63 files changed, 7278 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/26699-8.txt b/26699-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa9d344
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2328 @@
+Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Woman and the Right to Vote
+
+Author: Rafael Palma
+
+Release Date: September 24, 2008 [EBook #26699]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                           Philippine Senate
+                      Fifth Philippine Legislature
+                             First Session
+                    The Woman and the Right to Vote
+
+
+                          Address Delivered By
+
+                           Hon. Rafael Palma
+                    Senator for the Fourth District
+
+  In support of Bill No. 23 of the Senate in the sessions held by said
+               body on the 22d and 25th of November, 1919
+
+
+
+                                 Manila
+                           Bureau of Printing
+                                  1919
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE
+
+
+Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate:
+
+I have seldom felt so proud of being a representative of the people
+as now, when it gives me an opportunity to advocate a cause which can
+not be represented or defended in this chamber by those directly and
+particularly affected by it, owing to the leven of prejudice that the
+beliefs and ideas of the past have left in the mind of modern man. The
+cause of female suffrage is one sure to strike a sympathetic chord
+in every unprejudiced man, because it represents the cause of the
+weak who, deprived of the means to defend themselves, are compelled
+to throw themselves upon the mercy of the strong.
+
+But it is not on this account alone that this cause has my sympathy and
+appeals to me. It has, besides, the irresistible attraction of truth
+and justice, which no open and liberal mind can deny. If our action
+as legislators must be inspired by the eternal sources of right,
+if the laws passed here must comply with the divine precept to give
+everybody his due, then we can not deny woman the right to vote,
+because to do otherwise would be to prove false to all the precepts
+and achievements of democracy and liberty which have made this century
+what may be properly called the century of vindication.
+
+Female suffrage is a reform demanded by the social conditions of our
+times, by the high culture of woman, and by the aspiration of all
+classes of society to organize and work for the interests they have
+in common. We can not detain the celestial bodies in their course;
+neither can we check any of those moral movements that gravitate with
+irresistible force towards their center of attraction: Justice. The
+moral world is governed by the same laws as the physical world, and
+all the power of man being impotent to suppress a single molecule of
+the spaces required for the gravitation of the universe, it is still
+less able to prevent the generation of the ideas that take shape in the
+mind and strive to attain to fruition in the field of life and reality.
+
+It is an interesting phenomenon that whenever an attempt is made
+to introduce a social reform, in accordance with modern ideas and
+tendencies and in contradiction with old beliefs and prejudices,
+there is never a lack of opposition, based on the maintenance of the
+_statu quo_, which it is desired to preserve at any cost. As was to be
+expected, the eternal calamity howlers and false prophets of evil raise
+their fatidical voices on this present occasion, in protest against
+female suffrage, invoking the sanctity of the home and the necessity
+of perpetuating customs that have been observed for many years.
+
+Frankly speaking, I have no patience with people who voice such
+objections. If this country had not been one of the few privileged
+places on our planet where the experiment of a sudden change of
+institutions and ideals has been carried on most successfully,
+without paralyzation or retrogression, disorganization or destruction,
+I would say that the apprehension and fears of those who oppose this
+innovation might be justified.
+
+However, in less than a generation our country, shaken to its very
+foundations by the great social upheavals known as revolutions,
+has seen its old institutions crumble to pieces and other, entirely
+new institutions rise in their place; it has seen theories, beliefs,
+and codes of ethics, theretofore looked upon as immovable, give way
+to different principles and methods based upon democracy and liberty,
+and despite all those upheavals and changes which have brought about a
+radical modification in its social and political structure, or rather
+in consequence of the same, our people has become a people with modern
+thoughts and modern ideals, with a constitution sufficiently robust
+and strong to withstand the ravages of the struggle for existence,
+instead of remaining a sickly and atrophied organism, afraid of
+everything new and opposed to material struggles from fear of the
+wrath of Heaven and from a passive desire to live in an ideal state
+of peace and well-being.
+
+In view of the fruitful results which those institutions of liberty
+and democracy have brought to our country; and considering the
+marked progress made by us, thanks to these same institutions, in
+all the orders of national life, in spite of a few reactionists and
+ultra-conservatives, who hold opinions to the contrary and regret the
+past, I do not and can not, understand how there still are serious
+people who seriously object to the granting of female suffrage,
+one of the most vivid aspirations now agitating modern society.
