The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-15

q work entitled Women and ;he Re20g-
itc.'' by Helen Kendrlck johnson. which
Just teen iEzased trcra the press
TIE beok consists largely es revssw Of
the various arguments put forward By the
advanced women sadEagists. whose argu-
rneass are taken up seraasin and answered
with considerable force and ability. The
writer takes FROM the start the position
that woman suffrage IS not in tns line Of
advance. ard that the movement 10 OBJ
tain il has not thus far blended itself with
those which have proven 20 De for wo-
mans progress and for the progress OF
good government. but 20 the direct con-
travy. The writer believes that tia prfn-
elples CT which the claim 20 suffrage is
founded are those that turn nations and
individuals backward and rot forward
On iris line the writer says;
This a.st proof l shall mention il the
Latest one In time--is Is the fact OK an anti
suffrage movement, In the political field
alone are We being formed into separate
camps whose watchwords become more
unlike IS they become more clearly undeI-
stood. The fact that for the first time In
cur history representatives CT two great
organizations Of women ara appealing to
courts and legislatures. each begging them
10 refuse the prayerx of the other shows
as eoncinslveiy as long argument would
DO that this matter OK suffrage is some
zhing essentially distinct from the great
series Of movements in which women have
thus far advanced side by side. /. Is an
instructive announcement of belief that
the demand for suffrage is no. progress:
that it has arfayed sex against sex, that
women. like uea. can advance only as tie
race advances. and that there hes the il
viaing line.
How absolute Is that dividing line be-
rween HoTneu's progress and woman sulf-
rage We may realize when We consider
what the result would be Il we could know
tomorrow, beyond a peradyenture, that
women never would vote III the United
States Not ons Of her charities, great or
small. would be crippled. Not womans
college would close its doors. Not a pro-
fessien would withhold Its diploma from
her; not trade its recompense. Not
single Just law would be repealed, or a
bad one framed. As Il consequence Not
good book would be forfeited Not fam
lily would be less secure Of domestic hap
piness. Not "A single hope would die which
points 20 time when our cities will be all
like those Of the prophets vision, first
pure and Their peaeea BILE
the writer aliudes to the fact that while
the woman suffrage movement IL now
nearly nifty years old. the controversy is
newly opened one. Tor during the whole
OF the time down to the present the suffrag-
lists have done nearly ali the talking.
The general argument which the writer
advances In support of her position Is best
summarized In her own language: NO ma
tive American. who. By the very fact of
that nativity, is bound To support the con-
st!tutlon OF the United States. and no for
elsn-horn citizen who has taken the oath
OF allegiance 10 it, has a right by his vote
to do anything that will inperil or impede
the carrying out of its principles and its
commands The establishment Of Justice
the insuremeflt OF domestic tranquility
provision for the common defense. secur-
/ ity in the blessings of liberty 10
ourselves and our posterity can
not he perfected without the
present exercise and the reserve power
OF manhood strength. This government laid
aside all attribute OF education or CLAM
our Of wealth. or prestige OF birth and
| committed It's life 20 the keeping of it's d.
/ Tenders. In THIS land the vote is the in
| signla OF actual power but il is only the
/ insignia; the power TO defend themselves
/ and those who make country and nome
/ worth defending lies With the individual
/ defenders. To attempt 10 put it into the
/ aands OF those who are not physically
! fitted 10 maintain the obligations that may
+ result srom any vote or legislative act Is
+ to render law a farce aod 10 bstray the
( trus, Imposed UPON them by the eonstltu-
/ ton they have sworn 70 uphold Cniver-
] sal manhood suffrage Is the crownint; re-
sult In the long evolution Of government.
/ our statesmen o. the revolutionary pertaa
/ cid not contemplate Il. Bat stability Is
/ the jhtag for which they sousht-the thtnx
for which alb statesmen 81 all times have
been searching. II government Is not
/ stable It is Of liit!e consequence that II IS
( .uu at noble ideals. an3 the mast far
reaching thought has now grasped the aiea
that manhood strength Is the natural and
only defense CT ihe state. This IS the IN
( DERIVING theory OF our government. the che
/ solid rock CT which # rests When any
/ question OF governmental policy comes IN
we virtually decide IL. sooner CT later. hv
= manhood vote. ard as The decision has
majority OF ths men ot the country beaira
il 1ae~e IS no power that can overthrow II
K ve attempt % establish policies or exc
este laws 20 witch q majority of tae men
are ogrosed We throw away car one asvsr-
anoe - stability and ara Ia constant ian
ser u revolution. Even ia ihe eeneasa.
ayely nrl>f history % oar repuhis, there
are rlsnutul Instances 10 show thaf a ma
'eri;y e me2 wsu rot sshrit - = minor
Fey. 10 matter bow G.aay norconsSata~ts
are sa'net wta teat minority. To give
'vorasn a res.-lea & sQpareu; power. with
est IS Toauty. ro-lA ae ;o make our gov
esumea' forever Unsta a.e.' Ana s~asn.
- <access.ui h1s oar rove-1ue~. be~,
in carrying OK tAe hea.sa Y1-asses :,r
( Mach is heroes .s4kea tbe.~ Escs their
gcrtuoes ard their zac-e3 horor. -nst .n
culinary times as sag tttts ~ TIE strs-r-A
ta-, stands gg.etiy b, Grady eeh.rs every
laws enactment a03 every pa,rx a-c.sl,.
TIE 'strcas arm ~ tes ,av' usals ASA - =