The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-03
COMMUNICATIONS
To the Editor Of the Spy;


pinos which we read with keen inter-
est and the conviction that were it adj
dressed to any country save our own,
Americans who love-in truth-their
own land, would be filled with indig-
nant sympathy by its dignity, it's self
restraint, its patriotism. Thinking this,
we watched for its appearance in our
worcester papers, but though disap-
pointed we have not been surprised
that neither The Spy nor the Gazette
the only papers of which l can speak
with knowledge, has published 1t. Not
surprised, for it is not the first in
stance of the kind.
Were the editors of these papers
asked their proper functions, I think
they would say it was to give to their
readers, not only the news of the day.
but on all important questions such
facts as will enable them to form a
fair judgment. But do they do this?
Does The Spy? Taking this one ques-
ton of the Philippines, does it enable
It's readers to judge fairly? OF late it
has given, in special type, General
Ouss opinion Of the natives, etc. Did
it give equal prominence to General
MacArthur's verdict on this point or
his testimony to the growing respect
for Aguinaldo? 1t has spoken of the
establishment Of schools in the islands
~ oCA SONCl IlIltIllp DuL II is silent dS
TO the schools existent before our arri-
val, as to the university of Manila as
to the colleges, as to the Filipino
scholars like Rial, like Matini.
Let our city editors muse be aware
that the majority of their readers form
their conclusions a most, if not
quite wholly from what they learn
from their daily papers. Do they see
both sides? Have they done so from
the very beginning of the Cuban ques-
ton?
1t was, if 1 remember rightly, in
July, that the diplomatic correspon-
dence between our country and Spain,
before the declaration of war, was at
last given to the public, a correspon-
qehce Which showed very clearly where
lay the responsibility for the war.
Did a single Worcester paper give
this correspondence to its readers?
Inc fact that in the nature of things
we can but seldom set at the views of
the FiIipinos themselves would make
II seem but common justice to publish
this appeal as widely as possible. to
give the accused an opportunity for de-
iehse' In our courts neither judge nor
jury decide without careful considera-
tlon OF the facts on both sides and in
the case of the Philippines the people
are really, or should be, both Judge and
jury. Do they hear both sides?
Yet surely, if our treatment of the
Flllpinos is just if the war we are car
rying on there is a righteous one, we
nave no reason to fear any represen-
1auonS, any appeal they can make.
Fiat justitia ruat coelum" is the
motto of our courts. Is it too much to
ask that it shall also be the principle
OF our papers? Is it too much to hope
mat The Spy,-which has lately shown
in the matter of the mayoraIty that
1t can rise over purely partisan con-
Slderatlons-may also do so in this
larger question which many of its
readers. as well as our senior sena-
tor, believe involves the very life of
the republic. A SUBSCRIBER
Worcester, Mass, Dec. 2, 1901.
To the Editor of The Spy:
Mrs. Clara Belle Brown. who annual
~ comes out with a big flourish of
trumpets in opposition to woman suf-
frage has now arrived in Iowa to de-
feat any suffrage bill that may be pre-
scented to the Legislature, this win
ter.
This timid, shrinking Mrs. Brown has
been stamping the country for several
years trying to impress upon the peo-
pie that Woman's place is at home. In
one breath she says: TT seems to me
there is higher duty for women than
mlngl1ng in politics. and in the next
breath she is enthusiastically descrtb-
ing how successfully she stumped Col
orado, last fall, in the interest Of the
Republican party, working under the
direction of the National Republican
Committee. If this isn't "mingling in
politics" with vengeance, pray what
is?
She is reported to have said: "show
me one man of genuine ability and
power whose wife is a woman suf-
fragist and 1 will abandon my work in
opposition and admit l am wrong"
If we really believed that Mrs. Brown
would abandon her opposition we
would not attempt to defend our hus-
bands, but as she will do not such
thing, we will call attention to a few
men whom we can recall to mind at
TINS moment whose wives are woman
We shall take the time to mention
but few of the husbands of the old
pioneers like Horace Greeley, Garrison.
Phillips, Pillsbury, Curtis, Emerson,
Alcott and the rest of the old guard
whose wives were pronounced suf-
fragists. l wonder if Mrs. Brown ever
heard of these men?
To come down to modern times, SUD-
L 1GOOSe-
Welt and then follow with John D.
Long, secretary of the navy; United
States Senators Burrows, Beveridge.
Clark of Wyoming, Fairbanks, Frye,
Hoar, Jones of Nevada, Mason, Per-
kins, Orville H. and Thomas c. PIatt.
Shoup, Teller, Warren, Speaker of the
House David B. Henderson, and too
many representatives to name. The
wife of Senator Patterson of Colorado.
was an ardent suffragist before the
women of that state were enfranchised
All Massachusetts, has just united in
celebrating the centennial birthday of
Dr. Samuel G. Howe, the great phil |
whose wife has been a suf-
frage leader 40 years.
The last two presidents of the Cali
tornia Suffrage Association were the
wife of A. A Sargent United States
senator and Minister to Germany, and
the wife of John F. Swift, United
States commissioner to China and min
lister to Japan. If we should take up
the presidents and professors of the
colleges, the bishops and ministers and
the men prominent in the communities
where they reside, whose wives are
open advocates of woman suffrage, this
list might be extended indefinitely.
Enough has been given, however to
answer Mrs. Browns challenge. Rut
we beg that she will not carry out her
threat to abandon her work in oppO-
sition," for if she will keep right on in
Iowa, employing her usual method the
suffrage bill will. stand a good chance
Of carrying.
ELNORA NJ. BABCOCK.