+
+I remember very well that in the past, not so very long ago, the same
+apprehension and fears were felt with regard to higher education for
+our women. How ridiculous--the same people argued--is it for woman
+to study history, mathematics, philosophy, and chemistry, which are
+not only superior to the assimilating power of her deficient brain,
+but will make her presumptuous and arrogant and convert her into
+a hybrid being without grace or strength, intolerable and fatuous,
+with a beautiful, but empty head and a big, but dry heart! However,
+we admitted the women to our high schools and universities and made
+it possible for them to attain to the degree of bachelor of arts
+and graduate in law, medicine, and other professions. Can it be said
+that those women have perverted the homes of their parents or that,
+when they married, they were a source of disgrace or scandal to their
+husbands? We are now able to observe the results, and if these results
+are found to be detrimental to the social and political welfare of
+the country, it is our duty to undo what we have done and to return
+to where we were before.
+
+Fortunately, nobody would think of such a thing. From the most
+cultured centers of population to the remotest villages, public opinion
+fervently approves and applauds the education of women, and even the
+most backward peasants send their daughters to the cities and go to the
+greatest sacrifices imaginable in order to make it possible for them to
+ascend to the highest pinnacles of knowledge. Though ignorant rustics,
+they reason in their own rude way that woman and man are made of the
+same clay, and refuse to believe that because it has been their fate
+to have daughters instead of sons, they must condemn them to bear the
+chains of ignorance, incapacitating them from being useful to their
+families, society, and their country.
+
+Education has not atrophied or impaired any of the fundamental
+faculties of woman; on the contrary, it has enhanced and enriched
+them. Far from being a constant charge to the family, the educated
+woman has often been its sustain and support in times of great
+need. The educated woman has not become a blue-stocking, that fatuous
+creature imagined by certain elements, nor has she lost any of her
+feminine charms by being able to argue and discuss on every subject
+with the men. On the contrary, it seems to lend her an additional
+grace and charm, because she understands us better and can make
+herself better understood. Thank God, people are no longer ready to
+cast ridicule upon what some used to consider the foolish presumption
+of women to know as much as the men, and this is doubtless due to the
+fact that the disastrous results predicted by the calamity howlers,
+the terrible prophets of failure, have not materialized.
+
+Very well; if you allow the instruction and education of woman
+in all the branches of science, you must allow woman to take on
+her place not only in domestic life, but also in social and public
+life. Instruction and education have a twofold purpose; individually,
+they redeem the human intellect from the perils of ignorance, and
+socially they prepare man and woman for the proper performance of
+their duties of citizenship. A person is not educated exclusively for
+his or her own good, but principally to be useful and of service to
+the others. Nothing is more dangerous to society than the educated
+man who thinks only of himself, because his education enables him to
+do more harm and to sacrifice everybody else to his convenience or
+personal ambition. The real object of education is public service,
+that is, to utilize the knowledge one has acquired for the benefit
+and improvement of the society in which one is living.
+
+In societies, therefore, where woman is admitted to all the
+professions and where no source of knowledge is barred to her,
+woman must necessarily and logically be allowed to take a part in
+the public life, otherwise, her education would be incomplete or
+society would commit an injustice towards her, giving her the means
+to educate herself and then depriving her of the necessary power to
+use that education for the benefit of society and collective progress.
+
+I can not resist this conclusion. If woman is given equal opportunities
+with man for educating herself; if she is encouraged to learn and
+study the knowledge of the world and of life, it is but just that the
+doors of public life should be thrown open to her in order to allow
+her to play in it the part to which she is entitled.
+
+In backward societies, woman is taught only such knowledge as she
+requires for the home; that is, she is unconsciously prepared for that
+gentle, that charming slavery so pleasing to the masculine sex. The
+question now before us is what system we shall adopt for our women:
+whether slavery and ignorance, or liberty and education.
+
+Female suffrage is the consequence of the education of woman; it is
+also the consequence of her liberty of conscience. The vote is the
+expression of political faith, just as worship is the expression of
+religious faith. There is no more reason for keeping woman from the
+ballot box than there is for preventing her from going to church.
+
+There is no reason why suffrage should be a privilege of sex,
+considering that the duties of citizenship rest as heavily upon woman
+as upon man. Is woman under less obligation to strive for the welfare
+and future of her country because she is a woman? To attempt to curtail
+the activity of woman in public life is tantamount to declaring that a
+woman must not love her country and must not dedicate any of her time
+to her duties of citizenship; that she must not feel the affection
+and devotion which the idea of native land and community awaken in
+every well-born creature.
