Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
A HORRID DREAM.
The Woman Lawyer and Woman
suffrnge--To the Legislature.


suffrnge--To the Legislature.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
I had a horrid dream last night. /
was In the country, and witnessed en-
election ending in mob. l saw PEOPLE
with broken limbs and bleeding heads.
The air was filed with cries and coun-
ter-crles for men and women In deadly
confict-"confusion worse COMPOUNDED"
awoke in terror, and sleep fed my eye
lids. The memory of this terrible scene
makes my head swim. In.eour hands
are the destiny Of the States. Mr.. Gregg.
tho English historian OF America, says
this is the fairest Of the f0rty-tour sis
ter States. Guard her sacred affairs, /
beg you, Well did you guard them on
the battlefield.
Think you that the fathers who
laid the foundation OF Inls country did
not consider the question OF suffrage?
1t Is the a - 9 of government. With
out IL there can be no free government.
How think you that body would have
received this question that you are now
called upon to consider? Had men,
Der of that body been rash enough TO
propose woman suffrage. think you it
would have had second?
Washington. Jefferson, Adams, and
Hancock would have scowled indlg-
nantly at the mailman. Why? Because
they had read the history OF the world.
They had some knowledge Of man
kind. They were philosophers, not boz
gus, Ike the Tillmanltes OF mushroom
growth. They knew OF great men and
great women. They had read OF that
sweet and beautiful woman cher price
above rubies') whose husband was known
In hA pQf hA Cnf mo-
the rulers OF the people. while
her children. clothed IN scarlet, the
work of her hands. were safe and
happy In well-regulated home. In
their widest delerium OF fever they
had never dreamed OF woman sheriff
or woman lawyer; the one interviewing
felons in cells, the other pursuing a
flying negro over muddy fields.
Such horrid visions, at that time.
would have satisfied a man he was on
tho border-land OF insanity-whers some
OF these fanatics are to-day. But, see.
says one, the marvels OF science: what
end OF moral progress. and this Is a
moral question. a woman lawyer. OF
course. means woman voter. This Is
self-evident Two years ago your pre-
dccessors were petItloned In this be-
half. and denied ii. The defeated fair
applicant took to journalism. was
asked to Subscribe. and did so. The Sc
cond No. contained n most ridiculous arti-
Gle. I wrote O. kind letter 10 the editor, and
she confessed her mistake. One more
No ended the issue don't COM
plain OF loss Of subscription. but wish
to show that good, honest people may
labor under deluslons. A woman that
wanders from her place is like bird
h.t nd Go a..
II happen. let me ask. that the women
of 1896 are so superior to the women
OF ZIG? Are the men or 1896 superior
In wisdom TO the men OF l776? Are our
struggling statesmen at Washington not
wise enough to steer our great ship OF
state; have to look across the water
sometimes for money TO pay her bills:
are they wiser than Jefferson, Franklin,
and Marshall? The very gates that
opened 10 the touch OF some OF these
men swing upon the same hinges to-day
in our city. II was but yesterday that
this great heritage vas handed down
to US. England, France and Germany
have no women lawyers. nor votera
nor doctors, except midwives. Whence
then this new and strange revelation?
rs II OF Heaven or OF men?' Answer
me. II Is Of neither-it is Of hell.
say II In the fear Of God. II is one Of
the devils new devices to corrupt woman
and then corrupt mana process begun
in Eden.
eve are not ignorant OF his satanic
devices" Woman's purity is the gauge
OF mans excellence. In nature as we'll
as In morals. 1t is not a paradox that
the weak destroy the strong. 1t Is said
wisdom came from the East. fear
folly Is coming from the West. Let these
new States work out this problem Of
woman suffrage, woman sheriff. mayor.
and doctor. We can afford to walt. The
descent In morals Is easy; It's return Is
hard, sayeth the great Latin poet Are
YOU not satisfied, gentlemen. with your
mothers piety and purity: with her de-
votion to you. and loyalty to your coun-
try? ask for no reply. w. w. p.