The Greenbackers and the Ladies (Cont.)

Yes, though America is renowned for its freedom, women in it are still far from complete equality with bearded gentlemen. The most significant civic right – the right to vote in elections – is almost completely inaccessible to women and only takes timid steps in a few of the most progressive states. Besides practical opponents, women’s voting rights also encounter theoretical opponents who, through writing, on the basis of philosophical and political reasoning, deny their legal capacity in this respect. In one of the issues of the “North American Review,” a certain Parkman published an article of this kind, in which through philosophical reasoning he arrives at a denial of women’s rights to vote. In his opinion, the right to vote is fundamentally rooted in the ability to defend the subject of voting with arms in hand. Popular rule is essentially based on the truth that the majority can always use arms to force the minority that disagrees with it to submit. From this it is obvious that only those who can fight can participate in voting. Assigning women, of course, to those incapable of fighting, Parkman paints a horrible picture of what would follow from an election in which a majority of women triumphed over a minority of men. Men would take up arms and with two or three unloaded cannons would send the triumphant women fleeing, pursuing them all the way to their bedrooms, and in such outrageously unlawful fashion would seize control of the government. – The article, as one might expect, met with refutation. First of all, says a defender of the fair sex on this matter, an exception must be made to the general principle that women cannot fight. Parkman is obviously an unmarried man and therefore poorly acquainted with the opposite sex. Has he never heard of the king of the Dahomey Amazons? Or has he never brought an uninvited guest into his house and not been met with the stern, merciless gaze of his wife, poorly concealing a terrible poker in the folds of her dress?[1] Or has he not fallen into the hands of his mother-in-law and not tried to contradict her in her religious subtleties? A woman, according to the philosopher, is a tender, fearful creature; perhaps this is so, but she is nonetheless the main culprit in the premature formation of bald spots characteristic of married gentlemen. The philosopher Parkman apparently does not associate the concept of fighting and victory with cannons and bayonets. But there are other ways of fighting. Is not the tongue of a wicked woman more terrible than a two-edged sword, and is not a stubborn wife stronger than a loaded cannon? And beauty, and a woman’s tenderness, and love – what can withstand this weapon that woman possesses? And here is an illustration. Elections in one liberal state that permitted women to vote were held at full speed. The struggle between parties was one of life and death. The leader of the Democratic party was a young handsome man whose fiery speeches and devilish energy terrified Republicans. After one significant victory, the happy Democrat rushed joyfully to his “sweetheart” to share his triumph with her. He arrives and with delight tells of his victory, but to his surprise, the sweetheart, as he speaks, puffs out her pretty little lips more and more. “What is it with you, my sweetheart?” finally asks the astonished and confused victor, “do you desire something from me? Ask for anything: I will do everything for you!” – The sweetheart flashed with cunning eyes. “Well, well, ask: I will do everything!” confirms the Democrat. “My dear, I desire only one thing: vote for our Republican candidate!” How the invincible Democrat was struck by thunder, but cunning Delilah had shorn Samson of his hair and – the Democratic party had lost its strong leader. – From all this it is clear that the thoughtful opponent of women’s voting rights still has much to learn both about the ways of fighting and about the strength of women. First of all, he must marry without delay. This will be the best practical refutation of his theory that a woman, being a weak creature, cannot force men to fulfill her will.