The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
"rM<NCrP1TED WowFN.n
why Mr.. Oppenheim Objects to Woman
Suffrage and Equal Rights"


To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-.Sir: Alice Stone
Blackwell. I notice. has made a few remarks
regarding my poem 'Emancipated Women"
under the heading THE Cause OF Women" in
days issue Of THE Sun. l would like to
make some remarks In criticism and defence.
While l am opposed to woman suffrage l
cannot agree with the eminent ladies to whom.
shesays my poem ought to be food for thought.
1t certainly cannot harm women to vote. but
II might harm tho country. II Ia nm undenin-
bic fact that the majority Of the women OF the
Unitad States are swayed by the heart and
not the head. Touch a woman's heart and
she Is yeurs-whether in the way Of support at
the ballot box or a mere matter OF wedding
rings. Undoubtedly this Is the reason why
women are such boon and help to men and
why they make home truly the best place in
the world. However. on the other hand. Il,
this majority would be turned into minority
there is but one way to doit. and that is to
drive out the sentimental and make the head
more Important than the heart In all.matters.
One way to accomplish this Is to All the head
with exact sciences. aud. WE'LL higher educa-
ton" Once. however. you have made woman
n reasoning. matter of-fact cold and hard
thinker che may as wcilSgo a step furth and
don trousers and socks and grow hair short
and stubby.
The usual nshy product of higher education
applied to women IL quite evident to-day-a as
an examination OF, the graduates OF the law
and medical schools. &C.. will prove. The Bos-
tonese type portrayed in the humorous paper
10 very little overdra wn. Undoubtedly. when
O woman has studied a science through and
through. until 1t has bee Jme part OF her fibre
time. or at least as Instructors there Is very
little ot; the woman left in her when she has
finished.
No one would say that George Eliot or Rosa
Bonheur would have made ideal wives. though
the former was married couple of times On
.he.other hand,they must have beer ideal COM
panions. But that is not what "A man wants.
lie wants moro than a mere companion-ho
wants helpmate. woman who can afford to
give her time. or most Of it, to the care OF her
life. If we look at the more prominent wo-
men OF to-day In the branches OF medicine,
writing. law. &c. few indeed will be found who
have children. They simply haven't the time
sacrifice. l have not the slightest doubt that
II these women would make ohild-study and
child-ove their work In life. instead Of their
scientific twaddles and pen scratching the
people as q whole would receive a greater
benefit.
Nay rather leave woman as she is-a delight
full and lovable creature" and O fair me m Der
Of the fair sex. II would indeed be sorry day
when that adjective could no longer be used
consistently in that connection.
However. IL woman Ia left the way she Ia at
present. woman suffrage Is out OF the cues
zion. Give women suffrage and equal rights at
present, and it,would simply lie question OF
hearts. HeroIy orship; which springs from
OF women. an overwhelming majority FOR the
Presidency-and where would Mckinley be?
However. all this may be one o. the mistakes
OF youth. or perhaps II hope not. as | said in
my poem. the nightmare OF an added brain"
NEW YoRK July 30