The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-28
:: SHALL WOMEN VOTE, ::

To the Editor of The Times Dispa tch
Sr.-Niay 1 be allowed a few words
on your editorial of Tuesday, the 23d
entitled Jefferson on Women In Poll
tics?'
There is hardly an angle of human
affairs on which Thomas jefferson may
not be quoted-and quoted pro and
con. His active mind touched every
subject within the range of vision of
the eighteenth century. His was one
OF p the mos, acute and farssens liberal
Thomas jefferson have been left far
behind! He loved science; but there
are few things more astounding to-
day than some OF .teffersons uttcrances
upon science. Sc stood for free
thought; bus he was free thinker
free thought of to-day is a far diff
ferent thing. with far vaster wing
ehan he contemplated. He stood for
democracy; but he had only the eigh-
convention of democracy. The concept
OF to-day has grown immensurably be-
may be ahead of his day, in some
things far ahead OF it; hut he is never
infinitely ahead, nor ahead in all
things. Jefferson was in the van of
which wc do not live.
But. being of liberal and enlight-
cncd and able turn of mind, the prob
nbili,y is great that Jefferson. were
nc living to-day, would stand to-day
where he stood when he did live, IN
the forefront of modern thought 1t
sist in dwelling with eighteenth con-
fury ideas a lover OF science. he
would he keenly interested in every
astonishing latest turn of microscope
or telescope. Radium, elasticity OF
mass Bergson's time theory. tho whole
evolutionary hypothesis, the sentence
of piants--hc would be writing of all
these. 4 philosopher, and naturally Of
prasmatc cast Of mind he would
almost Individually he found in the
ranks of the pragmatic school a
lover OF the people and prepared to
trust them he would probably be at
least mildly soCialistic. Almost GER
iainly he would be found advocating
initiative. referendum and recall. IN
was in the late eighteenth and early
nineteenth ccnturies-in the forefront
Of political; scientific and economic
would not change. his tyre of mind
would not change. but the data and
beliefs on which he acted would have
TO him tc approach the conditions and
needs OF the twentieth century with
the mental attitude OF the eighteenth.
In other words. he would remain en-
lightcncd
May ] call your attention to the
meaning behind the text of your quota
ton from Jeffcrson's letter. written
from Paris, in January lISS. the year
ra.nre the actual inauguration of the
French Revolution. ! quote: In my
opinion (Jeffcrson's) a kind of in
reform takes into account Will cludc
them all: l mean the influence of wo-
men in the government. The manners
Of the nation allow them to visit alone
fairs OF the husband, family or
friends Nor can such one.
without the evidence OF his own eyes.
believe in the desperate state TO which
from the omnipotencc of this) in
1uence." And he goes on to state that
he is glad that in America this in
nuence does not exist beyond the do
mestic circle.
To what government does he refer?
To the French monarchy. which was |
OF reform" does he mean? lie means
the effort OF the pcoplc--the third
estate"-and of the more enlightened
men of education and birth to Tree
themselves from the unspeakablc cor
cuptions of that dominion of courticrs.
noblesse. farmers general and ancient
regime" generally. With these efforts
he WAS In profound sympathy. lie re-
manned SO, and profoundly 81. even
through the violence which eventually
accompanied them. Throughout the
.ench Revolution he was in sentiment
republican and reNolut!onttt. To
what women is he referring? Who
does he fear will block reform? Is 1t
the woman-unspcakably oppressed-ot
the third estate? Is 1t the patriot wo-
men-women like Madame Roland
who. even SO carly az 1883. We're pre-
pairing to suffer death for their cause?
There is no reason to suppose that to
the end Jefferson did not retain revcv-
ence and admiration for women like
Madame Roland. for woman lltc
Charlotte Corday Who are the wO-
men to whom he refers in this letter?
They are the complement OF the male
Courtier. They are court ladies'. They
are wives and mistrcsscs Of Tie men
who are fighting for the retention OF
1hc past and the conditions Of the
past. They have no scintilla of desire
for change They are prefcrrcrs of
things as they are. They are wielders
and praisers of indirect influence"
They visit all persons in office and
or friend; that is, they beg for their
male relatives an estate or an office
or n bencice, or pension That is
their only object. They stand not for
human liberty nor for public veal
hut for private interest. And Jefferson
very truly said that they blocked re-
sorm.
submit. sir that your comparison
between French courtiers of lISS ana
the Virginia women who. the other
day. asked at the hands of the men
OF Virginia their political indepcnd-
cnce, does not compare | was taught
that you cannot measure ncommen-
Surables.
In the ranks of the workers for the
found many faithful and gallant men
and women who once were honestly
blind TO the deep need for that free