Year: 1870

pOWeT

 2. Responsibility develops power. The secret of comparative puritypf the family is the sense of personal responsibility car. ried by the mother, the spiitual head of the family. That same senS of responsi- bility in her towards the stae will gradu- ally raise state morals towal the level of family morals, and this can be done in no other way. The apparent incapacity of woman for the solution of political prob lens, and their aversion to being called upon for such mental exqcise is owing to the non use of their facuties in this direc. tion: Heretofore progess, even moral progress, has been largely through the in- tervention of the sword. and the battles of liberty have had to be ought on fields of blood, and all that couil reasonably be demanded of the woman citizen in this savage warfare was the care and protection of her beleagured home and family. But to-day, and in this country at least, the battles of liberty are fouglt chiefly in the halls of legislation, and hGnes are protect ed not by the sword, but tF the ballot-box To-day therefore, the hone invites the more serious consideration and faithful service of the father, the state demands the watchfulness and inexGable purity ot the mother, and can no longer live without it. When these two join brces, and hand ill hand consecrate themseNes to the com monwealth as to the family, the ideal re- public of our fathers, that which they dim ly saw in the misty future, and which they were inspired to establish ill faith, will become reality on tie earth.

 5. The plain and ordinary principles of justice require that woman should be en- franchised

 She has the same interest precisely with man in the appointment Of proper officials to administer public affairs and in public legislation. She is often al taxpayer and is equally interested with man in the pub lie expenditures to which taxation is ap- piled. It is conceded by tie leading oppo nents of woman suffrage that the trades and professions are to be entered upon by women to q much greater extent than 'eye1 before, so that very considerable portion of the business of the community will be in the hands of women. In these circum- stances, to deny her voice in the election of public officers, ill the laying of taxes, in the expenditure of public money, and in public legislation, especially in legislation determining the policy of the government, and so affecting her property and her busi- ness interests, would be not only great and manifest wrong in itself; but while We are giving the ballot to every man whatev- CT, without regard to his ignorance or wan of all taxable property, is |, most discredit- able inconsistency, and one that should be no longer tolerated.

 We have before suggested the dan gel from the irresponsible infinence of women. 1t Is to be considered that when they come to represent business and capital and. DO. litical intelligence, their influence will not only be the greater. but they will feel them selves under the greater necessity of using 1t. If this influence still r.naains an ire sponsible one by tli1 islenial of the ballot, 1t becomes all the more dangerous.

 OBJECTIONS,

 The various objections to the enfran- chisement of women which have occurred to our own minds, or have been suggested by otbers, may be classed under four heads and arc answered by it's advocates as fol lows:- .

 1. A natural capacity in man for govern ment, as attested by so many years o domination, and corresponding inca pacity of women as attested by so many years of acquiesence in his supremacy.

 The objection would seem already te have been set aside by the argument, tha all human progress has of necessity, beer from the physical toward the spiritual Government must, therefore, at first, and for a long time, have rested with tho strong arm, rather than with the active brain and the honest heart; and only when might ceases to make right, can the weak CT hope to be invited to bear rule with the stronger. or even to receive justice at their hands, It is because the dawn of that day IS already upon Us that the friends o1 equal rights now so urgently put forth their claims. ......

 The possession of supreme political pow CT by man Tn all past ages has fostered in him pride and love of dominion, which he has exercised to his own moral harm; and has encouraged feebleness and dependence in woman, which have made her the most easy subject of mans will; never till these two bear equal rule in the family and the state, and accept equal responsibility, may each sex hope to arrive at perfect individu al and social developement.

 2. The fear that the nature of woman will undergo radical change, fatal to hel womanhood, and consequently most inju- rious to the community if she is permitted to participate in political affairs. ....

 The fear involves the assumption that wonan's nature is the creature of circum- stance and of human law-an idea which IS derogatOry both to her and her Creator. All men rely upon their manhood as a God-given .inheritance; they would as soon look to legislation for the preservation oi their bodily form, as for the maintenance of their spiritual characteristics, and they haughtily resent dictation as to their ap. propriate sphere of action.

 Women have similar reliance-theil womanhood is from God or it is from no where-they alone are commissioned to maintain It upon the earth, and he wbo presumes to set bounds to their activities, lays violent hands on Gods anointed.

 In freedom of choice lies the perfect de volopement of both men and women; alike they are called to the knowledge of good and evil, together and by the same path they attain their lost paradise. A 3. Another objection, and it was the principal one relied on by q gentleman of ability, who appeared betore the commit tee in opposition to woman suffrage, is that the state rests upon basis of force, and that if women vote and are eligible to of- flee, they may come substantially to con stitute the majority at an election, and may thus be responsible for the admins tration of the State, while they will have no power to enforce its laws and suppress Q powerful minority of men.

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