+
+Physical barrenness is combated and looked upon as a misfortune in
+woman; but we condemn her to a perpetual political barrenness, to
+patriotic barrenness, if we keep her away from exercising the right of
+suffrage which affords the citizen the most effective means to make
+his influence felt in social questions and in the improvement of the
+public affairs. How are we to inculcate in our children, that sacred
+pledge of the future of the nation, the cult and worship of native land
+and liberty if we do not give their mothers that practical education
+involved in the exercise of the right of suffrage; if they are taught
+that government and politics are strange gods at whose shrines they
+are forbidden to worship; if they feel upon themselves the stigma of
+inferiority, of being incapacitated from speaking to their children
+about the public affairs and the interests of the nation and the State?
+
+All social classes are entitled to representation in the legislative
+houses and are thus enabled to work for legislation favoring their
+interests: the merchants, the laborers, the manufacturers, all can
+choose one of their own number; but the women, who are not merely one
+group or class, but a collection of groups or classes, who represent
+one-half of the country and have interests of their own to defend,
+not only with relation to their sex, but also with relation to their
+position in the family, are not allowed to vote and are therefore
+not permitted to have representatives to promote and defend laws
+and measures necessary for their protection and betterment. Is this
+just? Is this even moral? Female labor can be exploited in shop and
+factory; feminine virtue can be made the object of commerce, and yet
+woman is not allowed to defend directly the interests of her sex,
+owing to one of those aberrations of the moral sense that spring from
+the crass egoism and brutal tyranny of man.
+
+If woman were at least exempt from complying with the laws! But no;
+the law binds the woman as well as the man; the Penal Code menaces man
+and woman alike with the sword of justice, and the burden of taxation
+rests upon both the masculine and the feminine wealth. Consequently,
+before the law, their duties are the same, but their rights are not.
+
+Is it not strange that our laws should contain so much social injustice
+towards woman, so much exasperating discrimination, all based upon the
+theory of the servile dependency of woman upon man, resulting from her
+congenital mental and physical inferiority? Moebius is incarnated in
+our Codes, governs our policy, and influences all the customs  and
+usages of our social and political life, to such a point that we
+ought to be ashamed that in the midst of this era of vindication,
+when all classes have secured their right to liberty and equality,
+woman has been kept indefinitely upon the same level as in the
+centuries of subjection and slavery.
+
+True democracy can not exist with one-half of the people free and
+the other half in a stage of slavery, with one-half of the people
+with representation in the public affairs and the other half without
+it. The people does not consist of men alone, but of women as well,
+and conditions being equal, woman should have the same political
+rights as man. She should, at least, have those fundamental rights the
+exercise of which, like that of the right to vote, requires nothing
+but intelligence and capacity, in order that she may have some voice
+in the decision of her own destiny and may herself fight the battles
+for her honor, her liberty, and other rights neglected or ignored by
+man on account of the undisputed monopoly exercised by him over the
+public affairs.
+
+The injustices and social and juridical discriminations contained in
+our codes will not be eliminated in a radical manner and the condition
+of woman will not improve while man alone legislates and controls
+all the spheres of public life, dictating to woman what she must do
+and what she must not do; and woman will be incompetent to take care
+of her own interests and shape her own life so long as she does not
+look higher, so long as she consents to the superiority of man and
+believes that her lot is simply that of serving and pleasing man
+in bed and home, instead of being his true helpmate and companion,
+for the progress and felicity of the human race.
+
+All arguments that are or may be adduced against female suffrage
+tend invariably towards these two objects: the confinement of woman
+to the home and the perpetuation of her civil and political slavery.
+
+Woman must busy herself with nothing but her household duties and
+must live only for her husband and her children; she has her hands
+full from the rising to the setting sun if she manages the cook,
+cleans the house, and mends the clothes: this is the great argument
+of the partisans of the old régime. Another is, that it is not in the
+nature of things that woman should struggle with man in the battle
+of public life; that if she enters that struggle, man will cease to
+look upon her as a being to be worshipped, as a sacred idol at whose
+feet he must kneel, and will see in her a rival to be combated and
+overcome, for his own preservation, and woman will not only drag the
+pure flower of her virtue into the mire of political life, but will
+lose the esteem, respect, and consideration now tributed to her.
