The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04


general discussion Of the question In
this country by the convention al Sen
eca Falls in Is4s down to the pres
ent moment the opposition to this Oh
lection, so far as ON acquainted
with II. has been only the repetition of
traditional prejudice or the protest
of mere sentimentality. and to cope
with these is like wrestling with a
malaria. or arguing with the east
wind.
I'm their report the committee omit
10 tell US why they politically class
the women of New York with IDIOTS
and criminals They assert merely
that the general Acknowledgement Of
women would I've a novelty, which IL
true OF every step OF political prog
rcss and is therefore a presumption
in its favor. And they speak of II
In phrase which IS intended to stig-
Matte II as unwomanly. which is sim
ply an assumption and prejudice.
II wish to know. sir. and ask in
the name of the politica, justice and
consistency of this State, why il Is
that half OF the adult population. as
vitality interested in good government
az the other half who own property
manage estates and pay taxes, who
discharge all the duties Of good citi-
zens and are perfectly intelligent and
capable. are absolutely deprived of
political power and classed with luna
tics and fclons. The boy will become
man and a voter; the lunatic may
emerge from tho clouds and resume
his rights; the idiot. plastic under the
tender hands of modern science, may
be moulded into the full citizen: the
criminal. whose hands still drip with
the blood OF his country and OF liberty
may be pardoned and restored but no
age. no wisdom, no peculiar fitness, no
public service. no effort. no desire can
remove from woman this enormous
and extraordinary disability.
Upon what reasonable grounds
does II rest? Upon none whatever.
II Is contrary to natural Justice, TO
the acknowledged and traditional prln-
clplcs of the American Government
and to the most enlightened political
philosophy. The absolute exclusion OF
women from political power in this
state is simply usurpation.
The historical fact is that the
usurpng class, as Gihbon calls them
nave always regulated the position of
women by their own theories and con-
Nenience. The barbdric Persian. for
instance, punished an insult to the
woman with death. not because of
her but Of himself. She was part Of
him. And the civilized English Black
stone only repeats the barbaric Per-
ha
husband form but one person--tbat is.
the husband. Sir. II would be ex-
tremely amusing II it were not tragic
to trace the consequences Of this
theory on human society and the un-
happy effect upon the progress OF
civilization OF this morbid estimate of
the importance OF men.
The Declaration OF Independence
was not the passionate manifesto NJ
a revolutionary war; but the calm and
simple statement OF a new political
philosophy and practice.
"The rights which they declare TO
he inalienable are indeed what arc
usually called natural as DISTINGUISHED
from political rights. but they are not
limited by sex. a woman has the
same right to her life. liberty and
property that a man has. and she has
consequently the same right to an
equality of protection that he has:
and this, as ! understand il. is what
Is meant by the phrase the right of
suffrage.
'lf ! have natural right to tina,
hand | have an equal natural rick,
to everything that secures To me IL.
use, provided II does not harm the
equal right OF another: and II | have
natural right to my life and liberty
have thu Same right to everything