Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-12-01
CHINESE WOMEN IN
SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN
IN NATIVE LAND

Z
credit to Mrs. Pankhurst and her most
aggressive followers. Miss An Shlan-
sun and twenty-eight of her support
ers, chiefly school mistresses, set the
ball rolling in Picking by issuing a
manifesto urging the women of China
to participate in the movement to re-
store the monarchy.
This manifesto Immediately called
forth a protest from large body OF
women anti-suffragettes, who deplorcd
the movement to involve women in
the political movement. These prot
estants not only denounced the at
tempt to enlist women in the political
agitation, but were harsh in their
criticism of the monarchial movement.
They declare that the men who are
attempting to restore the monarchy
expect to receive some rich reward
such as titles of nobility from the new
government for their services" Their
protest then inquired What motives
have actuated a section of our women
to participate in this campaign? Do
they aspire for space in the new
Emperor's harem as consorts or maids
of-honor!"
These protesting women urged that
the women of China have not the in
telligence necessary to a proper dis
cussion of the affairs of state and that
they should not interfere with politics
in any way
The views of Miss An Shian-sun AM
her followers ARE set forth in the fol-
lowing petition:
Since the Chou An Hui made its ap-
pearance, the cry for constitutional
monarchy has echoed from the lips of
, everybody and the whole country has
! .n In1 10 he
theoretical study of the question, the
movement has materialized into a
practical campaign. People in every
walk of life have raised their voices
III favor of a monarchy But, to our
great disappointment, not a single
word has been uttered by our women,
nor has there been single one among
our sisters who has followed the lead
of the men in this movement. And the
men engaged in the campaign have al
so omitted to remind the women of the
country of their neglect of duty. Are
rot we women citizens also of this
country? Do not men think that we
women ought to be excluded from
participating in such a momentous
movement as the one that is now lead
irg us all to the foot of throne?
According to the constitutional
compact, the sovereignty of the coun-
try is vested in the people of the
whole country. The people of the
whole country naturally, means the
people of both sexes. Out of the
4C0,000,000 people, half are women.
# we let the men alone promote this
movement, not only will the move
ment be incomplete, but it will seem
that men alone are entitled to rights
that belong equally to women. If or
women do not understand the import
ace of this, it may be due to sheer
ignorance; but if some of them under
stand, yet remain inactive and indif-
ferent to the movement, they will be
guilty of neglecting their duty to the
country.
I'VE admit that the intelligence of |
the mass of our women is still at
very low standard, but they have the
same interest in the country and have
tie same desire for the safety of their
person and property as the men. Why
should we women remain passive,
without raising hand to support the
movement? Being women, we are of !
frail constitution and limited educa-
ton, yet we have been deeply concern
ed with the unsettled conditions OF
tho country and ooop04 h,,t aypreee |