Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-11-04
LETTERS ' rHr PEOPLE

He Mobiles His Statement Some.
what.
IELM, Wash, Nov. ., 1898.
| ED. STANDARD:
Have just read an efi'usion over the
signature of c. W. Borden i'm reference
to Woman Suffrage and facctiously re-
ferring to one ]. c. Nonine, whoever
that may be. AS penned the quota
ton at the head of his article, as
sumo that the author didn't happen to
have his "specs" or was unable to dis
Germ an n" from &C" He saws.
al shall vote for it for the following
reasons; &c deem it right morally
and equitably for woman's super
iority and intellectual equality are be-
yond dispute, etc, (rather bad gram
mar. Now my "deah phellah" it is
not a question of superiority or intel
lect. 1t is question of policy, and
very much doubt the benefit of the
policy. | claim sir, that man is the
best friend woman ever had; that he
can do nothing that would iniure his
wife, mother or sister without inluring
himself, and a man would be con-
summate fool to work an injury on
himself; that all the rights and privi-
leges women enjoy to-day, and they
are more numerous than those he en-
Joys himself, have been freely rendered
by the men. believe have as much
or more regard for a true, loyal wo-
womanly woman as the author of that
article. and it is for that reason that
| seek TO keep her from contaminating
herself with political mud" No sir,
| have too much regard for the tender
sensibilities OF wOmanhood to wish to
see them neglecting their homes to
wade through mud and slush to cast Il
ballot that would only tend to produce
dlscord and antagonism instead of har-
mony and good feeling. Nature never
intended that woman should exercise
the governing power or she would have
been endowed with physical force to
back it. If she performs the functions
OF wife, mother and sister to the best
of her ability, she is doing all that ma
ture intended, without putting on man
nish airs and unsexing herself. Don't
think for moment that fail to APP
preciatc the gratitude we owe to the
fair sex. No one can forget his in
debtedness to woman. AS Father
Walsh of Troy says: "To her as
mother, sister, wife or friend, we owe
the tenderest emotions of life, the no.
blest elements of character, the purest
aspirations and the sweetest sympathy
in JOY and sorrow. Into her arms we
were born. Watching her lips we be-
gan to speak; led by her hand we
learn to walk in obedience to law. In
painting, sculpture and poetry she
gives us ideals of innocence and beauty.
Innocence is woman; Chastity is q
woman; Charity is woman" If |
can be convinced that this enfran-
chisement of woman is needed to ideal
ize woman still more, or make her
more wOmanly or secure her in greater
purity and innocence, or deepen her
sympathetic nature, or strengthen her
maternal or domestic instincts, then,
as / said in former article, | will
gladly lift my voice and exert my in
tluence in behalf of woman suffrage.
| have never seen it claimed by the
most ardent suffragist that its conces-
sion will improve and strengthen and
safeguard the female character. The
great cry seems to "be taxation with
out representation" and yet they are
as well represented as are the men.
When a man casts ballot, he casts it
as much for his wife, his mother and
his sister rs for himself, and with his
musket behind that ballot he tacitly
enforces that ballot.
They say, Let the women vote and
healing will come to the fostering and
hideous sores of politics The best Gle.
ment of male voters has tried this.
Have they succeeded? If strong in
tluential men have failed, will women
succeed? Do you really believe that
most of the female voters would be
proof againt bribery and intoxicants,
and in time, more degrading and iniq-
uitous crimes9 The history OF woman
in public affairs have always shown a
marked deterioration in her personal