+
+I have the most profound respect for all men and women who honestly
+believe this to be the case. It is not their fault that they believe
+that what has always been so is the best. They do not realize that
+life is motion and that the new elements of life and character which
+are being imperceptibly introduced into society demand changes and
+innovations. Society can not become stagnant, otherwise it runs the
+risk of becoming like stagnant water, which generates pestilential
+miasma. The theory that woman exists for the home alone has been a
+dead issue for some time past. Woman has quietly taken her place in
+public life and aids and directs man, even though he may not notice
+it and may not recognize her right to do so. In modern society, woman
+participates in the direction of public charity and in the education of
+the children, she practises law and medicine, engages in literary and
+journalistic pursuits, occupies many public offices, and takes interest
+and cooperates in the suppression of social vice and suffering.
+
+Who does not admit that woman has duties towards her home and her
+husband and children to which she must ordinarily give the preference
+over all other duties? However, does this exclude the performance of
+other duties towards God, her neighbor, and the State? Like man, woman
+has many duties to perform, and the true merit lies in the orderly and
+complete performance of these duties. Does not the Filipina dedicate
+part of her time, sometimes a very considerable part, to the church
+and to her so-called social duties, receiving and making calls and
+attending celebrations, theaters, and balls?
+
+Has anybody ever complained against this? Has woman ever been
+criticised for her assiduous attendance of the religious services and
+the public performance of her religious duties in crowded churches,
+in the public streets, filled with tumultuous throngs of people,
+marching in a procession behind some saint, jostled about and
+exposed to disagreeable incidents, which she bears with resignation
+because she suffers them for the cause of the public confession of
+her faith? Our women go not only to church, but to the theater and to
+popular entertainments and celebrations, where they may show off their
+elegant dresses and satisfy their feminine curiosity. In all this we
+see no pitfalls or dangers to their virtue, though we know that the
+women who go to those places and exhibit themselves in this manner
+are mothers, wives or daughters who have duties to attend at home.
+
+Now, what is the difference if woman leaves her home to attend or take
+part in a political meeting where the public needs or the election
+of candidates for public office are discussed? In what way is the
+virtue or purity of woman imperilled by her taking an interest in
+public questions affecting the welfare of the families, considering
+that whatever her status may be in life, woman always occupies some
+position in the family? Why should we fear that woman will leave the
+flower of her charms on the brambles of politics if she listens to
+a political speaker, after having listened to sermons all her life,
+or if she herself makes a speech giving her opinions on some subject
+of interest to the family, on the necessity of remedying some social
+evil or of providing a home for abandoned and indigent children?
+
+Let us take the case of one of the most vital questions of the
+present time, the subject of gambling. Do you not believe that this
+question has a direct bearing upon the welfare of the families,
+especially of the feminine part of them? Who suffers the most if the
+father or husband spends the money of the family in order to satisfy
+his craving for gambling? The women, of course, the daughters who
+are often condemned to undergo unnecessary privations and suffering
+because of the conduct of the head of the family. And you try to deny
+to woman the right to take a part in political affairs, to enlighten
+the electorate with regard to the fatal results of gambling or cast
+her vote for the candidate who promises to secure the passage of
+measures against it? And why should the opinion of woman on issues
+like this not have as much weight as that of man? Should it not be
+given greater weight, it being she who suffers the consequences and
+results of the evil? There are many questions like this which vitally
+affect the welfare and happiness of woman.
+
+I fail to see anything pernicious in the activity of woman in the
+field of politics: I even believe that her activity in this respect
+will be highly salutary and beneficent not only for womankind, but
+for society in general. It will serve to instruct woman and give her
+a more extensive knowledge of the world and of life. She will not be
+considered as an outsider where society and government are concerned
+and will therefore not remain indifferent to their short-comings and
+progress. Nothing could possibly be more harmful to society than the
+presence in it of foreign bodies absolutely indifferent to its weal
+or woe, of useless parts in the machinery of progress.
