The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
PROGRESS rs. WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
A Consideration of The Principal Arguments
for Smch SmMrnEe bN One OnpOAed.

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A Consideration OF the Principal Arguments
FOR such Suffrage by One Imposed
To THE EDrroR OF THE SuH-Sir: Having.
last week, roughly outlined what women have
done for the general welfare with the ballot.
let us consider how the suffrage would affect
, Thorn rs individuals. What do the suffrage
advocates claim ; First. it will educate. To
which we reply. II has not educated men. why
should il cducntc women Here we come across
one oi the Inconsistencies of statement often
encountered in regard tu this subject. We are
told in one breath that the exercise of the
franchise need not he a burden TO a woman. ~
il takes hut "A few moments to drop "a bit of
paper into n box md IN the next that the
! exercise of the franchise will educate them.
We are driven 10 the belief that what is
meant Is that women. II they have the ballot.
will te obliged tu take An interest in public
affairs aud study out for themselves the
great questions of the day. That this would
he the result il pure assumption. certain
! number 81 naturally thoughtful women might.
lust as a certain number 81 men do now. but
as the great majority Of men vote as their
party leaders dictate. without giving further
attention To the matter. 80 the majority Of
women would vote as their men folks or their
fayorite newspaper advised. Small blame to
them, say I, for who could ask an already over
hurdencd house mother to puzzle out for her
self the intricacies VI the Tariff bill. or decide
on the merits Of the New York charter.
Secondlv-It is to elevate women: it ia to
make them the suual OF man. Now. this ques-
ton of equality is to me So singular that it is
always difficult for me to treat it seriously. II
reminds me OF the story "A friend. "A woman ply
stefan. tells. She had been l%ecturing To some
young girls. and after the lecture one came w
and askcl her anxiously. Doctor. which is
the most important organ. the heart or the
stomach: - To which the doctor. preserving
her gravity, replied that a. both were abSo-
lutcly essential to lie. they might be con-
sidered of equal Importance. This seems to
mo M, mn imam, illustration True. the func-
nv ~, a. ''r Va" .n. | ama ,.;Io
,Ie hnjy So, ...,ns ,o m, ~ m. sexes. thev
are both of enuaI inheritance, but not on Just
the same lines. " civilization advances there
is AN ev"r-ioereosins tendency to specialize
mes OF WORK what can pe oeSt "one W
h S''% %nn sI Nv "r man h. viii u rstain the SUPREMACY
' ~ Nv - , 80" - -, ,a'nri,, ha,,,aon a.,
s ". lnH in 'H ,Nc ' S"ns' ,E h.. S suf1rast St.S p,e the
nhra.a existing to-day. that | am aware Of. IL
80. ,mm an.r I,,Iiors Tho ,rsr ~ ,hes.
tribes are hampercd hy no narrow preJudices
as to what women are able or fitted to Ito, hut
. " -,
men. II equality means semi-barbarism. who
| IaGirnS II .
- -u, -
ihHF"ly WI " "''pe h"ic
Again. pure assumption. Any woman who has
h,an iIeutin.I with any nuhlic work will
~ 49, -. -, ,.
usually tell you frankly that II II an advantage
to be able to appeal from an entirely non-parti-
ca, and u.u,raI s,,ndnoint 70 he ahlc tn de-
:" "'' N''' -. ..-,.
manu- IL measure as " h"'teF "' abstract risfC
and no, of political eXpediency. The "influ-
~,p,iol" u,,e voter IN tho pnlitical sense is unt
,"''', ''''. 70 =" 49,
ne VINO casts MS own Not" according 10 inc
dictates Of his conscience. hut the boss he
xbn can't roI. m.pv votes Do va want women
"'''"'','S """' nn"
10 acquire influence IN th'S way 10" Wa wan.
female bosses Z" and il we have them. what
becomes of urr purified politics. and what 10
the effect un the individual woman
Fourth and most practical reason urged-1t
Will raise tn" wages Of women. Is this 80 ?
Has IL proved to be the case with men? In
discussing this point lately tho interesting
fact was brought to my notice that of all the
working classes II England the class compris-
ing the farm lahorer is tn. one which shows
the greatest improvement in the last fifty
years. Not only have his wages increased
more in proportion than any other workmen.
hut moro Advancement has been made in his
education. housing. &c. OF late. during the
Iast 1--WE wears. there has cen a reduction in
his wages. and it is Just within that time that
the suffrage has been given him. One great
cause for the low wages II women is that
~ .l- l.-- 80 40 .l.---