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work themselves up to a state of frenzied excitement over some one
political question。 At such times they can parade a degree of
unreasoning prejudice； of passionate hatred； of blind fury； even
beyond what man can boast of。 But； in their natural condition； in
everyday life； they do not take instinctively to politics as men do。
Men are born politicians； just as they are born masons； and
carpenters； and soldiers； and sailors。 Not so women。 Their thoughts
and feelings are given to other matters。 The current of their chosen
avocations runs in another channel than that of politicsa channel
generally quite out of sight of politics； it is an effort for them to turn
from one to the other。 With men； on the contrary； politics； either
directly or indirectly； are closely； palpably； inevitably blended with
their regular work in life。 They give their attention unconsciously；
spontaneously； to politics。 Look at a family of children； half boys；
half girls； the boys take instinctively to whips and guns and balls
and bats and horses； to fighting and wrestling and riding； the girls
fondle their dolls； beg for a needle and thread； play at housekeeping；
at giving tea…parties； at nursing the sick baby； at teaching school。
That difference lasts through life。 Give your son； as he grows up； a
gun and a vote； he will delight in both。 Give your daughter； as she
grows up； a gun and a vote； and； unless she be an exceptional
woman； she will make a really good use of neither。 Your son may be
dull； but he will make a good soldier； and a very tolerable voter。
Your daughter may be very clever； but she would certainly run away
on the battle…held； and very probably draw a caricature on the
election ticket。 There is the making of an admirable wife and mother；
and a valuable member of society； in that clever young woman。 She
is highly intelligent； thoroughly well educated； reads Greek and
Latin； and has a wider range of knowledge and thought than ninety…
nine in a hundred of the voters in the same district； but there is
nothing of the
politician in her nature。 She would rather any day read a fine poem
than the best political speech of the hour。 What she does know of
politics reaches her through that dull but worthy brother of hers。 It is
only occasionally that we meet women with an inherent bias for
politics； and those are not； as a rule； the highest type of the sexit
is only occasionally that they are so。 The interest most women feel
in politics is secondary； factitious； engrafted on them by the men
nearest to them。 Women are not abortive men； they are a distinct
creation。 The eye and the ear； though both belonging to the same
body； are each； in a certain sense； a distinct creation。 A body
endowed with four ears might hear remarkably well； but without eyes
it would be of little use in the world。 A body with four eyes would
have a fourfold power of vision； and would consequently become
nearly as sharp…sighted as a spider； but without hearing its powers
of sight would avail little。 In both cases； half the functions of the
human being； whether physical or mental； would be very imperfectly
performed。 Thus it is with men and women； each has a distinct
position to fill in the great social body； and is especially qualified for
it。 These distinct positions are each highly important。 And it is
reasonable to believe that； by filling their own peculiar position
thoroughly well； women can best serve their Creator； their fellow…
creatures； and themselves。 No doubt you may； if you choose； by
especial education from childhood upward； make your girls very
respectable politicians； as much so as the majority of your sons。 But
in that case you must give up your womanly daughtersyou must be
content with manly daughters。 This essential difference between the
sexes is a very striking fact； yet the advocates of female suffrage
constantly lose sight of it； they talk and write as if it had no
existence。 It is not lack of intellect on the part of women； but
difference of intellect； or rather a difference of organization and
affinities giving a different bias to the intellect； which is the cause of
their distinct mental character as a sex。 And； owing to this essential
difference； the great majority of women are naturally disinclined to
politics； and partially unfitted for action in that field。
FEMALE SUFFRAGE。
A LETTER TO THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF AMERICA。
Part II。
LET us now look for a moment at the actual condition of women in
America； in connection with the predicted elevation。 We are told they
are to be elevated by the suffrageand that by hanging on to the
election tickets in the hands of their wives； the men are to be
elevated with them。 What； therefore； is the ground women now
occupy； and from whence they are to soar upward on the paper wings
of the ballot？ The principal facts connected with that position are
self…evident； there is nothing vague or uncertain here； we have but
to look about us and the question is answered。 We already know； for
instance； from daily observation and actual experience； that； as a
general rule； the kindness and consideration of American men have
been great； both in public and in private life。 We know that in
American society women have been respected； they have been
favored； they have been protected； they have been beloved。 There
has been a readiness to listen to their requests； to redress
grievances； to make changes whenever these have become necessary
or advisable。 Such； until very recently； has been the general current
of public feeling； the general tendency of public action； in America。 If
there appear to…day occasional symptoms of a change in the tone of
men on this point； it is to be attributed to the agitation of the very
question we are now discussing。 Whenever women make ill…judged；
unnatural； extravagant demands； they must prepare to lose ground。
Yes； even where the particular points in dispute are conceded to
their reiterated importunity； they must still eventually lower their
general standing and consideration by every false step。 There are
occasions where victory is more really perilous than a timely defeat；
a temporary triumph may lead to ground which the victors can not
permanently hold to their own true and lasting advantage。 On the
other hand； every just and judicious demand women may now make
with the certainty of successful results。 This is； indeed； the great
fact which especially contributes to render the birthright of American
women a favorable one。 If the men of the country are already
disposed to redress existing grievances； where women are
concerned； as we know them to be； and if they are also ready； as we
know them to be； to forward all needful future development of true
womanly action； what more； pray； can we reasonably ask of them？
Where lies this dim necessity of thrusting upon women the burdens
of the suffrage？ And why should the entire nation be thrown into the
perilous convulsions of a revolution more truly formidable than any
yet attempted on earth？ Bear in mind that this is a revolution which；
if successful in all its aims； can scarcely fail to sunder the family
roof…tree； and to uproot the family hearth…stone。 I