Woman Suffrage—Cui Bono? [pp. 156-165]

WOMAN SUFFRAGE-CUI BONO?
woman would elevate politics, or that
politics would degrade woman?
But just here we are met with the
curt response: provide remunerative em ployments for these unfortunates, and
this problem of the social evil will
approach solution; while starving for
bread, they can not resist the temptation
to sin. We have no just reason to sup pose that Mrs. Potiphar was hungry for
bread; carnal appetite held sway, and
there are not a few, to-day, cursed with
the same inherent tendency to "mor al vertigo." Increased facilities for di vorce, love of admiration, an inordinate
fondness for dress and display, and a
sturdy disinclination for honest toil, undoubtedly add, also, large numbers to
the ranks. But, granting that a large
proportion might be saved, or rescued,
from such degradation and sin by increasing the remunerative employments
for women, would female suffrage compass this most desirable end? We can
not see that it would. Let us take a
careful survey of this, the most important problem connected with the ques
tion before us! Are not all avenues of
trade, and all the higher professions, now
open to womanly competition? Has she
not the liberty to divide the honors with
man? If all universities and colleges
are not already thrown open to hern
there are, at least, a sufficient number to
show what she is capable of accomplishing; and, since man has so cheerfully
accorded thus much to her, we see no
reason why he will not willingly grant
more, whenever she shall demonstrate,
by actual achievement, that she is fitted
for the same mental development as
man. We strongly advocate the coeducation of the sexes, believing that
this offers the highest possibilities to
both. The interblending of profound
investigation with nimble intuition, of
resolute purpose with zealous enthusiasm, would tend to balance the mental
powers, and make the fire fly from ev
ery faculty. Let woman enjoy the most
generous opportunity for culture, and
let her avail herself of it. Her life,
heretofore, has been too much after the
style of a Roman punch-an incongru ous mixture of dress, display, flirtation,
and gossip. Genuine culture has given
place to petty esthetic accomplishments.
There must be less of frolic, fret, and
discontent-these nervous ailments of
modern life-and more of patient pur pose in the way of solid culture; for
culture is the true generator of power.
It is this which com/nands position and
influence.
"For just experience shows in eve'y soil,
That those who think must govern those who toil."
Attainment is but the natural sequence
of application. Nature knows no chance.
She requires a pound to balance a pound.
To cope with man in literary pursuits,
woman must be equally prodigal of effort. She must cultivate a wholesome
dissatisfaction for that which is superficial and inferior, as a spur to the attainment of that which is superior. The
most potent antidote for domestic unrest and unhappiness is to be found in
the loving companionship of good books
and noble thoughts; and no fear but
great thoughts will find embodimentindependent of the ballot-and make the
world debtors to them. Poverty may
cripple resources, but it can not repress
and stifle aspiration. It is not so much
from the lack of opportunities to escape,
that so many poor souls lie stranded
along the beach, but because from fear,
from weakness, or from incapacity, these
facilities are abused or neglected. Womein
too often starve their intellectual faculties,
and weaken their mental muscle by drowsy inactivity; they reject study, scowl at
books, sniff at music, renounce painting
and sculpture, scorn the social cbnversazione-in fact, discountenance every
natural and rational agency for selfculture and happiness, and then attribute all their wretchedness to an inter
l872.]
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