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Jesse Macy essay on women's suffrage, 1890s
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be alone, And we believe the same thing would have been said of woman under the same circumstances. We venture however to present our views, presumptuous as it may seem. And in order that we may be more clear we select the single department of female suffrage, or political equality. We find many intelligent and consciencious women who say that they do not believe women have any use for the ballot, they feel that their sphere is more domestic and that they can serve their country best at home. Were I disposed to oppose this argument I could only say that I feel very differently. I feel that were my political rights abridged the half of my life would be taken. Ah, yes, but you are not a woman! Well now thats so and it may be there is a difference between persons respecting their own legitimate sphere. Again we find women equally consciencious and intelligent, who say that they have a common interest in all the affairs of government and, they do not see why they should not have a common and an equal privilege to make that interest felt. It has been my coustom hitherto to simply agree with all women on all sides of this question. How could I do otherwise? The question seems to me to depend upon intuitive female judgment and female conscience. Just such judgment and
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be alone, And we believe the same thing would have been said of woman under the same circumstances. We venture however to present our views, presumptuous as it may seem. And in order that we may be more clear we select the single department of female suffrage, or political equality. We find many intelligent and consciencious women who say that they do not believe women have any use for the ballot, they feel that their sphere is more domestic and that they can serve their country best at home. Were I disposed to oppose this argument I could only say that I feel very differently. I feel that were my political rights abridged the half of my life would be taken. Ah, yes, but you are not a woman! Well now thats so and it may be there is a difference between persons respecting their own legitimate sphere. Again we find women equally consciencious and intelligent, who say that they have a common interest in all the affairs of government and, they do not see why they should not have a common and an equal privilege to make that interest felt. It has been my coustom hitherto to simply agree with all women on all sides of this question. How could I do otherwise? The question seems to me to depend upon intuitive female judgment and female conscience. Just such judgment and
Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries
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