Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-03-22
Correspondence.
The Equal Suffrage League.
ELLSWORTH, ME, March %, 1905,

/ To the Editor OF Ihe AntertedH'
The question has frequently been asked:
ssFor what purpose wss the Equal Suffrage
league of Hancock county organized" In
a word we might answer: ''For the pur-
| pose of srousing an interest in the cause
of equal suffrage smong the people of our
county" but for the information of those
whose attention has not been called to
this reform, / take this opportunity to
correct some Of the impressions that have
been urged against this reform by persons
who have not had sn opportunity of in
forming themselves in regard to il.
The object of equal suffrage is not, as
has been stated, to bring women into pub
lie life, nor to prove their superiority to
the opposite sex, nor to relieve them Of
their domestic cares of home makers, wives
and mothers. bat to cultivate their self
respect. independence of thought and
sction, without which they cannot be
home makers in the best sense, nor faith
tal wives and good mothers. Nor will the
enfrsnchisement of women cause the an
tsgonism Of the sexes
No man who has spark of true man
| courage of her conviction; he may love
her for her amisbility of character, her
purity. her unselfish devotion TO him; she
may be his toy, lor idol, but never his
| helpneet. The enfrsnchisement of women
will not bring her into competition with
men in business; that question viii settle
itself, and without regard 10 sex; those
who have the best business capacity viii
1 lead, when women have equal business
education with men.
In this age when women hold undis-
puted positionsof trust and honor in the
| departments of government, in business,
| in literature, in the professions. and in
philsnthropies, no one can doubt their
ability, both moral and intellectual. 10
take their place at the polls beside the
male voters. As physical incspaeity to do
military or police duty does not distrsn-
ehise man, why should il be an argu-
ment against the enfrsnchisement of
women.
Benjamin Franklin said: They who are
taxed. and held smsnsh to laws they have
no voice in making are in abiect slavery"
Is it not obviously unjust that women
should be plSced on political plane with
idiots, insane persons, and criminals
taxed for the support of government, and
held amenable to laws they have no voice
in msking-when the declaration Of indie
pendsnce declares that governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent of
the goyerned's
The women in Maine have no voice in
municipal affairs although they are inter
ested in the education of the young, and
manifest their interest BY frequent visits
in the schools, and attendance on the
grsdnatioas- A very large proportion Of
the teachers in our State are wong, and
il Is natural to suppose they realize the
needs OF the schools better than persons
who never visit the schools, and who APP
pareatly take no interest in them Thou
sands of these women have neither faith
/ ers, husbands. nor brothers to represent
them (grsnting that il Is possible for one
human being TO justly represent another.
It is weI-knOwn fact that women do
/ ing the same work in all departments that
/ Is dune By men receive less than one-hslf
1 the compensation thai men receive, and
| that women have been discharged that
their positions might be given 20 some
man whose vote was needed by some mu-
nicip&l or county demzgogue.
There are laws concerning marriage,
| divorce. the guardianship of children, the
laws rslsfing to property, not only inner
/ tied, but that sequired by their hard
earnings, that directly affect women; Is il
not grossly unjust that they should DC de-
lswss
/ The old CRY Of horror that the snfrsn-
I ehisemsnf Of women would mean the neg
I lect of the home, belonged 10 an age
when every womSn's sphere was limited
Z BY the four walls Of her house The
wo1zn of domestic tastes, or the con-
Z scientious woman wife or mother, Whose
duties contine her 10 hsr kitchen or nar-
ssry. viii never f0rszke home for political
( life, but the woman WHO Is willing 70 neg
I lsct her homa, does not need politics fer
an excuse; the social life et the day affords
{ thst. The average conscientious male voter,
unless he Is professional politician de-
votes infinitely less time 70 his political
duties than Ethe average modern woman
does TO her clubs, study class znd social
engagements. Tennyson has truly writtens
TIE womza's Cause l. mans. tAsy rise OF siak
Toze6Asr. d <arfea or gs5ltke. bond or fres-
OF s4azl seeing ether sex alone
Is aAlf iIself. and IN srEe RzSrTiAge HIS
Ner ea1al. s0E aseezal. each f2l12s
Dsfscss In ssch. ami ziEzFs shoggat L skoazAt
ANN T. GREELY,
Honorary president Of the Equal Suffrage
league Of Hancock county.