Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 12, 1803. Woman.

Manawatu Herald, 12 September 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 12, 1803. Woman.

The public for years have entrusted their infants to the tender charge of women, and are now becoming worried as to how they are are going to act in political matters. The worry may. cease, women will remain what they ever have been, the kind* est, trustiest and shrewdest half of the population, arid their influence in politics will go a great way in removing the professional carpetbaggers and immoral politicians: Women have finer instincts than men, and are also less easily suborned by drink or other improper temptations . To express a doubt as to the advantage it will be to the colony at large that one half of the most respectable portion of the inhabitants should receive the power to elect representatives, is to doubt that light is better than darkness. Women have been entrusted with so muoh that is important,. they have? succeeded in freeing themselves from the bonds that have held them down in the -past, and have proved their capacity to exercise al| privileges already gained so successfnlly, that to doubt what they will do in the future - is ; most <$x traordinawr., ; ... We pride ourselves upon belonging to the mightiest nation in the world, and it is ruled by a woman. The greatest statesmen England have ever had acknowledge thai> Her. Majesty's judgment and her knowledge of facts have proved that she is not a sover eign onjy in name, rule£f with the advice of hei Ministers, butithey in return have received advice from her. In the different branches^ 6j? learning women have proved themselves the superior_of men* and in the medical profession they have shown themselves of great value. In the new Hospital for women the whole of the staff are women doctors; and the poor patients appreciate their womanly sympathy, gentleness and patience, We do feel surprised that any question as to what women may do should be raised, as, with the- ex? ception of voting, we have been only too pleased' to pile the hardest and i most important duties upon her. We leave the care of our .youngest children to her, we have women in our State schools to teach them

when (they have grown: we ruH to them for sympathy in o\u mi?forfuhe.?, and, man -like, frequently neglect them in our prospevity. Women are <ny mothers, sisters or wives, before whom wo repress that which is bad and desiie to propitiate with that which is good, and acting thus we are asked to doubt: in what wny their influence Is likely to be dircittod. . ' ' ■

The ri.«.k appt-ars to be so little and the g'aiii "pos-ib'ly so greatf Ifiat "the" f rial us Ucty /fyojiien Will effect legislation is weUHyoHh^jfy^bg. We .have shown' by all that "men hold j -dearest it is so unlikely tp.be for hahn; ; and therefore women ; should not be barred until it has been proved that they are sa^failtire. , -An Amefi- ! can writer on "this subject says : — " The woman's vote is needed 5 flrsfcj for J-Tae woman herself, for self-respect is permanently impaired when you tell any clas§_ of persons, that they are, as it were, J?6m under; att irrevocable curse i'eHcte^s their opinions valueless to the state. But it is needed, secondly, for the .man. It is not good for man to be alone in chnrch arid state any more; than in the family; Man' deteriorated when deprived of the cbjasi;aht alliance and co-operation of women." "We therelore consider that- the concession of the vote to women will in the future do, much. to elevate, Jthe tone of Parliament and tend to the improvement of bar laws. At the coining election women will makebut a small difference as she will be tiervous about using her power, but the knowledge that she can will possibly cause all candidates to be more cautious as to their promises. The right for woni£n to vote should cause rejoicing to all right- thinking persons.; : . „„