New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-01
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Dr. Lvnaan Abbott Discusses Feni-
nine Tndif ference.

10 ths current issue OF The Atlantic Dr
Lyman Abbott contributes an able and decioeoly
interesting examination OF the question OF
woman suffrage. which for incisiveness and
breadth OF view will rank with other OF ms
ptrerances on electoral matters engaging his
attention. Starting with the assumption OF
general lack az interest in the moot attain
r,ert Of the ballot ar ong women. as shown Tor
example IA the vote OF the women Of Massa-
chusetts in 1895. when on a question whether
they desired the ballot only per cent replied
IN the Affirmative Dr. Abbott proceeds 20 set
forth the reasons which seem 10 him 20 induce,
~ not TO compel. that attitude.
Briefly he holds that the functions OF the two
sexes show difference which extends from the
home into the State. and which renders q d.
vision Of duties not only proper. but inevitable:
that to man are delegated the military duties
~ which in a broad sense the ballot is one. and
rhas in the assumption o. the ballot woman
would be both unjust 20 man and untrue 10 her
self
In the last analysis the family is the basis Of
society as the acorn Of the oak State. church,
army and industrial organization have their
roots there. so that the elements Of the latter
and more complicated social life OF the nation
are IA germ within IL. But within the family
itself are met at once with a striking and
patent fact in the difference in the sexes This
psychical and essential This difference elini-
mates the question OF equality or the superiority
OF one over the other.
They 90 not duplicate each other. Man is not
inferior woman; woman is not inferior
man They are different IN nature. in tempera-
rnent. IN function. We cannot destroy this diff
ference ~ we would. we would not if we could.
In preserving IL lies the soy Of the family; the
peace prosperity and we'll being Of society
This distinction between the sexes-nherent.
senpers mental functional-is universal and
perpetual II underlies the family, which could
exist ~ this difference did not exist it is
70 be caken account Of in all social problems.
problems Of Industrial organization. religious
organization political organization. Should
society ever forget IL. Il would forget the most
fundamental fact in the social order. the fact
on which is built the whole superstructure Of
society.
Though the exact oemarkation OF the differing
functions may not always be obvious it seems
plain that the work Of battle In all its forms
belongs TO man. The war with nature is not
Cor woman. IN conditions Of more or less bar
baTisra this rule is violated. in savage tribes
An countries which have stin TO effect a com
plete ernergence from barbarisu. and in COM
Tnunities where a sudden growth of industrial
competition has resulted IN a slight relapse.
by just Ear, into barbaric ways. II is not
7womans business 10 fight against human foes
threatening the home There is no denial Of her
courage in the instinct which makes the notion
of feminine soldiery revolving and grotesque
In the same manner woman is not called upon
20 exercise the functions Of police Though as
loyal as law abiding. as patriotic as man. Il is
not her duty 10 protect the state from foreign
foes. or the community from internal riot
These two sorts Of protection, IN reality one
are primarily the object Of government. Govern
1nent may do other things. Government must
co this. The ballot is the efficient machine for
the direction OF republican form Of govern
ment, which. however, shares with all other
governments the requisite Of the power to com
pei obedience. Behind every law stands the
sheriff. behind the sheriff the militia behind the
militia the whole military power Of the federal
government The ballot Is explicitly an act OF
the Will and implicitly an expression OF power
and force. This force resides in the men Of the
nation, subject TO its demands. Shall woman
be allowed viii she desire the right OF a reg
lister Of win. when she does not furnish the
power compel
The question, Shall women vofe7 ~ translated
into practical and actual form. reads thus: shall
women decide what are the rights Of the citizen
70 be protected and what are the duties Of the
citizen 10 be enforced and then are her son and
her brother and her husband to go forth, armed
IL need be- 10 enforce her decision? Is this
where the functional line between the sexes is
20 be drawn? Are women to make the laws
and men to enforce them? is woman never 20
act as a private but always commander
tn CHIEF? is this right? To ask these
questions Is 70 answer them. The functions
Of government cannot be thus divided. In
democratic community the duty Of enforcing
the law must devolve those who determine
what the law shall be that is 10 be enforced. Il
cannot be decreed by one class and enforced
by another II is inconceivable that fl should
be decreed by one sex and enforced by another.
The positive reasons for woman's justification
3n remaining Indifferent to the use OF the bal
aot IN spite OF the appeals IN its favor, seen
by DR.. Abbott 10 lie in what he calls the Direct
Ministry 10 Life"
What are We in the world for2 The family
answers the question We marry Children are
given 20 us to protect govern. nurture. train.
They grow 20 manhood. and in turn they marry.
Rno 10 them IN turn children are given 20 protect,
govern, nurture train. The first parents hnger
a few years that, grandparents. thev may
have the pleasure Of the little children without
the responsibility for them. and then they die.
Their work earth is done. and they go for
come. The end Of life Is the rearing and train
fng OF children. As the family is historically the
FIRST organization. IS II is biOlogically the unit
out OF which all other social organisms
formed. so its protection ana maintenance are
the objects for which all other social organiza-
lions have been called into existence and are
maintained. Whether We cultivate
farm. or operate a factory. or manage a store,
or build and conduct a railroad. paint pict-
szres. write books. or preach sermons. or en-
act and enforce laws-W whatever We do. the
end of activity is the nurture and train
ing OF children in this primary school which
call life. in preparation for some life We
know not what. hereafter
In this work Of direct ministry TO the individ-
ual which is essentially the aim Of human life
wornan's place is first The protection which
Is thrown around her is also for the protection
of this work which she alone can DO and which
che must be free 10 DO. She cannot both do this
work and protect IL. any more than can man.