The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-03
PEOPLES FORUM
Wsman.s suffrage Asa

Editor OF The virginian:
Sir.-In your issue OF yesterday you make edi-
torial comment on woman suffrage limitations.
and suggest that women who desire the sur
frage might well take a leaf from the note book
of evolution" Your, friendly 90 advice has
been anticipated: do take our position in ac-
cordance with the teaching Of evolution, and our
petition for equal suffrage is the final fruit
Of the developing idea OF personal liberty i'm
planted in the beginning in the soul of human
ity. in seed. and sprout. and bud, and flower"
to quote your words, this principle has been
slowly but surely expanding during the long
years Of the worlds darkness. 1t has been fos-
tered by women well by nen-t is human,
both male and female.
In the two thousand and more wears OF cease
less struggle for manhood suffrage has woman
really borne part:
You afirm--"They twomen> are not fitted for
the ballot even so well as the untitled men are
prepared for It, because they hnye not sweated
and bled to get H."
Consider: beneath the surface of conscious
activity. there is a wider and deeper OF
sub-consciousness creating and controlling its
manifestations. The energies of stand in
somewhat the same relation to the energies OF
woman Our blood and our tears and our saeri-
fees have made possible the advance of man
along the broadening path of freedom. We, too
have been producers and economists from the
beginning. From the foundation OF society
have sustained our allotment In the division of
human labor, often allotment Of far heavier
burden and less reauited toll. We, too, have
burned at the stake; we. too. have been thrown
to lions, We also have suffered less and exile
and death for opinions sake--both In our own
persons and in the offering OF lives far dearer
to us than our we have done this along
with you We never cringed--we never pied
Tor mercy because of our own frazier bodies. We
endured and suffered and died for our con-
cepttons Of right just you did for We wers
even as you-your mothers, daughters wives
SISTERS Are we indeed not well fitted iur
the ballot as the untitled man? Our interests
are Identical. our sacrifices are even greater;
higher. Our self effacing efforts have IN large
measure prepared us: only lack is the au-
thority which men have usurped. The rest Of
our ntness can alone come through the edu-
cation of use.
Miriam and Deborah, Judith and Boadicea.
Cornelia- Isabella, Marie Theresa. Joan OF Arc.
that lion hearted Virgin--show US that women
has wrought along with man for the holy prin-
cple OF freedom. In revolutionary and
! in the later Civil War, there was heroism no
less profound among the women at home than
among the men at the front. and the labors OF
the latter were only made possible by the stead
fast patriotism and energy Of the former. It
was simple instance Of division OF labor for
the attainment OF common freedom. We bore
the armiee we nerved them by teaching and
/ example,: We played Our part In the fight 1t 10
therefore somewhat difficult to accept your dis
caimer Of offence when you iiken the bestowal
Of equal suffrage on the women Of Virginia In
, its character and effect to the enfrAuchisemant
Of alien and lower for purposes OF re-
venge by inimical Congress. That analogy
should inspire gratitude amongst the Daugh-
You say ''The civilization OF the world has
left them twonen) several thousand years be-
nlnd the ne raes, that as you
ton. Take out Of civic reform. OF educa-
ten. out Of the churches out Of philanthropy
out OF legislation where legislation has been
possible to her, all the work Of woman; what
residium would you have? And now that advanc-
ing education and civilization incorpor-
ated woman in all their best and highest en-
deavor. that swift means Of intercommuni-
cation among nations have made quickly avail
able for the use Of all the experience of others;
now that women in great numbers have provsA
their ability in the fields formerly reserved for
men only. why should you apprehend the
OF the banot-whtch you concede II logically hers
I'm her 4'unaccustomed handsT'
The Greek sage uttered a truism when he
said that we learn to do by doing. The use
confer 1t until the candidate were perfect there
would be need for It ut all. The devices 81
government are intended. like the Offices Of re-
Iigion. to help US to grow better. and practice
makes perfect" We have reached point In
the development Of the human race when the
hitherto anfeldirs principle OF liberty must make
its last and necessary expanson--whsn II must
include the individual Of the human species-
not alone the adult male. The demand for eQuaf
Suffrage - the corOiiary OF tEl4 principle, anu
the time seems ripe for It. That II meets with
some opposition despite its admitted logic. alb
stract and practical. 10 merely q demonstration
that the OF ignorance and Of consequent
prejudice, although narrowed. 10 not yet wholly
eliminated But the advancing tide OF freedom
must eventually cover the earth a. the waters
cover the sea. 1t 10 indeed m evolution wnoss
accomplishment cannot be stayed.
Permit me. SIR to add. that the men and
women who advocate equal suffrage in Virginia
hold the feminine sanctities in: even higher es-
TEEN than do thSiT opponents: we consider that
the stability, the chastity, the probity OF the
maternal instinct should have authoritative ex-
preston In the laws Of our country and that
those eternal and divine qualities are beyond
the reach Of political pollution: on the contrary
their application WIN largely help to purify poll
tics and render achievable the administration Of
the sacrament Of citizenship
We will never relinquish the effort.
Very respectfully.
49, JOHN H. LEWIS
-. Richmond Va, February !. 1914