West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-22
roUAG RiGnf,s.
And the Progressive fredrm rrihr .ge.
Alice Freeman PaImer I'D Woman
Suffrage


Among the many tributes to Mrs.
Alice Freeman Palmer, one fact that
does her honor should not be for
gotten. Living in an atmosphere
that was conservative in many re-
spects. her spirit always remained
progressive.
Not long ago, in answer TO the
objection Often urged against equal
suffrage, that "Women are already
fully occupied with higher duties,
"Mrs. Palmer wrote:
"What are the political duties3
What are the higher duties9 How
far does the one kind obs,ruct or
assist the other2
"The political duties are Inform
ing ones self on the state of the
country, on policies at issue, on
candidates for office, and going t.
the polls and depositing ballot.
'rhe So called higher duties are
the bearing and rearing of children
and making home for family and
friends.
''How much time must she spend
on her political duties2 If she be
longs to the well-to- do class, and
hires others to do her work, she has
time for whatever interests her
most--only let those interests be
nobel If she does her own house
work, she can take ten minutes TO
stop on her way to market and vote
once or twice year. She can find
half an hour day for the news.
papers and other means Of informa.
ton. She can talk with family and
friends about what she reads. She
does this now; she will then do il
more intelligently, and will give and
receive more from what she saws
and hears.
"The duties of motherhood and
the making of home are the most
sacred work OF women, and the
dearest to them, of every class. II
casting an intelligent vote would in
terfere with what only woman can
do-and what, failed in, undermines
society and government-no one
can question which a woman must
choose. But it cannot be shown
that there is any large number Of
women in this country who have
not the necessary time to vote in
diligently; and study of the vital
questions of our government would
make them better comrades to their
husbands and friends, better guides
to their sons and more interesting
valuable members Of society.
Women have more leisure than men;
they are less tied to hours of
routine;. they have had more years
of school training than men, and In
this country their average conscience
and loyalty compare favorably with
mems. All this makes simple the
combination of public and higher
duties.
''rhe objections to the political
woman and to the educated woman
present some instructive analogies.
Fifty years ago it was seriously be
lieved that knowing the classics
would ruin her morals. philosophy
her religion, and mathematics her
health; in general, college educat.
ION would take away her desire to
be good wife and mother. To
protect being so frail, the colleges
were carefully closed against her.
Now, with the approval Of wise men,
more girls than boys are preparing
for college, and this in the public
interest. 1t may be found in poll.
tics, as IN education, that the higher
duties of women will be assisted.
not hindered, by intelligent dicip.
line in the lower"
Let these words Of Mrs Alice
Freeman Palmer be remembered,
when next the threadbare assertion
is made that "the wisest and best
women" do not believe in equal
suffrage.
ALICE STONE BLACKWELL.