The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-26

referendum
Thomas Russell dwelt at the hearing
proed the same thing by an officia
count On that occasion $4,000 Womei
voted for suffrage and only SCI voted
against it.
An influential Man Suffrage associa
ton of which Mr.. Russell was treasurer
flooded the state with large posters
urging women to vote no. Yet in 23S OF
the 322 towns of Massachusetts not ont
woman voted in the negative. Every
question submitted to the vote of mer
is decided by the majority of those who
care enough about the matter TO eX'
press themselves upon it. The ants
charged the suffrage cause with being
"a minority movement" Their own
movement is that of a much smaller
minority.
The Indifference of the mass of wo-
men is claimed as proof that the grant
ing of suffrage would be wrong. George
William Curtis said that 1.-The assertion
that when a majority Of women ask fo4'
equal political rights they will be grant
ed is a confession that there is no con-
elusive reason against their sharing
them. And, if that be so, how can
THEIR admission rightfully depend upon
the majority? Why should the woman
who does not care to vote prevent the
voting of her neghbor who does? Why
should a hundred girls who are content
to be dolls and do what Mrs. Grundy
expects prejudice the choice of single
one who wishes to be a woman and do
what her conscience requires?"
If iS a sim r1n historical fact that pV-
cry Improvement thus far made in the
condition of women has been secured
not by a general demand from the ma
jority of women, but by arrangements
and entreaties of persistent few, In
each case the advocates of progress
have had to contend not merely with
the conservatism of men, but with the
indifference of women, and often with
active opposition from some of them.
When man in Saco, Me-. first en-
ployer a saleswoman, the men boycott
ted his store, and the women remon-
strated earnestly with him on the sin of
which he was guilty in placing young
woman in position of such publicity as
behind a counter. When Lucy Stone
tried to secure for married women the
right to their own property, women
asked with scorn, DO you think /
would give myself where l would not
give my property" When Elizabeth
Blackwell began to study medicine the
women at her boarding house refused
to speak to her, and women passing her
on the streets would hold their skirts
aside so as not to touch her. Mary Ly-
ons' first efforts for the higher educa-
ton of women We're received with inf
mite ridicule, not only by the mass of
men, but by the mass of women as well.
On eastern countries, where women
are shut up in zenanas and forbidden to
walk the streets unveiled, the women
themselves are among the strongest up
holders Of these traditional restrictions,
which they have been taught to think
add to their dignity. The Chinese lady
Is as proud of her small feet as any
American anti is of her political disa-
bilities. Pundita Ramabi tells us that
he idea of education of girls is so UNI
popular with the majority of Hindoo
women that when a progressive Hin
loo proposes to educate his little daugh
er, 1t is not uncommon for the women
If his family to threaten to drown
All this merely shows that human ma
ure is conservative, and that it is fully
rs conservative in women as in men.
The persons who take a strong interest
II any reform are always comparative
y few, and they are habitually regard
ID with disfavor even by those whom
he proposed reform is to benefit.
Many changes for the better have
)een made during the last half century
n the laws, written and unwritten, re-
ating to women Everybody approves
f these changes now because they
lave become accomplished facts. But
ot one of them would have been made
o this day if it had been necessary to
Wait till the majority Of women asked
or it. The change now under discus
ion is to be judged on its merits. In
he light of history the Indifference of
1ost women and the opposition of few
must be taken as a matter of course. It
as no more rational significance now
han 1t has had in regard to each pre-
ious step of women's progress.
The statement is signed by Susan b.
.nthony, president; the Rev. Anna H.
haw, viee-president at large; Rachel
'oster Avery, corresponding secretary;
lice Stone Blackwell, recording secre-
airy; Harriet Taylor Upton, treasurer,
nd Catherine Waugh McCulloch, audi
u.