+
+We are terrified by the idea that the impulsiveness of woman and her
+fanaticism and narrow-mindedness, according to some, her weakness and
+lack of character, according to others, and her unpreparedness and
+deficient culture, according to still others, will make female suffrage
+a mere farce and will convert it into a tool for certain elements
+and interests. My opinion is that all these impulses, sentiments,
+weaknesses, and imperfections of woman are due to nothing but to
+the seclusion in which she has been kept. They are the effects of an
+educational and social system tottering to decay, of a system that does
+not give the natural faculties of woman that room for expansion and
+development which is as necessary to life as steam is to electricity
+and electricity to light. And those defects and imperfections can
+not be cured by continuing the system  under which they have formed
+and developed, but there must be a radical reform, a regeneration,
+in order that, as a bird on its first flight stretches its wings and
+soars forth into space, where there is an abundance of air and light,
+woman may have an opportunity to develop to their fullest extent her
+faculties and instincts and to show the graceful essence of her being.
+
+We must give woman new objectives in life and lofty occupations in
+which she can test her aptitude, in order that everything defective
+and ill-developed in her character and education may be eliminated
+in the atmosphere of liberty and publicity, where all defects can
+be brought to light without fear or pity and all vices crushed with
+iron heel. This is why I desire and demand political rights for our
+women. I am convinced that one of the results of this concession
+will be to enrich, improve, and develop her aptitude and aspiration
+to serve the high ideals of life and society. Woman will devote less
+time to dress, fashions, gossip and all the other petty and trifling
+things that are generally the subject of their conversation and will
+endeavor to study and discuss the more serious questions of social
+betterment and welfare.
+
+Politics is not a permanent occupation that absorbs all the time of
+a person who has other regular business to attend to. As a matter
+of fact, not speaking of political officers and a few professional
+politicians, most of the citizens devote to politics only the time
+strictly necessary and which they can spare. Any man or woman depending
+for his or her living or future upon politics will soon come to the
+conviction that politics bring starvation instead of bread.
+
+Politics are perfectly compatible with the domestic duties and
+occupations of woman, whether she be mother, wife, or daughter. An
+educated woman realizes her responsibilities; she knows how to divide
+her time and will give her domestic duties the preference over any
+other duties outside of the home. A woman is not liable to engage
+in political activity if she is very busy at home, and when confined
+to her bed by the labors and cares of maternity, she will be unable
+to engage in politics, even if she were willing. Therefore, when I
+hear the argument that woman will be remiss in her household duties
+on account of politics and that she will neglect to take care of her
+husband and children if she is given the right to vote, I frankly
+confess that I am, perhaps, too dull to see the truth of it.
+
+You insist that by divine precept the place of woman is in the home
+and that of man in society, and that this is the true and proper
+division of labor between the two halves of the human species. If this
+is really the plan of God, will you tell me then why all religions
+and all schools of ethics coincide in prescribing duties towards the
+neighbor and teach us to love our fellow-beings? Did the Lord speak to
+man alone, and not also to woman when amidst fire and smoke, on the
+quaking mountain, he gave to the world the tables of the Decalogue
+and said: "Love thy neighbor as thyself?" And the universal precept
+contained in every code of morals and in every religion, "Whatsoever
+ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,"--does
+it refer to man alone, or does it include woman also? To me, these
+precepts indicate that man and woman have duties towards others,
+that they have duties towards their fellow-beings, and that they must
+not confine their efforts towards happiness to the home, but extend
+them beyond it, to society. Will you tell me whether there can be
+happiness in the homes if society is not happy, seeing that society
+is nothing but the extension and sum of all the homes, and that all
+the suffering and evils that afflict society find their echo in the
+home, just as the happiness of the home exercises an influence upon
+the happiness of society?
+
+You attempt to do something impossible: You try to divide the human
+being into halves: one-half that is happy in the home and the other
+that is happy in society, or vice versa. You can do it if you wish,
+but then you will either have to consign all your codes which confer
+upon man the government and administration of the home to the waste
+basket and make others vesting these powers in woman, or if you do not
+wish to do that, you will have to give woman a share in the public
+affairs in order that she may, the same as in the home, assist man
+in building up and strengthening the happiness of that other big home
+which we call society.
+
+You say that woman, upon appearing on the stage of politics, will
+lose the respect and admiration of man; that instead of gaining
+any advantages, she will lose all those inherent in her present
+position, in which she is removed from any direct struggle with man,
+is adorable and adored everywhere, and reigns supreme in her home with
+the undisputed authority of the wife or mother, clad in the purple
+of the grace and majesty with which Nature has endowed her, pure and
+undefiled by the mire with which political strife and intrigue always
+bespatter the reputation and dignity of those who engage in them.
