The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO VOTE.
An Examination Of the Practical Facts
Of the Consent Of the Governed.


or superior of man in every respect
In which she appears successful in prov
ing herself 80. My criticisms are IN
tended TO be definitely restricted. ana
to bear no Implication more offensive
than a belief that each sex is possessed
of its own peculiar merits and defects.
There are three main argumen ad-
vanced in behalf OF woman suffrage
one, and the least convincing, an asse--
ton that the influence Of women in
politics will be beneficial another, that
OF the feminsts. that political respon-
sibllity is necessary 20 advance their
general development and third. the
Oldest in point OF time. that share
in government is their fundamental
right. May | be allowed TO discuss
these contentious in that order?
When advocates of woman suffrage
base their claim on an assertion that
tho entrance OF women into politics
would improve the character OF gov
eminent they deal in unsupported con
lecture. There is no evidence to show
that a betterment OF conditions would
result. Where woman suffrage is in
effect no such improvement Is manifest
and in certain of those States, notably
Colorado and California. there has &C.
CURED concurrently with the political
innovation a conspicuous increase Of
erratic, irresponsible and intolerant
tendencies OF law making, accompanied
IN at least one OF those cases by
pronounced enfeeblement of executive
competence.
Further. broad comparison OF
the moral and Intellectual qualities Of
men and women there emerges not the
slightest ground for a belief that women
would or could improve the character
OF government The general morality
OF mankind. even of woman herself, Ia
been chiefly the creation OF man, and
woman has done but little more than
conform IN the main with his standard
and develop in herself those finer feel
ings and instincts natural 10 the
mother and nurse and needful IN de-
fence OF the purity Of the home. The
common prejudice tina: woman is su-
per!or morally to man arises purely
ia grateful recognition of her higher
attainments in certain restricted nclds
Of conduct, and is perpetuated IN the
public mind solely through a neglect
to regard The fact that questions of
ethics are involved in nearly every
phase Of human endeavor, \ wide sur
vey OF the activities OF life can leave
no room FOR doubt that the morality
established by man is the morality in
grained in the race.
OF the Intellectual a;tanmen,s OF the
sexes there IS hardly need Of making
/ comparison. II is sufficient to point
out that So long As the mass OF practl-
cal men. and indeed the vast majority
of women themselves, continue 10 recol.
a; the thought o: facing trial by jury
Of women there can exist no widespread I
| confidence that the sound judgment Of
womanklrd as yet has become sui'i-
GENTLY apparent to qualify them for a
iudicous determination OF governmental
affairs
When the advocates OF woman suf-
frage put forward the argument tHat
| their participation N government Won! :
constitute the best possible means ~
raising women 20 an Intellectual equal
~ with men and III them most speedily
for a proper Performance 81 poi..ca!
duties the reasonable answer is that
/ the welfare OF nation Is too grave
1 a matter for doubtful experimentation.
| II Il were proposed. FOR example, 20
! lower the age OF male suffrage TO ten
years. similar pea w.-t. be entered
/ IN defence OF the aAsgrd''y. 'u. as
sured V the children could bo educated
% an .utell!-ert use OF the vote hy ~
other means equal 40 effectiveness 20
AZ Of actual experience. To n" sLE
-estiur that children Of ten should %"
. accustomed 20 the duties OF citizens ..1
hy The gift OF the ballot even their own
mothers would reply that they must
~ %. = a. nj
regu ste qualities FIRST, not Sftervarl
,rd until women m he mass ,x..st,
IN heir general conduct a customary
guidance hy those attributes Of mind
which would 1t them for political re-
spoons billy the answer 20 their de-
,u,rd FOR the vote logically must be
-N,. same.
This asnert Of the mater is OF con.
siderable IMPORTANCE for the reason fra,
uor.g, st!fyrag.s,s aralrcn,tv ar, unqll.
20 Perceive the pronr!oty - such a 'e~,
/ .r ,a.ir own case. and seem wholly la-
4h,. :, rsalizA tina, the minority NJ
mo, oppose votes Tor women NOT h,.
cans. n. py,iud.re or oven assumed
rr.rg.r'.. bu, rure,y on III. ground u,
an ha,cs- he'i-s ina. ~. ,n..r,..,.,.
ana -ennerarar,1l neruliar..,,s char
. I,,,r.S,tr Of v.,rr.r ,rr.f.-u.. a. .t.
r,asar. lime pol..tcal DISABILITY. quite
AZ frorourg,I aud trc.,5rt,!Di, ,Nt,.
poyerrrn4r.al security as IN, i-rr,.
,,,.,y of childhood Aud desrit. N. fac.
~, my obo row a,toy ,ba fr,rcbls.
. ,lr,or,,r.,.ly ara no, al. >, measure
~, "a ,be rational standard mo-, hold.
ne mis- view naInt,In CONSISTENTLY mn,
| gnyernmen, : no prcper field for m,
e1ur,tinn ~ thos. VINO canno, bring
convincing evidence OF their ability 70
,,rdu., +, WISELY and safely
l,Nor Tho abvoe,,os ~ vor,a, su,
I f,,re hlira ~ TO true reason n, mon.
arro.f,Ion ~ .lai~ clrsc 80 ,ho.r b,e
,n-.r claim q An abstract RICH, = se's
I po,.errr,cn, irser,rabIa from the ,a,or,
.r 5.,-,,rt.v. th,. Loaf, ON , tr.k,,
r,,r OF ir.n,,rl,r, Generalization i,,,.-',
without basis 81 Justification .r f,.,
Ecrcra,ed documents and ora.ort,,
nrotestations 10 the contrary rotN!,-