The herald., 1896-07-12
Woman Suffrage

go words. written iegibly on one side OF
Woman Suffrage
If some of you in the course OF my
argument should be inclined to think
that any of my statements are extreme,
ly ridiculous and others not as iogicai
and forcible as might be expected, Deg
you to remember that this is really
difloult task to sensibly perform, ana
II you have ever attempted to demoie-
strate q self evident proposition this has
occurred to. you. To attempt to prove
that woman is q separate and distinct
being from man possesslns SSH sntit,sd ,ne sem "a
the same distinct and separate rights,
10 q similar proposition to proving the
axiom of geometry that the whole is
equal to all the parts.
To those who nave listeneo 10 the liS
spired words Of Miss Yates, who spoke
here q short time since, the strongest
argument may seem to present this
evening in favor OF woman's suffrage,
10 the apparent weakness and ineff-
cheney of what have to say, compared
/ to the rich and glowing sentences OF
this able woman.
Looking at them as whole, among the
influences for good in this country and
all others, what influence is there mt
to compare with that of mothers In
lifting up and ennobling her country's
J unless 1t Is the goodly influence of Chris
tianity, and In welding this influence
woman has more than done her snare.
What great men can you point me to
who have not had noble mothers? Few
II any, while on the other hand 1t Is a re-
markable fact that illustrious sons have
owed much more to their mothers than
to their fathers influence.
To what nation past or present can
you point with pride for its wonderful
achievements in the field Of arts, politics
or general progressiveness in which wO-
4 man did not play part; in which she
was not held in high esteem? If this be
So nay If 1t be true that her condition In
society, and the regard with which she
Is considered, Is the index to the advance
and civilization OF any nation--if 1t IS
| found that whenever nation Is highly
| civilized, its women are superior intel
lectual beings, then must we not of
necessity conclude that woman plays
some important part In producing this
effect? If 1t is true that she does, and
deem 1t indisputable, does 1t not stand
I to reason that with more power in her
hands to do good she could accomplish
much more? 1t naturally follows that
she could. With the power of the ballot
to redress evils and effect reforms, the
right to reward honesty, ability and vir-
tue. wherever 1t may spring forth in pub
lie life, and the utter impossibility of en-
tangling her in the corrupting methods
of the day, woman would have the power
to soon make even our present civiliza-
tion blush at its own crudity, barbarism
and ignorance. What with purifying
politics. perfecting our school systems,
I lifting her falling sisters. equalizing the
y marital rights, and out of sympathy and
more keen sense of Justice and right
rendering to the down trodden working
4 man his just dues, procuring his equal
protection before the eyes of the law
limits of their power for good are un
bounded.
But I am told that woman who has no
manual duties to perform, who comes
not into conflict with the rougher part
of life, possesses none of the require
ments of the voter. All, that will not do
\ today. for at the present time many
4 woman Is earning her honest living in
Il che same pursuits as men, and I am
ashamed to say. often outstripping him
in his own coveted field. What of these,
\ do they not deserve vote with other
bread-earners? Your argument does not
Z apply to them. But take the ajority of
u women, you say that because they are
attending to the duties of home, sewing
Z and cooking. sweeping and house-clean-
ing, or in some cases devoting their time
/ to luxury and ease, reading and fancy
work, or literary clubs and society, now
I therefore they are incapacitated from
{ casting the ballot. will not attempt
L to explain how any one or all of these fit
B her for the ballot. But do you mean to
q tell me that because man wields the
\ pick or shovel, or uses the saw or ham
u nler, or drives street car. or patrols the
\ street as guardian of the peace, or
drives a wagon. or plows field. he is
fthereby better able to vote intelligently
4 than a woman who has her time more at
her disposal-has opportunity to famil-
N liarize herself with the questions of the
y state and time to discuss them? Do
a you mean that following any Of these
y occupations or others that might be men,
toned fits aman better for deciding nice
n questions of finance or tariff than leisure
h for Intelligent conversation, reading
III and reflection on these subjects?
Given the right to vote, woman would
mot betray the trust. She Is too proud
to be ignorant, too curious and inquisi-
Ative to be uninformed, too vain and
Hproud of display to be silent She would
lsoon be posted and I do not think even
1the enemies of this movement would
doubt her ability to convey her ideas to
others, when once informed. This would
ldirectly and very considerably effect
1.-THE dissemination of knowledge.
Women make an intelligent plea for
their rights. We men in answer to their
demands Of what is theirs by every sense
of justice. answer them by few flimsi-
cal and ridiculous sentiments. ''It is not
her sphere" I'VE don't want to impose
tdIly iuOTe UuTue0S upon the QellCate
creatures" "She doesn't want the
right" "She couldn't go to the polls"
In the first place we should have ex-
tended them this right long ago. why
SHOULD they have to ask for what is
rightly theirs? In the second place, I
lconsider it a piece of CALLING imperti-
lnence for us to ask them why they wish
the right. But to have to ask-to beg
sfor their own rights-for they cannot
flight for them as we have fought against
FEnglish kings for centuries-and then
Y for them to be refused is exceedingly
Bhumiliating and unjust. 1t seems to me
kthe strongest example that could be
8given of the mighty taking advantage
\ of the weak Suppose we had answered
H the slave In the same tone when he
begged to be delivered of his shackles.
MSuppose we had said to him. some of
Myour brethren plefer serfdom and slav-
Very to freedom and liberty, therefor you
Unjust remain in bondage That would
have constituted no reason for our in
NJ difference in the matter; it would have
Vbeen nothing more than sickly senti-
nment falling far short of a slender ex-
II cuse.
n Was there general vote taken among
y the slaves to see whether or not they
wished freedom before they were eman-
hlcipated? Are convicts of the peniten-
Iltiary asked If they desire freedom at the
Il