+
+I believe I have stated the position of our adversaries in terms both
+poetical and precise, and when I speak of our adversaries, I include
+that numerous legion of women who still hesitate to ask for the right
+of suffrage, for reasons which, perhaps, deserve being called selfish.
+
+However, the idealistic woman I have depicted will not disappear if
+our women are educated in politics the same as they are educated in
+the arts and sciences. A political education, far from being harmful
+to the natural charms of woman, will in my opinion enhance these,
+for the same reason that our modern education has given woman charms
+which the woman of the past did not possess. Unless you argue that
+education is in itself an evil rather than a blessing, and that it
+vitiates the character instead of improving it, you can not escape the
+conclusion that by increasing the knowledge and experience of woman,
+you give her more vigor, more energy, and a greater personal charm.
+
+Nothing commands greater respect than education. Education elevates a
+person. From the moment that you show that you possess education, the
+consideration and respect of the others are yours. Education does not
+know the bar of race prejudice; through it an individual of a colored
+race can win the respect and often the admiration of the white man.
+
+Does woman ever inspire man with greater respect than when she
+is instructed, when a college education has brought her to his
+own level? Was woman more respected in the past, when she remained
+ignorant, than she is now? I am willing to concede that she may have
+been courted more assiduously, but that does not mean that she was more
+respected. Do you understand by respect and consideration those empty
+forms of etiquette which make a man bow down to the ground to a woman
+and regale her with a few hollow compliments, designed to tickle the
+vanity or turn the head of a credulous and frivolous being? Do you
+call respect the singular habit of certain men to always find the
+eyes of the woman to whom they are speaking divine, to compare her
+mouth to a rosebud, her teeth to a string of beautiful pearls, and
+her form to the slender willow, and other stupidities of that kind? If
+that is the sort of respect and consideration that woman will lose if
+she goes into politics, she ought to be very glad to get rid of it,
+because all these empty phrases of gallantry are like the crowing of
+the rooster who wishes to dazzle a silly hen on which he has designs.
+
+And, tell me, how is it possible for weakness and ignorance to inspire
+respect? As a matter of fact, when a little cooking, embroidering, and
+music, and the knowledge of the catechism were deemed sufficient to
+prepare a girl for married life, which was then the only career open
+to woman, she was the recipient of great consideration and courtesy
+from man. These, however, were not inspired by real respect, but
+rather by a sentiment of chivalry, because man thought woman so weak
+and ignorant that he deemed it his duty to show her that protection,
+consideration, and courtesy which are due to weakness and ignorance. Is
+this the opinion that our women want us to have of them? Respect is
+a sentiment engendered by the idea of equality, and unless woman is
+placed on the same level with man in the field of politics, we shall
+continue to hear ignominious phrases such as "But, woman, what do
+you know about these things! You go and mind your own business!"
+
+Our women need not worry that if they are allowed to vote, they will
+necessarily forfeit the consideration and courtesy accorded to them
+at present, when they do not come into direct collision with man on
+the field of politics, and that the men will then consider themselves
+free to attack them as a rival whom they must overcome and destroy
+for their own preservation. In the first place it is a mistake to
+conclude that the participation of woman in public life will result
+in rivalry between the sexes. The attraction and sympathy between man
+and woman springs precisely from the difference in sex. If there were
+only men or only women, there might be such a thing as our mutually
+destroying each other, because there would be no purpose in life and
+the human race would not reproduce itself. It is in the interest of
+one sex not to destroy the other. On the other hand, politics is not
+always a personal struggle. In its proper and loftiest sense it is a
+struggle of ideas and principles, of theories and methods. Therefore,
+if a man is pitted against a woman in the arena of politics, they
+are certainly not compelled to engage in fisticuffs and kill each
+other, but each will present his own views on the points at issue,
+with more or less sound arguments in support of them. I do not believe
+any man has the right to insult a woman because she is his opponent,
+seeing that he has no such a right where a man is concerned. And
+if in the heat of political strife such an insult should be passed,
+has not woman the right to reply or to pay the offender back in his
+own coin? This is a case where woman will be given an opportunity to
+learn to be independent in judgment and action, seeing that certain
+persons do not want woman to vote unless she possesses independence
+of thought and action. I do not want, either, to give voice to the
+suspicion that many men are against female suffrage because they fear
+they might be worsted in a public debate, and what would then become
+of the prestige of the strong sex?
