The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-09


free to take either side. 1t is notice
able, however, that few if any of
our Catholic women. either abroad
or in America, are prominent among
the leaders of the suffragist move
ment.
The speaker, without intimatinS
on which side he stood set forth the
arguments urged for and against wo-
man suffrage. He cited high church
authorities, like Cardinal Gibbons, as
opposed to woman suffrage. THE
more woman invades the domain of
man." said the Cardinal in a recent
interview, "the more, will her So
cial and moral status be lowered
Woman's sphere is held to be the
home and married women should find
their work in caring for homes, hus-
bands and children.
Politics Will Degrade Woman.
Politics will degrade woman, and
will not be purified by her taking an
active part in them. The farther
away a woman gets from the thought
that she was made to be the mother
and the helpmate of man. the far
Their away she gets from her useful
ness in life and from her power; for
her power lies not in trying to COM
pete with man, but in being his in
SEPARATION. The worlds most cherish
ed women were not the aggressive,
but the most feminine women. They
were and still are a powerful 1nfiu-
ence being strong, aggressive men.
They exert their power through their
gentleness and charm, modesty and
affection-those sweet and gracious
qualities which beautify womanhood.
To love and care for family is wo-
mans destiny This is undoubtedly
the traditional view and is held very
generally by Catholics.
On the other hand, there are
among leading churehmen very pro
suffrage. Father Sheedy cited the
recent letter of Cardinal Moran,
Archbishop of Melbourne, Australia,
where woman's right to vote is rec
ognized. The charge that woman Will
suffer in her dignity by going to the
polls is answered thus: What does
sacrifice any dignity by going to the
polls? These are natural questions
when we see so many Catholic Wo-
men refusing to avail themselves of
rightful privilege that democracy has
gained for her.
No Longer Il Mere Chattel.
mo longer a mere household chat
tel, she is recognized as mans fell
low-worker and helpmate, and cred
tied with public spirit and inteli
gence AS a mother she has spe-
cial interest in the legislation of her
country. for upon it depends the well
fare Of her children. She knows
what is good for them just IS much
as the father, and the unselfishn 2ss
of maternity should make her inter
est even keener than that of man,
who is naturally more self-absorbed."
Cardinal Moran has had obserVa-
ton OF woman'S suffrage in his couE-
try and speaks from knowledge. The
strongest argument in favor OF Wo1
J1xr csfea tod
thus: All the human inhabitants
of any one country should have equal
rights and liberties before the law;
woman are human beings, therefore
they should have votes as WE'LL as
men. 1t matters not whether ten
million or only ten claim it; the right
and liberty should exist, even if they
do not use it.
Women Are Educators.
What good reason is there, then,
to deny this right? If women want
the ballot, why should they not have
it? Women, as a rule, are as in
telligent, high-minded and as honor
able as men. They are as much in
terested in good government. All
great moral movements appeal to
thin more forcibly than to men.
They own property; they are large
element in the Industrial commercial
and professional life of the world. If,
it was urged the other day in the de-
bate on local option in our legislature,
women of this state had the ballot,
would not the result be different? Is
it not true that woman has done
more 10 uplift the race than all 9TH
er agencies combined. Her influence
has been felt in all charitable and
philanthropic work; why should not
the same influence for good be felt in
her civic and political life? That
woman possesses finer mind in NOR
ais and ethics connot be denied; that
her ability to deal with matters of
state and diplomacy is known from
history. 1t is urged, too, that wo-
man, a large element in our indus
trial and commercial life, should
have equal pay for equal work. That
they do not receive at present.
Injustice Should Be Removed.
This injustice would be removed
had woman the right to vote. Wo-
men teachers believe that they should
receive the same salary as men teach
ers. SaleSwomen do not receive
the same salaries as postmen, though
they stand as many hours every day. |
Their contention is that they should
receive the same salary as the men
who sell goods and who are some
times paid three times as much.
In fine, it is claimed that woman
suffrage would give us better govern
ments, purify our politics, aid in the
better administration of justice, nit
gate the condition of the poor, pre-
vent the eXploita ton of child labor
and elevate the position of woman. |
If it should do these things, so sadly
needed to be done plainly it ought
to have a. trial.