The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1900-03-09
The Philosophy Of Woman
Suffrage.

The advanced intellectual atatns OF
woman /, The special philosophical
phase q tn. woman suffrage question
which ! hnye bssn invited 70 psesent 10
this committee.
Wsarc .aid to be evolving into "a.
tional hnmas bsings rational, imply
ing n tendency 10 conviction, which,
followed mp in logical sequence, or by
moral analogy II you will, loads to I
condition Of practical ac,ion-s Literal
"iaith, justified Of her works Thai
". are developing into rational crea
lures the trend Of event. both proves
md Aisproycs That We are beginning
to think that convictions Once formless
nsd inert nre struggling Tor recognition
in our moral and mental con %ciOnsness,
needs not the effort OF logic to sustain
it. Also, thst theories once are facts
todny i. AZ AROMATIC As significant
In the province Of thought we arc an,
ai}zinK 'Ii.ting conditions; onr rela,
tions, social and civic; we arc adjusting
effect to cause; We are even testing The
validity Of the first principles into
rhirh these specific relations resolv,
themselves With a prehsnsils energy
l.,,, ~ lyy,, - nT~a "a M xtiftv mi q ! q II n
abnormal proportions by tho combined
impetus Of present and conscious indi
vidnal necu, md n nswlv awakened
coxnizance Of the needs Of men, we are
dredging every channel for its hidden
pearl we are exploring every mine for
it- boarded gem. Indeed, 80 multi
rooted have grown tho tenets Of our
faith that all soils become responsive,
ench yielding according to ito richness
or the strength OF our demand.
Who shall nay that Thought and the
DRY dreams and visionn-~nre not the
anti type. prsfgnrins actual condition
Every ascending graduation in thi'
evolutionary process Of human soul. II
= hattle ground where meet in mortal
combat the legions Of light and dark
ne-s-the poignant spear OF reason I'm.
,heaih.d against the blunted weapon Of
force After the reaction, then ONE
the adjustment Of new conditions; and
thus it il that every era OF progress 10
born.
But. while individual reason mny and
does abound, universal force continued
to settle in arbitrary fashion the worlds
great problems
To individual intelligence, volunsAri.
ly or Involuntary, We all yield obedi.
ence, to collective force. with true dem.
ocratic policy, We submit, because it is
tho court OF Last Resort, That reason
should be the dominant principle, not
merely OF life ASS unit, but OF life a, a
concrction OF social, civil and political
entities, we cannot but admit. And
moro especially when we contrast
the moral and physic condition. Of
this age, ma the fruit OF Systematic the.
v., ",u ,asIuunI appliance, Win tue nm
organized and mongrel element, OF ig.
norance, OF weakness, OF bigotry, Of fl.
natici-m, yea, Of savagery. that swayed
the world in other ages.
Not yet have we reached the plane Of
universal conviction. That We are not
under pressure OF physical tor
ture to subscribe to tenets We have ont.
grown, in nowiss proves conclnsively
that in the appeal to reason lies tho final
nrbitr.ment of all II perplexities.
These mark the hour: personal con.
scioucners and conviction, organized
EFFORT a mental inquietude that pre-.
the final overthrow OF unequal
conditions; increased activity along
Intellectual lines, Tho promotion OF
marvellous philanthropic and benevolent
n mighty overlooking Of hu
name and generous impulses yet each
and all ve1ed and thwarted by artificial
restraints and oppressive systems, To
free thought. ages of pre.judi-
,ial teaching, to offset effort, the An
.hority Of history to discount the value
of education, the evils o. liberty" to
annual Peace Congresses, the carnival
# war,
Whence the clash of arm, the recent
have dinned into our ears'
Whence the volcanic outhurst. vt pop
Mar passion that draw their fire. from
he secret springs Of II natures, yet
, ntamed' What OF him whom all
adores, who binds A. one bar.
naric horde the harbsrisns OF this our
wentieth centuried civilization Kip
ing He indeed is master who plays
vita -killfnl hand npon our mcmorie.
,rimeval forests, luickening the cur.
ents in II veins with the first fierce
Instincts Of freedom; SCATTERING n rit
nal. and Journalism with tho untamed
trength Of our savage ancestors What,
hen, YOU may ask, ia the power that
estrain, these tiger passions, that
urbs these primeynl instincts In the
Of men todsyr Is It the science
t reason or the ethics Of egotism' Ia.
uestionahly. as individuals. W have
reserved our harbaric instincts. yet
kewi.e, as n race. have va adjusted
hem TO ethical grooves,
Our earliest conception Of the ethical
VA. based upon egotism The !
,r,yer ethirs NJ ro,p,nnpitias And MAO T