The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-04
INTOLERANCE AMONG WOMEN.

ed upon the. intolerance OF woman TO-
ward those of her own sex. As wom-
an is essentially an emotional creature
the fact that she is thus intoierant
may be attributed to her impulslve-
ness and her emotional characteristics.
That she has sympathy for her sex is
true, but as she is operated upon
mainly by her emotions and her sen
sitiveness to good and evil alike, she
is more severe upon such of her
sex as refuse to think with her, or to
adopt her ideals, than she is Of man
whose actions are more governed by
judgment and reason.
Yet with her conceded sexual charac-
teristics controlling and molding her
intellectual and moral activities, it Is
quite inoonceivabIe that such women
as assembled at the International Coun-
Gil of Women in London recently should
have been so far lost to the prophecies,
and have so far belied the gentleness
and forbearance of womanly nature as
sex to read paper before the council
in opposition to the extension of the
franchise to women.
When Mrs. Scott, of Massachusetts,.
appeared to address the body in be-
half of the American Society Opposing
Female Suffrage, she was greeted by a
torrent of ridicule, shouts, Kisses and
terms of opprobrium. So shameful was
the manifestation toward her and so
intolerant the demonstration, that the
President of the Council was COMPEL
ed to appeal to the asseanblage, and
beg of it not to be so intolerant as to
refuse to hear the other side. After
some words of rebuke from the chair.
Mrs. Scott was permitted to proceed.
was greeted with laughter, sneers, IRON
ical remarks and shameful expressions
of intolerance.
1t was an exhibition disgraceful to
the sex, and for which right minded
women will blush. It was not only
manifest intolerance; it was evidence
of insane bias. These women clearly
had not come together in council to
consider dispassionately and tolerantly
what more could be done for the bet
terment of womankind, but they had
one idea, and to push it forward along
affirmative lines, regardless Of whatev-
er might be suggested in opposition In
other words, they were not assembled
for truths sake, but as warped. biased
and bitterly prejudiced partisans, for
getting that cause which cannot bear
criticism, cannot hear the opposition
and defeat 1t in the forum Of reason,
is cause unworthy and deserving of
overthrow.
But we are not to attribute the dis
graceful exhibition at /. the Woman's
Council wholly to the emotional and
sympathetic characteristics Of woman
nature. They cut a. large figure in the
demonstration, but greater than they
long and over much dwelling upon one
subject. These women in council have
become cranks; their intelligence is per-
verted, their reasoning powers distort-
ed and warped by the lunacy Of be-
lief; their sense of justice-always ly-
| ing below their emotions and impulses
enslaved to their passionate adhesion
| to cherished cause
! Their action was such as has rarely
been paralleled in the councils of men.
Now and then the insanity of unreason
has led men to treat the negative with
| disrespect., But such cases are so rare
as to serve as curiosities. In convoca-
tons Of women, however-and we say
| this with the highest regard for WON
anly qualities, with deepest respect for
| wives, mothers and sisters, and for the
nobility Of the sex-the opponent Of a
| cause advocated, has exceeding scant
hearing. He or she need expect at best
no more than FESTIVE and impatient toll
Grafton, not thoughtful and judicial
hearing. ~
| 1t is very lovely and very hopeful to
see women Of the nations gathered in
council to promote the arts, to advance
the interests of humanity and to main
tain the doctrine Of peace and good
WILL and the uplifting of the nations
toward the higher ideals of govern
ment. Hence we applaud them wher
| they welcome Archbishop Ireland an6
praise him for his protest against war
Hence we approve them when they re-
solve to labor for anticipation of tbs
| low conditions of women in the trades
| We give them greeting and godspee6
| when they plead for the home and the
| right training Of young womanhoot
/ that we may have right motherhood
But we deplore the fact that they are
SO possessed by the devil of intoler-
ance, that they cannot accord even the
courtesy Of silence, to those of their owr
sex who appear before them to dispute
the alleged benefcence of woman SUI.
frage.
Men smile at the manifestations made
kagainst Mrs. Scott, but deep down II
/ their hearts there is sorrow that womer
of the nations should remain SO insane
and one ideaded that they cannot gran
the tolerance which they demand fo
themselves. ;. Had men Missed Mrs Scot
from the rostrum; had men sneered ant
icl, tod - cd L.