+
+In the second place, if woman wants man to adore and idolize her,
+she can get him to do it whether she votes or not. Man does not
+adore woman because she has less rights than he has; but he worships
+her because woman is woman, the archetype of grace and beauty of
+creation, and man will forever burn incense at the shrine of that
+divinity. Remember that it has always been said that christianity
+elevated the condition of woman and gave her greater rights, and yet
+it is the Christian countries where woman is accorded the greatest
+consideration and respect.
+
+Suffrage will not detract from the beauty of the long tresses
+of woman, nor will it make her cheeks and lips less rosy and the
+curves of her body less graceful. On the contrary, it will lend her
+an additional grace, that of being able to write a ballot in her
+diminutive handwriting, and man will always feel for her that love,
+tenderness, and adoration which grace and beauty will always inspire
+all the world over. Hercules will always bow to Venus because she is
+Venus, though Venus be a suffragist.
+
+A political education will provide woman with new means for gaining the
+respect and admiration of man. Woman will realize that her duty does
+not merely consist in giving sons and daughters to the fatherland,
+but in educating and training them in such a manner that from their
+childhood on they will take interest in everything tending to improve
+social conditions, and in inspiring them with the desire to devote
+their efforts to a certain cause or party, for the best of their
+people. Public opinion will become much broader and stronger when
+it shall reflect the sentiments of our women, who are at present
+a passive element where the duties of citizenship are concerned;
+and when in her dark hours the nation shall need assistance, she will
+receive it not only from her citizens, but also from her citizenesses,
+who will not be ignorant and inexperienced in the tasks and duties
+confronting the people, but will be accustomed to the discipline of
+organization and to the calls of the public service.
+
+There is no doubt, of course, that it is greatly to the advantage of
+man to maintain woman in ignorance, not only with regard to politics,
+but also where other matters are concerned. For one thing, it renders
+it easier for man to satisfy his whims and make of woman a toy which he
+can use or drop according to his fancy. She is obedient, submissive,
+and resigned; she never discusses or argues; she obeys and serves
+in silence, like a beautiful piece of furniture, differing from the
+rest only in that she is animate; she is a delightful doll because
+she can speak and has a little sense. I know that this is the ideal
+of many men, for the only reason that it suits their convenience.
+
+But that is not woman as she should be; the woman that our century has
+redeemed from ignorance and slavery; the woman whom God has endowed
+with an intellect, a will and a heart, hers to cultivate and perfect
+in order that she may be not the servant of man, but his companion,
+not the subject of the king, but the queen enthroned by his side,
+to be his faithful and constant ally from the cradle to the grave,
+in prosperity and adversity, not only in the intimacy of the home,
+but also in the wide arena of public life. Man and woman were created
+to mate and to understand and love each other, to work, suffer, and
+struggle side by side for all that is good and beautiful in life,
+to perpetuate the sovereignty of human couple on earth, and to make
+it a place of happiness, free from tyranny and suffering and fit to
+be inhabited by peaceful and intelligent beings and not by vultures
+and wild beasts.
+
+This is the mission of woman and man on earth as I understand and
+conceive it. Until man and woman are placed on exactly the same
+footing, until they stand on the same plane, so that there can be
+an intimate communion of thoughts, ideas, and interests, life will
+always be ominous and unhappy for one or for the other, and humanity
+will never overcome the evils with which it is now struggling. God
+made woman as perfect as man, and it is unjust to deprive her of any
+of the benefits and advantages which man derives from science, arts,
+and politics. Politics is a noble occupation, as it is the art or
+science of making nations happy, and it is but just that woman should
+contribute her share to the attainment of that happiness.
+
+Is there any doubt that woman has faculties, sentiments, views,
+and methods of doing things of her own, different from those of
+man? How often has man, when he did not dare to do a thing, left it
+to woman to do! She has a personality of her own and should, like
+man, be given an opportunity to develop it; she should be given a
+voice where her own interests are concerned, and should on her own
+account face the risks incidental to life, venturing, experimenting,
+and discovering things for herself instead of having man establish an
+invariable rule of conduct for her and imposing upon her the methods
+which she must follow.
