Woman's Profession as Mother and Educator, with Views in Opposition to Woman Suffrage

by Catharine Esther Beecher

If the good mothers and grandmothers, who have trained their own offspring, would take pity on the young mothers all over the land who are suffering for want of just such sympathy and help as only such women can bestow, they would soon find, especially in the poorer classes, a field of usefulness far more in keeping with the tender spirit of Christian love and humility than any offices that political action would provide.

Again, the demand for well trained governesses and family teachers is unsupplied, while multitudes of children all over the nation have no teachers and no schools of any kind. To open avenues to political place and power for all classes of women would cause these humble labors of the family and school to be still more undervalued and shunned.

Another evil to be apprehended from introducing women into political life is increasing the temptations to draw them from the humble, self-sacrificing Christian labor among the ignorant and neglected, which now is so imperfectly supplied. To be a member of the Legislature, a member of Congress, a Judge, a Governor, or a President, are temptations

heretofore unknown to women. Who shall say what would be the result should every woman of every class in society be stimulated by such temptations?

Another danger to be feared, is the introducing into political strifes the distinctive power of sex, an element as yet untried in our form of government. In some short experiments that have been made we have seen how pure and intelligent women can be deceived and misled by the baser sort, their very innocence and inexperience making them credulous and the helpless tools of the guilty and bold.

Another danger from universal woman suffrage would result from the course that would be taken by many of the most virtuous and intelligent women. Of those who would regard this measure as an act of injustice and oppression, forcing duties on their sex unsuited to their character and circumstances, many would refuse to assume any such responsibilities. Thus a large number of the most intelligent and conscientious women would be withdrawn from the polls, increasing the relative proportion of the ignorant and incompetent voters, a class that already

bring doubt on the success of republican institutions. On the other hand, another portion would be forced to the polls by conscientious motives, and there meet the lowest and vilest of their sex as those who are to appoint their rulers and decide their laws. How would it be possible for such women to honor the rulers and respect the laws instituted by such agencies?

The final objection to universal woman suffrage is that there is another safer, surer, and more speedy method at command which would secure all the benefits aimed at without any of these dangers.

This method is based on the general principle that in seeking either favors or rights it is a wise policy to assume the good character and good intentions of those who have the power to give or withhold. The law-making power is now in the hands of men, and the advocates of women suffrage practically are saying, "you men are so selfish and unjust that you cannot be trusted with the interests of your wives, daughters, and sisters; therefore give them the law-making power that they may take care of themselves."