The argument that because ignorant
foreigners, who can neither read nor
write, have the privilege of voting, and
therefore intelligent and educated
American women should, is, to my
mind, very unsound. 1t simply means
that, because we have made the grave
mistake alluded to, We may therefore
take another step of great doubt The
family is the unit, and it is fifty repre-
sented by the husband. Double repre-
sentation of this kind is superf1uous and
therefore unnecessary. Were we ma
ton of single people, of both sexes, with
diverse interests and aims, then equal
suffrage would be necessary and to
withhold 1t from women would be
great wrong. Such condition as that
mentioned would be abnormal. and any
increase of single men and women is a
result of unjust and unnatural states OF
society and an approach to the anon
alous condition of nation of single
males and females If we. as nation,
are tending that way, as seems to be
the case. judging by the increasing
rumber of independent women, we
should legislate to discourage the in
crease, rather than to aid it by the
legislation proposed. Legislation tend
ing to encourage marriage is in accord
with the laws of nature, and Black
stone tells us that mo human laws are
of any validity if contrary to the laws
of nature
Ny reading of history and general
literature does not convince me that
woman has emerged, by evolutionary
process, from a condition of slavery
and is just now gaining her rights,
me that we have had subsection of
women side by side with subsection of
men in every age and cline. Neither
are the subjects of coeducation and of
enlarged opportunities for women new
and fresh and sparkling. In the RE
public of Plato" written about 2,4OO
years ago, these ideas are advocated
with much profundity.
There is a psychological factor to
be taken into consideration by the citi-
zen who would do his duty by woman
in November. Here is quotation from
a noted authoress which expresses
much truth: Women, however well
read in history, never Senerallze in pol
| itics; never argue on any broad or
general principle; never reason, from
consideration of past events, their
causes and consequences. But they are
always political through their affec-
| tions, their prejudices, their personal
| liasons, their hopes, their fears. Hence
| it is that we make such blind partisans,
such violent party women and such
wretched politicians" That, certainly,
| is an astute statement of the mental
operation of women as a class. 1t does
| US no injustice to say that we are in
| fiuenced from the emotional side OF
our natures. 1t simply brings into
| strong contrast the mental makeup of
men and women, and emphasizes the
| fact that each has a place in the econ
omy of nature that the other may not
occupy The much-talked-of right"
is mere chimera. Granting the cleo
| tive franchise to women at present is
granting special privileges-an act at
variance with the spirit and genius of
our Republic.
| Secondly, home women all believe
that they are represented in govern
ment in the truest and best sense of the
word. Home is a veritable monarchy
| of power, and woman may not justly
abdicate her throne, as the new rela-
| tion and it's duties would compel her, in
| a large measure, to do. There she may.
| like Harriet Beecher Stowe send forth
waves of power and influence. The work
of the voter who merely places the bal
lot in the box pales into insignificance
beside that of the creator of public
opinion. And yet intelligent women are
asking for the husks when they may be
growers of the fruit.
| Thirdly, we object to the extension of
suffrage privileges, because given the
ballot woman will be, in a greater de-
gree than ever, a disturber of time-hon-
ored relations in the business world.
This will be brought about, not through
any particular power in the ballot, but
by an exaggerated idea of the opportu-
mites for women in the business world
resulting from the adoption of the new
notions regarding her destiny.
| A recent census bulletin of the United
States shows that As per cent Of all