female suffrage-第2章

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feeling；　guided　by　common　reason。　The　left　hand　may　at　times　be
required　to　do　the　work　of　the　right；　the　right　to　act　as　the　left。　Even
in　this　world　there　are　occasions　when　the　last　are　first；　the　first
last；　without　disturbing　the　general　order　of　things。　These
exceptional　cases　temper　the　general　rule；　but　they　can　not　abrogate
that　rule　as　regards　the　entire　sex。　Man　learns　from　them　not　to
exaggerate　his　superioritya　lesson　very　often　needed。　And　woman
learns　from　them　to　connect　self…respect　and　dignity　with　true
humility；　and　never；　under　any　circumstances；　to　sink　into　the　mere
tool　and　toy　of　mana　lesson　equally　important。

Such　until　the　present　day　has　been　the　general　teaching　and
practice　of　Christendom；　where；　under　a　mild　form；　and　to　a　limited
point；　the　subordination　of　woman　has　been　a　fact　clearly
established。　But　this　teaching　we　are　now　called　upon　to　forget；　this
practice　we　are　required　to　abandon。　We　have　arrived　at　the　days
foretold　by　the　Prophet；　when　〃knowledge　shall　be　increased；　and
many　shall　run　to　and　fro。〃　The　intellectual　progress　of　the　race
during　the　last　half　century　has　indeed　been　great。　　But　admiration　is
not　the　only　feeling　of　the　thoughtful　mind　when　observing　this
striking　advance　in　intellectual　acquirement。　We　see　that　man　has
not　yet　fully　mastered　the　knowledge　he　has　acquired。　He　runs　to
and　fro。　He　rushes　from　one　extreme　to　the　other。　How　many
chapters　of　modern　history；　both　political　and　religious；　are　full　of
the　records　of　this　mental　vacillation　of　our　race；　of　this　illogical　and
absurd　tendency　to　pass　from　one　extreme　to　the　point　farthest　from
it！

An　adventurous　party　among　us；　weary　of　the　old　paths；　is　now
eagerly　proclaiming　theories　and　doctrines　entirely　novel　on　this
important　subject。　The　EMANCIPATION　OF　WOMAN　is　the　name
chosen　by　its　advocates　for　this　movement。　They　reject　the　idea　of
all　subordination；　even　in　the　mildest　form；　with　utter　scorn。　They
claim　for　woman　absolute　social　and　political　equality　with　man。　And
they　seek　to　secure　these　points　by　conferring　on　the　whole　sex　the
right　of　the　elective　franchise；　female　suffrage　being　the　first　step　in
the　unwieldy　revolutions　they　aim　at　bringing　about。　These　views　are
no　longer　confined　to　a　small　sect。　They　challenge　our　attention　at
every　turn。　We　meet　them　in　society；　we　read　them　in　the　public
prints；　we　hear　of　them　in　grave　legislative　assemblies；　in　the
Congress　of　the　Republic；　in　the　Imperial　Parliament　of　Great　Britain。
The　time　has　come　when　it　is　necessary　that　all　sensible　and
conscientious　men　and　women　should　make　up　their　minds　clearly　on
a　subject　bearing　upon　the　future　condition　of　the　entire　race。

There　is　generally　more　than　one　influence　at　work　in　all　public
movements　of　importance。　The　motive　power　in　such　cases　is　very
seldom

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simple。　So　it　has　been　with　the　question　of　female　suffrage。　The
abuses　inflicted　on　woman　by　legislation；　the　want　of　sufficient
protection　for　her　interests　when　confided　to　man；　are　generally
asserted　by　the　advocates　of　female　suffrage　as　the　chief　motives
for　a　change　in　the　laws　which　withhold　from　her　the　power　of　voting。
But　it　is　also　considered　by　the　friend　of　the　new　movement　that　to
withhold　the　suffrage　from　half　the　race　is　an　inconsistency　in
American　politics；　that　suffrage　is　an　inalienable　right；　universal　in
its　application；　that　women　are　consequently　deprived　of　a　great
natural　right　when　denied　the　power　of　voting。　A　third　reason　is　also
given　for　this　proposed　change　in　our　political　constitution。　It　is
asserted　that　the　entire　sex　would　be　greatly　elevated　in　intellectual
and　moral　dignity　by　such　a　course；　and　that　the　effect　on　the　whole
race　would　therefore　be　most　advantageous；　as　the　increased
influence　of　woman　in　public　affairs　would　purify　politics；　and　elevate
the　whole　tone　of　political　life。　Here　we　have　the　reason　for　this
movement　as　advanced　by　its　advocates。　These　are　the　points　on
which　they　lay　the　most　stress：

