The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-05

tbe rornotest relation between firing a
rusket and casting a ballot. As 10 TINS
matter of expediency. II Is an Insult 10
o,,- civilization to assert for a moment
chat we have not intelligence and m
gcnuity enough To do Il thing when II
is right To do or that the mere me-
chanlcal arrangements cannot Doe pro-
vided for permitting women 10 take part
I'm voting as they take part Ia other eN-
ercises Why. the thing has already been
tried. In wyoming II has been sue
cess since 1859 certified TO by the best
authorities there md showing much
better record than suffrage i'm many
Southern states or Northern cities.
Names can be cited ON either side OF
the question. but e is something more
than a crank's dream that commands
the endorsement Of Ralph Waldo Emer-
son. Chief Justice Chase. John g. WHIT
tier. George william Curtis. Senators
Sumner Wilson. H0ar. Dr. Duryea mere
and SO many more
Woman suffrage is indicated 10y the
fact that while steadily the sphere or
woman has been broadening. admission
given her into new fields. occupations.
trusts yet in no single instance has she
failed 10 show herself equal 20 the task.
Reflect upon that fact for moment il
there were this iuferiority or unhthess
OF woman ncapacitlting her for SUI
fruge. lf 10 were wrong and ineXpedient
and dangerous for her 10 exercise that
function. how do you account for the
fact that. whatever forward step you
have lef her take she has justified II;
As before suggested. even In highest
political Office as queen or empress she
has cvcelled the average OF KINGS. There
were iu her time men Of superior capac-
it's 10 that Of Queen Elizabeth. but what
Tudor king was her superior What
Russian dcspot iu personal force or
even I'm the energy Of his vices. sur
passed Catherine Which ~ the stupid
litter of the House Of Brunswick for
moment compares with Victoria in sense
or character Remember that all this
time woman has for centuries been kept
back. not permitted training or self
training for voting and masculine iunc-
ti0ns. that. with the same opportunities
that men have for political exercise, and
continually improving them. she viii
advance on her present capacity. ana
that even I'm her present circumstances
she is a good merchant. lawyer, doctor
minister: that she divides the orator.
platform with men; that she is equally
keen as "A detective on the ono hand or
"a swindlcr or cheat on the other. and
that ou boards and associations of 500
cial and charitable work she is uneN-
cclled even in business details
Indeed the most remarkable thlng iu
This whole woman suffrage matter H.
that there are I'm 10 mo- longer the ele-
ments OF am experiment To grant the
right would hardly cause a ripple on the
surface Nothing would happen that
is not already discounted. Hardly a test
would women be subject to that they
are not already subject to.
Not only i'm my mind is there no argu-
mcnt against woman suffrage but every
argument for IT, In the first place
every extension Of intelligent suffrage
strengthens tho body polite ! must be-
lievo this, or give up the principle OF
republican government, which is the
strongest and securest form of govern
ment ! know some shudder r Little at
universal suffrage. but it is ten thous-
and times more dangerous To suppress
and exclude a part Of the people. The
gases which are harmless If vented may
work ruin If you coniine them. There
can I'm the long run be little danger
when AN are equally onfranchised and
thereby equally responsible. Suffrage
is itself an immense education, its ABB
eonce a doecneracy. The broader the
basis of your state the safer. I'm The
next place. the influence OF woman has
refined whatever circle it has been adj
mitted to under conditions Of its own
self-respect. History. hOmcly experience.
common observation an confirm this.
Woman suffrage would not debase WOO
men and politics 10 would elevate both.
n would add TO the body polite the pos
tive elements OF feminine wholesome
ness and natural antag0nism . vice and
violence. A new interest for the secur-
ity Of home and peace, sobriety and or
der would be invoked Woman herself
would be benefited. as intelligent eman-
cipaf0n % every sort and to whatever
degree always benefits IT'S object
cannot help feeling that back Of an
this matter of casting vote. lies
stil deeper question OF social integrity
There is 40 stake not the unrest of "a
few women. leaders Of movement. but
the wcilare-the moral and intellectual
status-Of great body OF women who
are in the mass OF life who toll in
shops. and whose character and fate are
subject 10 the moidng of their circum-
stances Anything that attaches 20 them
"a badge or fctter of inferiOrity. depend
encc. or weakness. just so far impairs
seif-rc poet. and hinders their ultimate
H
I know not what eruDtiO1s may break
OUT Doe che transition time. but when
that is passed and woman is under run
equality of rights and OF social rcspon-
sibility. thence will date the era of
wh0iasomor life. which now sometimes
seems to be the despair Of social science.
The opponents of woman suffrage ncv-
er make allowance for the reacuondry
influence which the exercise of suf-
frage would have upon the ability Of
woman for IT'S exercise While her
feminine nature would remain unchang-
ed that ability would develop oyacty
i'm uroDortion 20 the demands upon IL.
otherwise is human nature failure. IL
would turn 90 its duty. az a lower hith-
erto shaded turns 90 the light and
grows "a flower still. with emancipation
ana suffrage comes. by inevitable law.
the growth that vindicates both. IL
would react back 10 the very sources
of education. The standard OF woman's
education. OF her training and reading
would DE lifted and attuncd to her new
obligations
But the topic is boundless. IL In
wolves the elements Jf the uroiounaest
principles of human progress. ana might
we'll be treated on phlIosOphic grou nos.
/ have. however, touched only on Ia
miiar and practical aspects which come
quickest home 20 the sense Of justice.
To sum up. ID Is right that WON D..
equally burdcned. should have equal
voice In the adjustment of the hurd D..
II is despotic and undemocratlc 70 deny
the equal rights. Nothing is easier than
10 arrange for It's exercise without In
furious disturbance to social life or po-
lificaI stability W0meu would not be