New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-09
PARTY POLITICS AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

Miss Helen varlck Boswell has just been tell
ing the women of this city that il they wish to
gain the suffrage they must attach themselves
n one or the other of the great political parties.
She evidently believes that they can thus con
vince those now possessed OF the ballot tlat
they are qualified to take effective part in poll
ties. and moreover. impress their masculine al
lies with the belief that n partisan advantage
Is TO be gained from the addition to the voting
body OF a class of people who have been active
in supporting their policy
This might be an effective method for the fur
therance of the suffragiSf propaganda in certain
quarters The temptation is strong for party
in power to admit persons in sympathy with II
10 Il voice in the Government in hope or
strengthening itself. That temptation has led
to most of our extensions Of the suffrage beyond
the point which the fathers thought extreme
democratic libcrallty. The desire for partisan
votes has made our citizenship cheap for the
foreign immigrant and il has created some
States long before their time. The instinct of
self-prcscrvaton which rules parties as well as
individuals controls this matter sometimes
with unfortunate results. Perhaps legislators
might be brought TO think that the ballot would
be good for women who were likely to vote
with them. But for the suffragists to make
campaicn on that basis would be to destroy the
force of half the arguments with which they
make claim 10 recognition. The plea on the
ground of Justice and the inherent right OF
every individual to vote for the sake or aD
stract equality might survive such tactics But
that plea has little weight with thinkers VINO
do not regard voting rs an inalienable right
of the individual even in republic, but look
upon the ballot only an instrument OF gov
eminent to he bestowed freely or with restric-
tons as circumstances may dictate. These
theorists may not be great In numbers bnt
their view is shared by the practical politician
who cares little about the right Of voting, but
much about the effect Of it.
For most people the strength Of the woman's
suffrage movement is in what 1t seems to prom
Use in results for the State Will 1t give lis n
more conscientious body of citizens one less sub
tcct to prejudice one frccr from bosses one
which will discourage the prevalent tendency to
put expediency above principle! II so II may
make strong appeal TO favor. But II. on the
contrary the sufragists became pariisans to
gain point. they would discourage all hope
that as voters they would bc materially differ
cnt In spirit from the voters have. They
would he encouraging partisan legislation con-
corning the ballot-onp Of the most dangerous
things which could possibly be encouraged
would he making their cause not one Of princi-
ple but one which depended for its strength on
partisan selfshncss. We have ills enough now
In our politics without increasing the number,
and if The ballot for women is to mean doubling
the numbcr Of workers engaged In managing
caucuses and getting out the vote cOnscrva-
tive people will think the innovation something
TO be avoided We do not want women voters
because they will help any party. II we want
them ut all it Will be in the hope that no party
can use them. but that they will he wiser than
their brothers and always use parties for the
good Of the State.