The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-25

Letter of Cardinal Gibbons to the
Maryland Association Opposed to Wo-
mar Suffrage:
Cardinals residence, 4OS N. Charles
street, Baltimore. April %, 1913. Mrs.
Robert Garrett, Charles Street avenue,
Roland Park. Baltimore, Md.
My Dear Mrs. Garrett: AS l am not
accustomed, except in extraordinary
circumstances, to attend meetings
which are held at night. l regret very
much that | am not able to accept
your kind invitation to attend your
gathering on the 29th instant. l as
sure You that l have always been most
heartily in sympathy with the object
of your organization and l avail my
self Of the occasion to make a few OBJ
servations.
Equal rights DO not imply that both
sexes should engage promisCuOusly in
the same pursuits, but rather that
each sex should discharge those duties
which are adapted to its physical con-
stitution and are sanctioned by the
canons Of society. To some among the
gentler sex the words equal rights"
have been, it is to be feared synony-
nous with similar rights" To de-
bar ONE from certain pursuits is
not to degrade her. To restrict her
field of action to the gentler avoca-
tons of life Is not to fetter her aSpira-
lions after the higher and better, 1t
is on the contrary, to secure to her
not equal rights so-called, but those
super eminent rights which cannot fail
70 endow her with a sacred influence
in her own proper sphere; for as soon
as woman trenches on the domain OF
man, she must not be surprised to
find that the raUarnnna once accorded
her has been in part, or wholly. with
drawn, and that she is destined to be
soiled by the dust Of the political
arena.
The sad results likely to follow in
our country from an active participa-
ton in political strife, are foreshad-
lowed by the scenes which are now
daily occurring in England, where wo-
men, many Of them Of refined educa-
ton, are ruthlessly pursued by the
mob, and are protected from physical
violence only by the interposition OF
the police.
The insistencc on a right of partici-
'pation in active political life is UNI
'douhtedly calculated to rob woman OF
ali that is amiable and gentle, tender
and attractive; to rob her of. her in
nate grace of character, and give her
nothing in return but masculine bold
ness and effrontery. Its advocates are
habitually preaching about Womans
rights and prerogatives, and have not
Ia word to say about her duties and
responsibilities. They withdraw her
from those obligations which properly
belong to her sex n fill her with
ambition to usurp positions for which
neither God nor nature ever intended
her. Under the influence of such teach
ers, we find woman, especially in high
err circles. neglecting her household
duties, never at peace unless she is in
perpetual motion or unless she Is In
la state of morbid excitement. she
never feels at home unless she Is
abroad. When she is home, the home is
irksome to her. She chafes n frets
under the restraints and responsible
ties Of domestic life. Her heart Is
abroad. Her afflicted, husband comet
home to fnd 1t empty DR. occupied by
a woman whose heart Is empty of af-
lection for him. She is i'll at ease
Hence arise disputes, quarrels, recrim'