FIRST。　The　abuse　of　legislative　power　in　man；　by　oppressing　the　sex。

SECONDLY。　The　inalienable　natural　right　of　woman　to　vote；　and
imperatively　so　in　a　country　where　universal　suffrage　is　a　great
political　principle。

THIRDLY。　The　elevation　of　the　sex；　and　the　purification　of　politics
through　their　influence。

Let　us　consider　each　of　these　points　separately。

FIRST。　THE　ABUSE　OF　LEGISLATIVE　POWER　BY　MAN　IN　THE
OPPRESSION　OF　WOMEN。

In　some　countries　of　Europe　much　of　wrong　is　still　done　to　woman；
at　the　present　day；　by　old　laws　owing　their　existence　to　a　past　state
of　things；　and　which　have　not　yet　been　repealed　or　modified　to　suit
existing　circumstances。　But　we　are　writing　now　to　American　women；
and；　instead　of　the　evils　existing　in　the　other　hemisphere；　we　are
looking　at　a　very　different　state　of　society。　Let　us　confine　ourselves；
therefore；　to　the　subject　as　it　affects　ourselves。

To　go　into　all　the　details　which　might　be　drawn　together　from　the
statute　books　of　the　different　States　of　the　Union　bearing　on　this
point；　and　to　do　them　full　justice；　would　require　volumes。　Such　a
course　is　not　necessary。　The　question　can　be　decided　with　truth　and
justice　on　general　principleson　generally　admitted　facts。　We　admit；
then；　that　in　some　Statesperhaps　in　allthere　may　be　laws　in
which　the　natural　and　acquired　rights　of　woman　have　not　been　fairly
considered；　that　in　some　cases　she　has　needed　more　legal　protection
and　more　privileges　than　she　has　yet　received。　But　while　this
admission　is　made；　attention　is　at　the　same　time　demanded　for　a
fact　inseparably　connected　with　it；　namely；　the　marked　and　generous
liberality　which　American　men　have　thus　far　shown　in　the　considerate
care　and　protection　they　have；　as　a　general　rule；　given　to　the
interests　of　women。　In　no　country；　whether　of　ancient　or　modern
times；　have　women　had　less　to　complain　of　in　their　treatment　by
man　than　in　America。　This　is　no　rhetorical　declamation；　it　is　the
simple　statement　of　an　undeniable　fact。　It　is　a　matter　of　social
history。　Since　the　days　of　early　colonial　life　to　the　present　houror；
in　other　words；　during　the　last　two　hundred　and　fifty　yearssuch　has
been　the　general　course　of　things　in　this　country。　The　hardest　tasks
have　been　taken　by　man；　and　a　generous　tenderness　has　been
shown　to　women　in　many　of　the　details　of　social　life；　pervading　all
classes　of　society；　to　a　degree　beyond　what　is　customary　even　in　the
most　civilized　countries　of　Europe。　Taking　these　two　facts　together
that　certain　abuses　still　exist；　that　certain　laws　and　regulations　need
changing　and　that；　as　a　general　rule；　American　women　have　thus　far
been　treated　by　their　countrymen　with　especial　consideration；　in　a
legal　and　in　a　social　sensethe　inference　becomes　perfectly　plain。　A
formidable　and　very　dangerous　social　revolution　is　not　needed　to
correct　remaining　abuses。　Any　revolution　aiming　at　upsetting　the
existing　relations　of　the　sexesrelations　going　back　to　the　earliest
records　and　traditions　of　the　racecan　not　be　called　less　than
formidable　and　dangerous。　Let　women　make　full　use　of　the
influences　already　at　their　command；　and　all　really　needed　changes
may　be　effected　by　means　both　sure　and　safemeans　already
thoroughly　tried。　Let　them　use　all　the　good　sense；　all　the
information；　all　the　eloquence；　and；　if　they　please；　all　the　wit；　at
their　command　when　talking　over　these　abuses　in　society。　Let　them
state　their　views；　their　needs；　their　demands；　in　conscientiously
written　papers。　Let　them　appeal　for　aid　to　the　best；　the　wisest；　the
most　respected　men　of　the　country；　and　the　result　is　certain。　Choose
any　one　real；　existing　abuse　as　a　test　of　the　honesty　and　the
liberality　of　American　men　toward　the　women　of　the　country；　and　we
all　know　before…hand　what　shall　be　the　result。*

