The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-01-09
Woman's Responsibilities.

"oman's Responsibilities.
Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf of Rooh-
ester was seen by reporter recently.
and, asked for her opinion on woman g
responsibilities at the present time, she
replied
THAT citizens OF q republic have de-
volving upon them duties Of greater mo-
ment than those which devolve upon
people OF different form of government
none will deny. Under an absolute
monarchy submission to law only is re-
CURED and the exercise of a restricted
franchise, in addition to submission, if
the monarchy be limited. In q true re-
public. on the other hand, the governing
force Is III the people themselves, who
must choose for and from themselves the
rulers who they decide will best under
stand and carry out their wishes. The
people, therefore, are RESPONSE BILE, indi-
vldually and collectively, for good or
bad governmental conditions. How i'm
portant, then, that the franchise should
be exercised in a thoughtful, intelligent
manner: that the we'll being of all class
es OF citizens should be considered; that
the conditions most favorable for the
formative period Of the rising genera.
tlon should be closely studied; that the
citizens of the future shonld be fitted
in their turn to assume the grand re-
sponslbilities Of self government
Under these circum stances can one
portion of the people decide what is best
for another portion Of the people who
have no voice or participation in the Sc
lection of rulers or the formation of the
laws under which they live and yet
have the government express the will Of
the people? Is it not wrong to style such
government republican or democratic
in this country, where, while both sexes
are accounted citizens and are such in
sense, to only one sex, the male, has
the right Of franchise been accorded, ex.
cept in limited degree and in favored
localities:
1.-The effect is that the dominant sex
is often unwittingly unjust to the sub
servient class and ovor!ooks its needs,
not understanding them. The sex DOM
mated either submits bopelessly to in
justice, seeks TO win its way by fnesse,
cherishes bitter but repressed sort Of in
subordination or openly seeks to change
existing conditions. Any one of the first
three methods is degrading to the self
respect and dignity of woman, while the
last puts her in position Of seeming
antagonism TO the sex with whom she
should be in accord. AS home makers
and keepers, as largely the trainers Of
the youth of the land in mental, moral
and physical development, as wage
carriers, taxpayers, actors on nearly ev
cry stag. occupied by men, have women
no responsibility in the upbuiiding and
evolution of this republic? Do they owe
no duty to themselves and 1t? Their
present position is most degrading. The
mothers and daughters of the nation are
political noneutities, peers only Of the
mentally unsound, corrupt and aliens
Does this ennoble the race? No. A race
cannot rise to its full stature until moth
erhood aud fatherhood are equally hon.
ored, and republic of the people can
never be so in fact until both sexes have
full expression at its ballot box. Woman
needs to feel her share Of the response
bilities of citizenship, and the republic
needs her power. New York Tribune