The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-08
cleveland
ANSWERED
BY woman

article on "Womans Mission ana
woman's Clubs" which is so extremely
reactionary I'm tone that it will make the
average reader smile.
Mr. Cleveland IL an honest ana
courageous man. but he has always had
a streak OF narrowness and this shows
itself especially on the woman aues-
ton When some Democratic women
years ago organized "A club TO work for
the success OF that party and wanted
10 name ii the Frances Cleveland CLUB
Mr. Cleveand's wrath was almost comic
as was his pompous announcement 10
these well-meaning Democratic ladies
that he considered IT most unbecomins
for woman's name TO be brought before
the publlc, except as an adjunct to her
husbands
Mr.. Cleveland now attacks the woman
club movement i'm general II shoulo
be boldly declared, ne says, mat the
best and safest club for woman 10
patronlze is her home" II she joins even
one club. she is In danger. Member
ship I'm one such organization induces
liberation and defense OF club ideas IN
general" The club woman should re-
member that "she may he directly respon-
sibe for marred happiness in other house
holds, and that as an alder ana abetter
OF woman's clubs she must bear her
share OF liability for the injury they may
innict upon the domestic life OF our land.
Mr.. Cleveland thinks women join clubs
largely in order 10 punish their husbands
for neglecting them. but las agencies for
retaliation or mans punishment. womans
clubs are horribly misplaced and miser-
ably vicious.
The great majority OF married women
arc on good terms with their husbands.
and have no wish TO punish them. The
United States now has thousands OF
womcn's clubs. with hundreds Of thou
sands of members. IL Is absurd TO sup
pose that any considerable portion OF
these women joined the clubs for the sake
OF wreaking vengeance on their husbands.
Women are merely learning the lesson
men learned long ago. that organized
effort is more effective than isolated en-
doavors and that whatever they want.
whether IL he amusement instruction, or
the accomplishment OF charitable and
benevolent work. they can attain TO II
best by getting together. Let any
unpreiudiced person read the long list
OF practical good works that have been
accomplished by the wOmen's clubs OF our
country, TO say nothing OF the broaden
ing OF women's own minds and the bright
ening OF their lives, and he must be con-
vinced that the club movement has been
an enormous benefit. with some Incl
dental evils. and not as Mr.. Cleveland
thinks, an enormous evil with some In
cidental good
The incidental evils certainly exist. There
IS no doubt that some women join too
many clubs and devote too much time
90 them Mr.. Cleveland seems TO think
,f.g Ia "A xsitk nf0aaf ~
suffrage. but he offers no proof to show
that excessive indulgence in clubs is more
common in the equal suffrage states than
In those where women do not vote.
Mrs Julia Ward Howe. the president OF
one OF the pioneer women's clubs, and
also an early advocate Of equal suffrage.
while she heartily approves OF the club
movement I'm general, nevertheless. warns
women not 20 let themselves be "clubbed
to death" What Mr.. Cleveland calls the
"club habit is quite as common among
women who oppose suffrage as among
those who favor f. II NOT more so. one
prominent member Of the Massachusetts,
association opposed To the further extern
sion OF suffrage TO women, Mrs. Kate
Gannett Wells, is popularly reported TO
be an officer I'm Il different womens clubs
Any good thing may be carried 10 excess; /;
but that does not prove that 1t is in It
self bad.
Mr. Cleveland says; ANY discomfort on
the part Of woman with her ordained
lot. or n restless desire on her part 10
be and TO do something not within tho
sphere OF her appointed mnistrations,
cannot appear otherwise than as per-
versions OF a gift to God TO the human
race" Mr. Cleveland regards man as tho
human race, and woman merely rs a
gift to IT, Her appointed sphere is 10
minister" TO man. and II she wants to
do anything else in addition, IL is rest
lessness and rebellion.
Mr.. Cleveland insists over and over
again on Gods intentions as TO womans
mission, and fines womans clubs opposed
TO the divine purpose. But women do
not believe that Mr., Cleveland has had
any special revelation as to the divine
purpose. They think that some Of the
wt,-44e..-uha-h hape-He inIced-in the club
movemcnt-such as Frances Willard. for
instance--were quito as likely as he to
guess correctly at the secret OF Gods in
tentions
Cherbuliez puts into the mouth OF
rough old Russian noble the blunt state
ment: THE great misfortune is that I'm
the design Of nature careful for the
perpetuation OF the race. woman is only
n means. and she cannot help considering
herself as an end II reminds me OF A
poor greyhound that was employed to
turn q spit She was never able to per
suade herself that the roast meat was
not for her Every day IL was fresh
disappointment and | must add that the
roast was more than once I'm danger
Therefore, Il would be well for the roast
l. q. for society. 10 take precautions
against tho appetite for happiness OF this
creature at once weak and violent and
quite incapable ol understanding her true
destiny. And | know OF nothing better
than the captivity OF the Byzantine or
Mussulman harem TO remind the daugh-
ters OF Eve that they have not the right
10 live on their own account"
n would he unjust To Mr.. Cleveland TO
say that this expresses his view: but a
refined and modernized version OF this
idea underlies his whole article. He Is
as far as the Russian was from realizing
that women are half OF tho human race.
and that their welfare and happiness are
as important as those OF the other half
Still less does he realize that woman
can DO more for her husband and children