｛FOOTNOTE　by　SFC｝　*　There　is　an　injustice　in　the　present　law　of
guardianship　in　the　State　of　New　York；　which　may　be　named　as　one
of　those　abuses　which　need　reformation。　A　woman　can　not　now；　in
the　State　of　New　York；　appoint　a　guardian　for　her　child；　even　though
its　father　be　dead。　The　authority　for　appointing　a　guardian　otherwise
than　by　the　courts　is　derived　from　the　Revised　statutes；　p。　1；　title　3；
chapter　8；　part　2；　and　that　passage　gives　the　power　to　the　father
only。　The　mother　is　not　named。　It　has　been　decided　in　the　courts
that　a　mother　can　not　make　this　appointment12　Howard's　Practical
Reports；　532。　This　is　certainly　very　unjust　and　very　unwise。　But　let
any　dozen　women　of　respectability　take　the　matter　in　hand；　and；　by
the　means　already　at　their　command；　from　their　own　chimney…
corners；　they　can　readily　procure　the　insertion　of　the　needful　clause。
And　so　with　any　other　real　abuse。　Men　are　now　ready　to　listen；　and
ready　to　act；　when　additional　legislation　is　prudently　and　sensibly
asked　for　by　their　wives　and　mothers。　How　they　may　act　when
women　stand　before　them；　armed　CAP…A…PIE；　and　prepared　to
demand　legislation　at　the　point　of　the　bayonet；　can　not　yet　be
known。　｛END　FOOTNOTE｝

If　husbands；　fathers；　brothers；　are　ready　any　day　to　shed　their
heart's　blood　for　our　personal　defense　in

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the　hour　of　peril；　we　may　feel　perfectly　assured　that　they　will　also
protect　us；　when　appealed　to；　by　legislation。　When　they　lay　down
their　arms　and　refuse　to　fight　for　us；　it　will　then　be　time　to　ask　them
to　give　up　legislation　also。　But　until　that　evil　hour　arrives　let　men
make　the　laws；　and　let　women　be　content　to　fill　worthily；　to　the　very
best　of　their　abilities；　the　noble　position　which　the　Heavenly　Father
has　already　marked　out　for　them。　There　is　work　to　be　done　in　that
position　reaching　much　higher；　going　much　farther；　and　penetrating
far　deeper；　than　any　mere　temporary　legislation　can　do。　Of　that　work
we　shall　speak　more　fully　a　moment　later。

SECONDLY。　THE　INALIENABLE　NATURAL　RIGHT　OF　WOMAN　TO　VOTE；
AND　IMPERATIVELY　SO　IN　A　COUNTRY　WHERE　UNIVERSAL　SUFFRAGE
IS　A　GREAT　POLITICAL　PRINCIPLE。

This　second　proposition　of　the　advocates　of　female　suffrage　is　of　a
general　character。　It　does　not　point　to　particular　abuses；　it　claims
the　right　of　woman　to　vote　as　one　which　she　should　demand；
whether　practically　needed　or　not。　It　is　asserted　that　to　disqualify
half　the　race　from　voting　is　an　abuse　entirely　inconsistent　with　the
first　principles　of　American　politics。　The　answer　to　this　is　plain。　The
elective　franchise　is　not　an　end；　it　is　only　a　means。　A　good
government　is　indeed　an　inalienable　right。　Just　so　far　as　the　elective
franchise　will　conduce　to　this　great　end；　to　that　point　it　becomes
also　a　right；　but　no　farther。　A　male　suffrage　wisely　free；　including　all
capable　of　justly　appreciating　its　importance；　and　honestly
discharging　its　responsibilities；　becomes　a　great　advantage　to　a
nation。　But　universal　suffrage；　pushed　to　its　extreme　limits；　including
all　men；　all　women；　all　minors　beyond　the　years　of　childhood；　would
inevitably　be　fraught　with　evil。　There　have　been　limits　to　the
suffrage　of　the　freest　nations。　Such　limits　have　been　found　necessary
by　all　past　political　experience。　In　this　country；　at　the　present　hour；
there　are　restrictions　upon　the　suffrage　in　every　State。　Those
restrictions　vary　in　character。　They　are　either