The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-10

even here in the forum. spurned and trodden under foot; and because we are unable to withstand each separate y, we now dread their collective body. was accustomed to think 1t fabu- tous and fictitious tale. that, in cer- tain island, the whole race of males vas utterly expatriated by conspiracy If the women. But the utmost danger may be apprehended equally from either sex, if you suffer cabals ana yecret consultations to be held; scarce y. indeed, can 1 determine, in my own mind, whether the act itself, or the precedent 1t affords, is of more per nicious tendency. The latter of these more particularly concerns us consuls, md the otker magistrates; the former you, my fellow citizens; for. whether he measure proposed to your consider Ition be profitable to the State or not, is to be determined by you, who are 0 vote on the occasion. As to the out 'ageous behavior of these women whether 1t be merely an act or thelr swn, or owing to your instlsatlohs' Marcus Fun6anius and Lucius Nale- ius. it unquestionably implies culpaole conduct in magistrates. l Know not whether 1t reflects greater disgrace on you, tribunes, or on the consuls; on you certainly, if you have brought these women hither for the purpose of rais- ing tribunal sedition; on us. If we suf- Ter laws to be imposed on us by se- eession of women, as was done for- nerly by that of the common people. It was not without painful emotions of shame. that I, just now, made my way into the forum through the midst of a band of women. Had I not been re- strained by the respect for the modesty and dignity of some individuals among Nf . Der, and been unwilling that they Jhould be seen rebuked by consul, lhould not have refrained from saying to them: What sort of practice is this. of running out into the public, be- setting the streets, and addressing oth- CT women's husbands? Could not each have made the same request to her husband at homer
 "Recollect all the institutions re- upecting the sex, by which your fore fathers restrained them and subjected them to their husbands; and yet, even with the help of all these restrictions, they can scarcely be kept within bounds. If, then, you suffer them to throw these off one by one, to tear them all asunder, and, at last, to be set on an equal footing with yourselves, can you imagine that they will be any longer tolerable? Suffer them once to arrive at an equality with you, and they will from that moment become your superiors.-From Livy XXxIV g."
 The theory of Southern civilazation has been that woman was quen of the household and of the domestic circle. Whenever you depart from that pr1n- ciple, however, you say to the fair wo- men of the State you must go out and mingle in politics, you must lobby With men or the streets for votes, you lower the high standard that now prevails. When you go home at night tired from your business you must sit down and discuss with your wife and daughters the question of taxation and what will be the result in this State? The re- suit will be the complete destruction and overthrow of ouhr cherished con- wctions as to woman's sphere. In this State. the highest type of civiliza- ton that the world ever produced is maintained by the system that now prevails I heard a distinguished gem tleman say that the highest type or civilization was produced under the old common law in which the existence of the wife was merged In the husband. which prevailed in this country for hundreds of years, Tell me under what system of law has women ever occupied the same high and elevated
 
 old doctrines of the common law which have prevailed in Ala bama and will continue to prevail as long as We respect the high position which women ought to occupy in this State. I say. MT. President and dele gates of the Convention. in or~1sing this measure I am advocating the high position which women occupy. The women of the State have not de- nanded the vote, not a single demand comes from our mothers, wives or daughters for any such right as this. They would not exercise 1t if you granted 1t to them. They have not exercised it in other States where it was granted. In the great States of the West where 1t was conferred. very few, if any, of them vote except on a question of prohibition of liquor or where emotional excitement prevails | say that since the day when Chris tianuy elevated women to the high pedestal of refinement and refining in- luence which she now occupies her Kreatest palladium has been the chival- " and power of man. Her weakness has been her strength and whenever you put her on a common equality with man and tell her to go out in the de- hasing arena of politics. you lower her, you brush the bloom from the lower and put Alabama along side with the Populistic States of Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado. I say that Shis amendment Is absolutely antagon- ktic to Southern sentiment. Some haunt those who express my senti- nents as not being progressive and say That we must get away from the ideas If the old South and join hands with he popuiistic West. but Mir. President, ask you where in history was nober :ype of womanhood and manhood ever produced than under the civilization of she old South? Where was hospitality more graciously bestowed? Where was there more refinement and .ulture, where were the women more beautiful, more refined, more lovely and lovable than the fair women of the South that grew up under these institution. Vet they ypeak sneeringy of these institutions. Mir. President, it has heen remarked by distinguished foreign writers that In no county in the civilized world, among no English speaking people was there more respect. reverence and aeference for women than among the people of the South. and I nm unWill- ing 10 take any step which might lower the high position which the fair wo- men of Alabama have ever occupied and will continue to occupy unless we follow the false teachings of cranks and fanatics.
 The President resumed the chair.
 The praxsid apt-The time of the gen