按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 national； relating to
color； political； mental； educational； connected with a property
qualification； connected with sex； connected with minority of years；
or they are moral in their nature。*
＇FOOTNOTE by SFC｝ *In connection with this point of moral
qualification we venture to ask a question。 Why not enlarge the
criminal classes from whom the suffrage is now withheld？ Why not
exclude every man convicted of any degrading legal crime； even petty
larceny？ And why not exclude from the suffrage all habitual
drunkards judicially so declared？ These are changes which would do
vastly more of good than admitting women to vote。 ｛END
FOOTNOTE｝
This restriction connected with sex is； in fact； but one of many other
restrictions； considered more or less necessary even in a democracy。
Manhood suffrage is a very favorite term of the day。 But； taken in
the plain meaning of those words； such fullness of suffrage has at
the present hour no actual existence in any independent nation； or in
any extensive province。 It does not exist； as we have just seen；
even among the men of America。 And； owing to the conditions of
human life； we may well believe that unrestricted fullness of
manhood suffrage never can exist in any great nation for any length
of time。 In those States of the American Union which approach
nearest to a practical manhood suffrage； unnaturalized foreigners；
minors； and certain classes of criminals； are excluded from voting。
And why so？ What is the cause of this exclusion？ Here are men by
tens of thousandsmen of widely different classes and conditions
peremptorily deprived of a privilege asserted to be a positive
inalienable right universal in its application。 There is manifestly
some reason for this apparently contradictory state of things。 We
know that reason to be the good of society。 It is for the good of
society that the suffrage is withheld from those classes of men。 A
certain fitness for the right use of the suffrage is therefore deemed
necessary before granting it。 A criminal； an unnaturalized foreigner； a
minor； have not that fitness； consequently the suffrage is withheld
from them。 The worthy use of the vote is； then； a qualification not
yet entirely overlooked by our legislators。 The State has had； thus
far； no scruples in withholding the suffrage even from men； whenever
it has believed that the grant would prove injurious to the nation。
Here we have the whole question clearly defined。 The good of society
is the true object of all human government。 To this principle suffrage
itself is subordinate。 It can never be more than a means looking to
the attainment of good government； and not necessarily its corner…
stone。 Just so far is it wise and right。 Move one step beyond that
point； and instead of a benefit the suffrage may become a cruel
injury。 The governing power of our own countrythe most free of all
great nationspractically proclaims that it has no right to bestow the
suffrage wherever its effects are likely to become injurious to the
whole nation； by allotting different restrictions to the suffrage in
every State of the Union。 The right of suffrage is； therefore； most
clearly not an absolutely inalienable right universal in its application。
It has its limits。 These limits are marked out by plain justice and
common…sense。 Women have thus far been excluded from the
suffrage precisely on the same principlesfrom the conviction that to
grant them this particular privilege would； in different ways； and
especially by withdrawing them from higher and more urgent duties；
and allotting to them other duties for which they are not so well
fitted； become injurious to the nation； and； we add； ultimately
injurious to themselves； also； as part of the nation。 If it can be
proved that this conviction is sound and just； founded on truth； the
assumed inalienable right of suffrage； of which we have been hearing
so much lately； vanishes into the 〃baseless fabric of a vision。〃 If the
right were indeed inalienable； it should be granted； without regard to
consequences； as an act of abstract justice。 But； happily for us；
none but the very wildest theorists are prepared to take this view of
the question of suffrage。 The advocates of female suffrage must；
therefore； abandon the claim of inalienable right。 Such a claim can
not logically be maintained for one moment in the face of existing
facts。 We proceed to the third point。
THIRDLY。 THE ELEVATION OF THE ENTIRE SEX； THE GENERAL
PURIFICATION OF POLITICS THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN；
AND THE CONSEQUENT ADVANCE OF THE WHOLE RACE。 Such； we are
told； must be the inevitable results of what is called the
emancipation of woman； the entire independence of woman through
the suffrage。
Here we find ourselves in a peculiar position。 While considering the
previous points of this question we have been guided by positive
facts； clearly indisputable in their character。 Actual； practical
experience； with the manifold teachings at her command； has come
to our aid。 But we are now called upon； by the advocates of this
novel doctrine； to change our course entirely。 We are under orders to
sail out into unknown seas； beneath skies unfamiliar； with small
light from the stars； without chart； without pilot； the port to which
we are bound being one as yet unvisited by mortal manor woman！
Heavy mist； and dark cloud； and threatening storm appear to us
brooding over that doubtful sea。 But something of prophetic vision is
required of us。 We are told that all perils which seem to threaten the
first stages of our course are entirely illusivethat they will vanish
as we approachthat we shall soon arrive in halcyon waters； and
regions where wisdom； peace； and purity reign supreme。 If we
cautiously inquire after some assurance of such results； we are told
that to those sailing under the flag of progress triumph is inevitable；
failure is impossible； and that many of the direst evils hitherto
known on earth must vanish at the touch of the talisman in the hand
of womanand that talisman is the vote。
Now； to speak franklyand