The record-union., 1896-05-15
THE WOMAN AND THE CANARY.

The Ell Dorado Republican" replies
to the proposition of the Record
Union" that the grant of the privilege
of the ballot to womap will not inure to
her happiness, nor conserve the best in
terests of the home. 1t declares that it
is not the business of anyone to pre-
scribe methods of happiness for others
but that we should leave every human
being free to seek happiness in his or
her own way. It attempts a parable to
illustrate it's position and the method
adopted suggests that the "Republi-
cam employed a prejudiced woman to
originate and fashion it. It runs in this
wise, abridged somewhat:
The women keep canary birds in
cages and, like the Record Union"
they devote a great deal of solcitous at
tention to the welfare of their pets, no
doubt cheating themselves into the be-
lief that canary birds were adapted by
nature for an existence of that kind in
spite of the fact that the birds always
try to get out.
When the women try to get out of
their cages the Record Union" pats
them on the head in a fatherly manner
and says, II really must shut the door,
for the outside world is not good for
YOU You are happier where you are
because L say so.'' Well, the cats may
catch some of the birds if they get out,
and the political trickster may catch a
few of the women, but human happiness
consists very largely in doing what we
want to do, and in not being compelled
to do something to which we object.
Who has any right to say that either
birds or women ought to be happy in a
cage if they want to get out? And, es-
pecially, who has any right to shut the
door ON them in the name of benevo-
lence?
And the answer is "men." For the
Almighty commissioned them to be the
fighter for and protector of women, by
frame, by brain, by characteristics by
freedom from limitations, just as
woman was commissioned for those
tenderer, who shall say they are not
higher, offices, which give to her the
embodiment Of human life and its devel-
opment till in the full fruition Of time
1T Is new creation in the image of God
duty and accomplish its purpose in the
economy of human existence.
But, happily for the position of the
Record Union" the woman and the
canary are not parallels The former
is neither Gagged nor enslaved. She has
every attribute of freedom in fullness at
this day. She is exalted above men.
Every guard and shield that masculine
wit and chivalry can evolve is provided
for the protection of her freedom. There
Is no deprivation because she is not
called to political duty. It is an exemp-
ton, for which she should be devoutly
thankful.
Moreover, she has not expressed her.
self as desirous OF entering the political
field.
We challenge the women of the con-
crosses, the Shaws and Anthonys and
all the leaders and followers who con-
gregate and shout and weep over the
"enslavement of women''-we challenge
their claims as representatives; we
deny that they have been commissioned
py Tie women SduIOTf1ld 10 SpGak
for them. They are missionaries with
out commission, and advocates with
out warrant to appear at the bar of
public opinion. They insult the intel
ligence and good sense of the women of
California when they speak of them as
canaries in cages or slaves in shackles,
or as being outside the domain Of free
will
We do not say to women, You are
happier where you are because we say
so." We do say to her, Observe for
yourself that you are safer, better and
happier without the imposition of those
duties which are inseparable from the
privilege which it is proposed shall be
thrust upon you, and which you have
not sought"
Let not the advocates Of woman suf-
frage misrepresent its opponents. They
are opposed neither because they are