The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02
WOMAN'S RULE.
Felix Alder Says WOman's Ca
pacity for Government
Is as Great as Mans if Not Su.
periOr.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY
Has Presented Itself in History
She Has Shown Capacity.
An Argument Drawn for WO-
man Suffrage.

Boston, March Felix Adler, the
here yesterday:
Mr. Bryce has said that Americans
point with pride. and justly, to the posi-
ton held among them by women. and
regarded it as a greater Difference paid
to women, not in one class but in every
class Yet the suffrage is denied
women are said to be placed on a par
with the pauper, the criminal and the
insane; and yet lower because the in
sane man regains his right if he recov-
erS from his insanity, but woman can
never recover. Yet no country in the
world is 50 liberal as regards the be-
StoWal OF rights of suffrage. Property
qualifications were obEterated by the
civil war so far as the statutes are con-
cerned- If, then, the exclusion of wo-
men cannot be accounted for on the
ground of a lack of respect, can it be
due to a stubborn pride and prejudice?
But this has yielded in the home and
IN education, and now the opening of
colleges to women shows that prejudice
IS not insurmountable. 1t cannot be
prejudice, it cannot be lack of res
pect that explains the denial of the
Suffrage TO women. 1t is deep feel
1ng-lt may be a mistake but it is a
deep and strong feeling in the Ameri-
can commonwealth that has kept Wo-
men from exercising the suffrage 1t
IS this that explains the fact that in
suffrage received such a staggering
blow, that in the house of it's friends
where the cause was so ably champion
ed, large majority was against it.
One may ask, Why, then, discuss it?
My interest in it is in connection with
the general subject of the proper place
and function of woman in home and
society. 1t is repugnant to our best
notions to admit woman to a direct
share in the government? The discus
sion of this question forms a proper
appendix to the subject of the ethics of
marriage, and we shall therefore con-
slider the arguments pro and con.
The first argument is founded on an
abstract notion of right. This was put
in the form of a syllogism by Coudor-
Get: Every rational being is entitled to
a share in the government; woman is a
rational being; therefore, woman is en-
titled to a share in the government
This is still very strong basis of the
woman's rights argument, and it has
special strength in a country like ours
where so much is made of the right of
voting. But we must make a. sharp
distinction between rights that were
born in us and rights that depend
on cultivation Only one of the three
rights named in the Declaration of
Independence is born with us, namely
the right to life. Liberty is a cultivated
right. We restrain the right of a youth
to vote until his knowledge is sufficient
His right to vote depends on develop
ment. All agree that the republican
form of government is not suited to
every nation at every period in any
nation. Even Germany, high as she is
Intellectually, is not yet ready for the
republican form of government. Mon
archy has been blessing at some per
iod in every country. What applies to
nations may apply to women. It is no
disparage cement to women to say that
she is lacking in political capacity any
more than the same judgment is a dis
arrangement. Germany is far ahead of
England and America in certain intel
lectual achievements, but behind them
in political capacity. 1t is no impugn-
ment of the rational nature of woman
to say that they are lacking in this
power; it simply means that in a GER
tain respect women have not had the
advantages men have had.
A second argument in favor of wo-
mans suffrage is based on a claim of
this political capacity for some women.
The contention is in favor of the special
fitness of some women, and the conclu-
sion is that it is safe to assume that all
women will display a political capacity
if they have more opportunity. J. S.
Mill said that the list of great historic
queens, though smaller than that of
kings, yet showed a greater ability in
proportion to the whole number than
in the case of male rulers. Such in
stances as Elizabeth, Catherine of Rus
STA and Maria Theresa were mentioned,
and Mill said that in Hindoostan if a
principality is found to be ruled by
firmness and justice the chances are
that it is under the rule of a woman.
But what does this prove? That able
and efficient women ought to be elig-
ible to office, not that all women should
have the right to elect them. We find
women appointed by men to high offices
and their record is most honorable. We
shall continue to draft women into the
service, for the stock of efficient mater
ial is not large. But there is a great
difference between selecting the fit, and
giving the franchise to the multitude.
We should have to give it to all; for
how could we discriminate? Both pro-
perty and educational qualifications are
like a coarse seive which let's through
what it was designed to strain out. Any
civil service examination would be
equally inadequate. And if we accept
the alternative are we ready to aggra-
vate the evils of which we have suf-
ficiency already? We should admit
large body of utterly unprepared voters
IF there were any way to discriminate
there would be no hesitation. We are
confronted not with a theory but with
a situation. If we are asked about the
ignorant men who are driven to the
polls like cattle, there is still the ques-
ton, why still further aggravate the
situation not only duplicating this 1g-
norant vote, but more than duplicating
it. since the proportion of the women
politically ignorant to those who are
capable is much larger than like pro-
portion among the men. Men have had
the benefit Of centuries of political eX-
rperience. For this reason the Anglo
Saxon nucleus has been able to main
tain popular institutions. despite ad-
mixture from abroad. Education and
heredity have not thus fitted women for
political duties. Besides political I'M
ripeness there is also the danger of
enotionalism. The Secretary-elect of
the treasury mentioned the increasing
emotionalism of American politics as
the greatest danger in American life
The sudden admission of women would
increase this danger. AS an instance
of this Professor Adler spoke of the
political utterances of Miss Willard
She has the admiration and respect of
the whole country. She is at the head
of great and brilliant organization
The w. c. T. L. is masterpiece of or