The herald., 1896-09-13

tnere may be some delay in the publication
quested to cultivate brevity as far as is
CONSISTENT with the proper expression OF
their viewS.)
Reply to Mr.. Kinney
Editor Herald: The subject of woman
suffrage as treated by Abbot Kinney in
an article that appeared in the Sunday
Los Angeles Herald of August 80, will
bear reviewing from an inverse stand
point Beginning with the statement
that women have now entered the whole
industrial and professional field, politics
and the army and navy still excepted,
and that it is agreed by advocates Of
woman suffrage that women are still to
be excluded from equality in the army
and navy. although they have made
good fighters, citing Joan Of Arc-and
he might have added few who did
service during our civil war and other
instances-let us inquire why not the
use of the ballot for women without ac-
tive service in the army and navy as
well as for men who are physically dis
qualified. In recruiting men for mill
tary service during war. all voters are
subject to a careful examination by
physician, to determine their fitness or
unfitness for the hardships and expos
ures of a soldiers life. If the result
prove them unfit they are simply dis
qualified, but not disfranchised. If the
law finds women physically unequal to
the requirements of soldiers or q
mariners life. why may they not be ex-
cused from such service by applying the
same law of exemption that is applied
to men for the same reason, and yet ac-
cord them the ballot, because, as with
men, physical infirmity or defect does
not necessarily mentally incapacitate
them? Or, it might be argued for those
filling standard of physical require
ments. that should regiment of women
choose to distinguish themselves by taxi
ing up arms in common cause with men
they should do so, when no objection
but that of sex could be raised. If the
law accept or reject men for military
service, it can also regulate the matter
of discriminating between women; but
there is no apprehension that a very
large percentage OF women Will aspire
to- those duties. We know that when
woman has Voluntarily assumed mill
tary service, she has been actuated by
some good purpose or devotion. The
highest, strongest wOmanly qualities of
her nature have dominated, and that
differentiation of SEX for which so much
is claimed, has been more strongly ac-
centuated in this new departure, than
ever found occasion for expression In
| the everyday routine Of her prescribed
| womanS life.
! Whoever has read the life Of Joan Of
| Arc knows how thoroughly her sex was
respected by her followers, also that the
| position she filled was manifestly the
| inspired work of O woman, in no way
characterized by the male elements of
intelligence. The high spirituality Of
! her womanly nature was demonstrated
| in her beautiful resignation in her mar
! tyrdom at the stake. The unparalleled
hardships in the devotional life of Flor
ence Nightingale is ever an example,
l.
| ties of what is termed the weaker sex.
These examples of herOineS have never
| lowered or degraded the sex. On the
contrary, while developing always the
| differentiation in whatever direction de-
| velopment takes, it has elevated and
dignifed woman; as instance today our
refined, intelligent working women,
| whose numbers are continually increas-
| ing. These women learn to develop
| both body and mind, thus initiating
against race extinction in raising the
| standard of type, effecting more than
| can ever be accomplished in the old
| conservative way, which in its ignorance
! and limitations is constantly degenerat-
! ing. There Is nothing women will work
harder for, with power to WELD. than to
build up her sex. The culture of women
| in any sphere or capacity always de-
velops in parallel lines with men under
| the ban of sex differentiation for the rea-
| son that the exercise of every intellect
| ual faculty Is complemental between the
| sexes, thus rendering cooperative ac-
| tion between men and women harmon
| ious and complete. 1t is impossible for
| this great current of human intelligence
| to run smoothly with this existing in
| equality, for the reason that divine
| law is violated and nature is out of har-
| mony, and it can matter not how strong
| the opposition when a great principle
| asserts itself, it will steadily advance,
| though slowly, till all obstacle is over
come and normal action isestablished.
| Taking up the scientific evolvement of
| man from the single lifecell, and it's sex
| less increase by fissure and fusion, till
bioplasm multiplying through the crea-
| tion of sex, growing In complexity as it
approaches it's elimination in the crea-
| tion of man, we have man and woman
| in dual relationship, complemental to
each other. AS the quality of the brain
| depends upon the depth Of the conVolu-
| tions and the quantity of gray matter
contained, we do not find any compare
| tive anatomy that woman'S brain Is in
| ferior to mans; in fact some claim ac-
| tivity, fineness and relative size to be
greater, which, however, we will not
| contend for but WEI do feel safe in esti-
| mating an equal number of brain cells.
| possessing equal capabilities with those
| of men, allowing them equal opportu-
| nifty. In regard to this question of such
vital Importance to us and to man as
| well, IOr our interests are 1lSepdTaDle,
| we take courage in realizing that all this
| struggle for the cause, with it's slow, but
sure advancement through ups and
| downs" are but evidences of it's unfold
ment into final triumph. BY the labor
of human thoughnit will, like the single
| life cell, accumulate and grow in COM
! plexity, and culminate at length in a
| perfect birth.
/ Because woman possesses organs with
| functions distinct from man, functions
| which. in their nature. create sex spe
| cialiZation where they are directly con-
| erned, and to which all natural matur-
| ity responds loyalty, and with love born
! of reverence for the divine source, it
! does not follow or prove that this partic
ular specialization should absorb and
| subserve all her other functions, both
mental and physical, until she become
| a mere medium for animal reproduction.
| A higher type Of humanity can only be
| produced by transmission through a
higher type, mentally and physically
of parentage. To furnish this type wo-
mans faculties, all her mental powers,
| must be well developed, and her whole
nature rounded out by being in touch
| and sympathy with the world. This
high ideal race will never appear so long
as present limitations prevail to impov-
erish both mind and body of mothers.
The strongest argument for woman suf-
| frage is the direct benefit to transmits
| sion accruing from broader education.