The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-29
OPPOSED TO WOMEN VOTING
Catholic Prelate Gives His Views on
Much Discussed Topic of the Right of
Women to Vote and Declares Himself
Opposed to Proposed Amendment.

ever given by Archbishop Sebastian q.
Messmer was that delivered before the
convention Of the State Federation of
Catholic societies held in Watertown
two weeks ago, on Woman Suffrage"
The archbishop made no copy of the ad-
dress but it was taken by stenogra-
pher and the first copy arrived in Ke-
nosha on Saturday. The following is
a resume of the speech, which is pub
lished with the approval of the arch
bishop:
"The question of woman suffrage is
not personal or individual, but it is a
public, a social question-one Of far
more Importance than any other which
has come up in modern times, not ex-
Guiding the labor question.
"The whole human race is built on
the great fundamental distinction, the
distinction of sexes, man and womans
There are no interests in human society
which are not affected by this division.
GIVE speak of the three great fac
tors of society, the church, the state
and the family. There is no question
of greater concern in either of these
great elements of society than the
question of the right and proper rela-
tions between man and woman.
Are Mutually Concerned.
"There is nothing in the family, the
state or the church which concerns man
alone, where woman would not be con-
cerned directly or indirectly. There is
nothing in the church, family or state
where woman can not do a most magni-
fcent, splendid work, in its way as i'm
portant, as necessary, as essential as
whatever man can do. And therefore /
say this question Of modern times is the
most important of all social questions.
"The question is concerning the right
relation between man and woman, and
with this, naturally the right position
that woman should have and hold with
man in society.
'The question has become important
not only because of its intrinsic nature,
but because of the aspect it has taken
in our modern days; because of the
infdel, unchristian character which, to
great extent characterizes these mod
ern women s movements.
1t started with the appearance of
the French infdels and found it's first
expression in the French revolution. 1t
found its next Endorsement in the social
istic platform published in 184S, and
ever since it has been one of the great
leading principles of socialism. 1t is
only within the last twenty years that
women of conservative principles, who
believe in supernatural religion, have
been drawn into and taken part in the
movement.
If we look over the movement to-
day, in its many parts and elements, it
is as plain as the sunlight in heaven
that there is far too much unchristian,
infdel sentiment connected with that
question for anyone who holds Christi
anity to set aside.
" 1t is warning to him net to ac-
cept Internationally, in all it demands,
the principles and theories of the move
ment. great many of the prominent
leaders are positively unchristian. "A
great many of the theories and prin-
ciples upon which this movement is
supported are anti-christian and infdel.
A great deal more is pure sentiment
with no reason to support it.
Ii we come to the question of equal
rights, which is the question of woman
suffrage as it is presented to us, then the
question becomes for a Catholic, for a
Christian, religious question. Catholic
religion is not silent on the question. 1t
tells Us enough in the light of Christian
tradition and teaching so that we can
make out at least the great principles
which must be applied to the question.
THE question OF woman suffrage and
the question of woman IS rights are the
same, as they are presented to us to-
day, although they are not necessarily
the same. / will not for one moment
admit the absolute, perfect equality of
man and woman; nevertheless, I would
not be opposed to a certain suffrage
extended to woman suffrage. When we
speak Of absolute equality Of man and
woman, not merely in their Individual
capacities, but as members of society, it
means that she has the same position
in society, in the administration of pub
lie affairs of society as man has 1t
means that a woman has perfect equal
ity with man, the same rights, the same
claims, the same authority in the fam
lily. The next step will be, if there
is any church at all, that she has the
same rights and the same authority in
the church as man.