The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-08

build.
False Doctrines Taught by Certain
Women.
None of us can deny that we have
unhappily fallen upon a time when
doctrines are taught by women, and
to women. which tend with more or
less directness to the subversion of
sane and wholesome ideas of the
work and mission of womanhood, and
lead to a fanciful insistence upon
sharing in the stern, rugged and un-
womanly duties and responsibilities
allotted to man. AS is usually the
case when a radical and unnatural
change is the object of effort those
most extreme and pronounced in
opinion have forged to the front and
assumed leadership. In outspoken
discomfort with the station and op-
Iortunity American women now en-
joy, these clamorous leaders openly
demand their equal participation with
men in the right of suffrage and in
every other political right and priv
ilege. Many other women, more
considerate and conserva tive, who
refuse to indorse these demands, nev-
ertheless by amiably tolerating them,
or by advocating other less direct
attempts to enlarge the character of
woman'S endeavor, encourage and aid,
perhaps mconsciously ard uninten-
tionally. femal suffrage radicalism.
In this magazine, a few months
ago, l ventured to publish some views
| entertain touching woman's clubs
and their tendencies. / am afraid Il
portion of what l wrote has been a
little misunderstood by some women
of genuine disposition, whose good
opinion i would be glad to retain.
Nevertheless l have no intention of
attempting to make my meaning
plaiher. or of modifying the opinions
| have expressed relating specifically
to wonan'S clubs. I desire to sup
plement those opinions ~by declaring
that. while they have elected con-
siderable approval from womem j
have been hardly less gratified TO
discover in the expressions of many
who have dissented, !, a .tolle of ehaEm-
ing womanliness and moderation.
which has confirmed me in the belief
that there need be no apprehension
that such women are prepared de-
liberately and willfully to undermine
woman's legitimate mission: but what
| fear more and more is the result
of their good-natured and indirect
affiiation with those more radically
disposed-who, with noisy discomfort
and possibly with not too much dis
'.
newspapers their unpleasant temper
and their Indifferent attempts to COM
mend woman suffrage. accompanied
occasionally by something very like
unwomanly abuse and misrepresen-
tation.
General Woman Suffrage il mex
pedient.
| desire here to make statement
which / am willing to have regarded
somewhat i'm the light of confess
sion. In my former article in the
Journal a reference was made in the
following terms to the movement on
foot to secure for woman the right
to vote and otherwise participate in
public affairs:
Let it here be distinctly under
stood that no sensible man has fears
of injury to the country on account
of such participation. 1t is its dan
gerous undermining effect on the
characters of the wives and mothers
OF our land that we fear The sub
ject under discussion was the unfav-
orable effect of woman's clubs on
American womanhood: and it is toll
erably apparent. from what imme-
diateiy followed the abovc-quoted in
dulgent allusion to female participa-
tion in public affairs, that such allu-
sion was incidental and Illustrative
of the main topic. So far as l am
concerned. although | then saw no
prospect of the accomplishment of
this participation. as appears from
other parts of the same article,
believed that general woman Sunrage
would be an inexpedient and vcn-
TtUreSome experiment. l am willing,
however, to admit that it was only
after a more thorough appreciation of
W haf a 10 ff,..cr
that [ became fully convinced that
its inaug uration would vastly increase
the unhappy imperfections and short
comingS OF ou. present. nlan-voting
suffrage, and that it was only after
better knowledge of the spirit and
disposition that stand behind it, gain
ed from recent experience and OBJ
servation. that l was entirely per-
suaded that it's especial susceptibility
to bad leadership and hurtful influ-
ences would constitute it another
menacng condition to those which al
ready vex and disturb the deliberate
and intelligent expression of the pop
ular will.
Ii will not do to suppose that a
majority of the sensible and respon-
siblc women of the land desire suf-
frage and admittance to the activities
Of politics. On the contrary, there is
row q great preponderafce of these
who either actively oppose all move
ments in this direction or are con-
tentcdly indifferent. A few years age
the question Of allowing municipal
suffrage i'm Massachusetts, TO women
was submittes! to all the voters of
that State who were eligible to vote
for school committees. The number
of women at that time qualified to
register aud ballot on the question
was about $4,000. OF these, more
than $4,000 declined to vote. The
total woman's vote cast in favor of
the proposition was smaller than had
sometimes been cast i'm school cleo
tions. There were sorty-seven towns
In which not one wOman'S ballot was
e. q G i'm the afficr,atiuo apd puph