The Petition Against Woman Suffrage.
To the Congress of the United States, protesting against an extension of woman suffrage:
We, the undersigned, do hereby appeal to your honorable body, and desire respectfully to enter our protest against an extension of suffrage to woman; and in the firm belief that our petition represents the sober conviction of the majority of the women of the country. Although we shrink from the notoriety of the public eye, yet we are too deeply and painfully impressed by the grave perils which threaten our peace and happiness in these proposed changes in our civil and political rights to longer remain silent.
Because the Holy Scripture inculcates a different and for us a higher sphere, apart from public life.
Because as women we find a full measure of duties, cares and responsibilities devolving upon us, and we are therefore unwilling to bear other and heavier burdens, and those unsuited to our physical organization.
Because we hold that an extension of suffrage would be adverse to the interests of the workingwomen of the country, with whom we heartily sympathize.
Because these changes must introduce a fruitful element of discord in the existing marriage relation, which would tend to the infinite detriment of children, and increase the already alarming prevalence of divorce throughout the land.
Because no general law, affecting the conditions of all women, should be framed to meet exceptional discontent.
For these, and many more reasons, we do beg of your wisdom that no law extending suffrage to women may be passed, as the passage of such a law would be fraught with danger grave to the general order of the country.
Should the person receiving this approve of the object in view, his or her aid is respectfully requested to obtain signatures to the annexed petition, which may, after having been signed, be returned to either of the following named persons: