The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-10-29
SOCIAL FABRIC
IS N DANGER
New Yorker Discusses Problem
Of Woman Suffrage.
REFIHIVs BARRIERS REMOVED

Predicts savage Basis Of Life and In
tercourse Between Sexes After Fifty
Years Of Equality at PoIls--only
Partially Lifts the Veil.
As q true friend of w6men-a much
betteF one than many OF those who
bOisteFously demand suffrage - n 1t
considering the present, but looking
into the future, behold disaster and
ruin to both sexes by their political
amalsamation. It will not be seen at
onoe--its raVaging work will be slow,
hui in half a century the political
equality of men and women will
change the whole basis of social or,
ganization and both men and women
win become in every way distinctively
lowered. The smOthered brutality OF
both sexes will be famed into blaze
and the results easily imagined All
of the nice and refining barriers which
now separate the two sexes will dis
appear and a common, vulgar and
even savage basis of life and inter-
course will be established between
them. After all the veil of civiliza-
tion which keeps men and women
within decorous bounds is not very
thick. A correct analysis of human
nature, passions and learning sustains
this view.
With full political equality and full
political responsibility, how long will
it take to wear off the thin skin which
now hides and controls their natures.
One step will lead to another-ti:st
suffrage, then office, one barrier after
another disappearing, ard then pro-
miscuOus commingling. The question
of the bestowal of political suffrage
upon women constitutes one of the
profoundest which can arise in hui
man government. And answering
every question which the suffragists
put in the affirmative, such as Are
Has not property the right to full
protection? Are they not superior to
many men who now enjoy suffrage?"
| say, answering all of this class Of
not touch the fundamental objection
10 the affiliation of women in politics;
/ e., that nature, human nature, for
bids it,; the history of the creation Of
the world forbids it; real Anglo-Saxon
civilization rejects it, and these natula.
influences cannot be altered any more
than the course of the planets can be
changed by fine spun technical argu.
ment.
There never was time in the his
tory of our world when the rights and
property Of women have been so safe
guarded. She not only stands befote
the law as equal in position and influ.
ence to man, but she is preferential
subject, so to speak. She enjoys more
privileges, and for all practical pur-
poses she ranks higher before the law
and in society than a man. But it is
answered that this is based upon SEN
timent, and she dfsdainfClly rejects
sentiment she wishes equality by
statute. She takes her stand upon the
cold and isolated rock of reason and
logic-and she insists by priori rea.
soning that she is entitled tc become
q man! But if she be victorious, she
will inevitably lose many advantages
and privileges which she now enjoys.
The very fact that she does not pos,
sess full political suffrage can always
be used for her advantage. If she
gain political equality she can enjoy
no privileges which sentiment now
confers upon her-which hangs over
her like an aufeola. And she must
inevitably accept political equality.
l only partially lift the curtain upon
although it is of the gravest import
ance.
With suffrage will come ambition
to treal all the Paths IT business and
politics which men row occupy, a1i
she will soon covet and become active
in the search for every political Office
existing under the government He-
aspirations will sweep the whole
gamut of political and commercial
power. The legislative halls will ring
with the dulcet sounds of soprano and
eontralte. and the basso and baritone
will be hushed. Instead of friend,
0 helper, a promoter of mans hapni-
ness, she will appear as an active and
bitter competitor, What man 80 oh.
tuse who cannot see the future that |
this will create? What statesman
who can not behold the terrible conse-
Quences? Real competition and strug-
gle 6etWeel man and woman for buSi- |
ness and Office will in due time arouse
the blacklist and worst passions of |
the sexes. In face of a real fight be-
tween man and woman for bread and
life, do not wish to even sketch the
future-turn thy complexion there
patience, thou young and rose lip
cherubim-there loOk-for thou wilt
be-grim as hell!
JOHN r. DOS PASSOS.
March 9. 1914.