The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-12-16

tered into the arena of politics.
Equal rights do not imply that
both sexes should engage promis-
cuously in the same pursuits, but
that each should discharge those
duties which are adapted to its
physical constitution. The insis-
tence on right of participation
in active political life is undoubt-
edly calculated to rob woman of
all that is amiable and gentle, ten
der and attractive; to rob her of
her grace of character and give
her nothing in return but mascu-
line boldness and effrontery. It's
advocates are habitually preach
ing about woman's rights and pre-
negatives, and have not word
to say about her duties and re-
sponsibilities. They withdraw
her from those obligations which
properly belong to her sex and fill
her with ambition to usurp po-
sitions for which neither God nor
nature ever intended her.
"When I deprecate female suf-
frage l am pleading for the dig
nifty of woman, l am contending
for her honor, I am striving to
perpetuate those peerless prerog-
atives inherent in her sex; those
charms and graces which exalt
womankind and make her the or
nament and coveted companion of
man. Woman is queen indeed,
but her empire is the domestic
kingdom. The greatest political
triumphs she would achieve in
public life fade into insigni6cance
compared with the serene glory
which radiates from the domestic
shrine and which she Eliminates
and warns by her conjugal and
motherly virtues. If she is am
bilious of the dual empire of pub
lie and private life, then like the
tabled dog beholding his image in
the water, she will lose both; she
will fall from the lofty pedestal
where nature and Christianity
have placed her and will fail to
grasp the sceptre of political au-
thority from the strong hand of
her male competitor.
II still hold the same views on
woman suffrage, already so often
expressed: that the ballot would
drag woman from her domestic
duties into the arena of politics,
and rob her of much of her charm,
goodness and true influence.
81 regard ;woman's rights
women and the leaders of new
school of female progress, as the
worst enemies of the female sex.
wish I could impress on Amer
lean women the dangers that
would attach to such innovations
I wish | could show them the ul-
innate result of participating in
public life. 1t has but one end
the abandonment. or at least the
neglect of the home.
"Thc most precious undevclop-
ed asset of any nation is its chill
dren. An all-wise God, through
the law of nature, has committed
this precious treasure in a special
manner to the mother. Any oc-
cupation, however alluring in its
precious pretence, which draws
woman's attention from her most
exalted duties of motherhood will
result in detriment to the nation
and the race. Women cannot vote
intelligently unless they give time
to an intelligent study of politica
questions, and all such time taken
from the household will be in,
furious to the future generation
by robbing it of its natural right
a mothers care, without giving to
the present generation any appre-
ciable benefit in the purifying OF
the ballot. AS far as I have OBJ
served. it appears that woman
suffrage. to the extent that it
has been granted in this country
has not changed the result of the
election. There has been a larg-
err vote, but the results have been
the same as they would have been
ii women had not voted. Thus it
seems that our political life has
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