+
+Politics is no longer what it should be; it has become too masculine
+and is brutal, selfish, and altogether too personal, because it
+lacks the kindness, the self-denial, the altruism, and the spirit of
+sacrifice which are characteristic qualities of the feminine sex. Why
+should we not benefit by the energy of woman, by her impulses and
+her views of things, in order to improve our practices and methods in
+public life? Perhaps, politics will be chastened and purified to some
+extent by the intervention and presence of woman, just as her presence
+at any gathering makes man more careful in language and actions!
+
+Like a number of other institutions that are now a thing of the past,
+the monopoly exercised by man over the public functions is based on
+force and violence, and in order to perpetuate this monopoly, its
+supporters take shelter behind the wall of prejudice erected in the
+course of the times under the protection of the established order of
+things, and from there they hurl the shafts of satire and ridicule
+upon all who demand that this violent condition cease. Ridicule is
+the most powerful weapon now used against the woman who attempts to
+obtain justice and the vindication of the rights of her sex, some of
+which rights, such as that of governing the peoples, were not even
+withheld from them in many of the primitive states.
+
+The result is that many persons have a very queer idea of the
+suffragist. She is represented as a woman who dislikes home work and
+is absent from her home at all hours of the day and night. The most
+common picture is that in which the wife addresses a gathering of
+other women, while the husband is busy at home, sweeping the floor
+and attempting to pacify the squalling baby. This is the idea which
+has been spread by cinematographs and reviews and which has impressed
+itself upon the minds of the unthinking  masses, who are incapable
+of rising above a superficial view of things.
+
+Nothing, however, is farther from representing her as she really
+is. The suffragist is a true product of our era of liberty. Having
+received the same education as man, she knows and does not shirk her
+responsibilities towards her family; but at the same time she is free
+from prejudice and deems it her duty to coöperate with man in all work
+concerning social reform and the public welfare of the community in
+which she lives. She believes that for the very reason that there are
+duties in the home which are assigned to woman, she has also duties to
+perform in public life. The distribution of the work between man and
+woman causes no conflict between them in their home and family life,
+and there is no reason why there should be any conflict in public
+life if each sex is assigned the duties adapted to it.
+
+Being a suffragist does not mean being antagonistic to the family
+duties. On the contrary, the suffragist realizes that the happiness
+of the family is the foundation of the happiness of society, and she
+knows that social distress and vices affect the family and that she
+can and should coöperate with man in the relief of that distress and
+the suppression of those vices.
+
+No, the general idea people have of the suffragist is altogether
+a wrong one and it is high time that at least the educated and
+intelligent correct their views where they are based on prejudices and
+ideas belonging to the past. We can not prevent the uneducated masses
+from thinking as they did half a century ago; but the fact that many
+serious and otherwise progressive persons content themselves with
+the opinion of the uneducated shows that here we do not go deep into
+subjects and allow ourselves to be carried away by the impressions
+of the moment.
+
+Suffragism is a legitimate aspiration, an ideal of our century. It
+springs from the philosophy and institutions of the modern world and
+from the growing difficulty of the position of woman in the struggle
+for existence. It is necessary for her to protect herself and organize,
+not to create rivalry and make war upon man, but to become an asset
+in the social progress and protect herself from the exploitation and
+iniquity of the other social groups, whose victim she would become
+if she remained indifferent and took no part in the public life.
+
+As a man of the law and a legislator, I would not think of opposing
+this aspiration. I consider it as natural as the right to live
+and the right of self-defence. I do not consider it premature for
+the Filipino woman to demand this right, as her sisters have done,
+successfully in some cases, in other parts of the world. To me it
+makes no difference that the number of those now demanding it is
+small and insignificant. It would even make no difference to me if the
+women of our country did not demand or want it at all. Where rights
+fundamentally in accordance with the spirit of our institutions and
+with the ideals of our times are to be granted, I would not consult
+those who are entitled to demand them, but would give them without the
+asking, because it would be just and God wants justice to prevail at
+all times and everywhere. I am not a judge, but a legislator, and
+it is my first duty to provide for justice, not to administer it,
+nor wait for some one to ask for it and some one to object to it.
+
+It is a source of gratification to me that there is a group of women
+who, voicing the aspirations of their sex, have dared to approach
+our Legislature and call attention to a void in our statutes. This
+indicates to me that the consciousness of that right has been born and
+has revealed its existence in the Filipino woman, and more than that
+I need not know. I do not have to count and classify the women who
+think that way. When Rizal espoused the cause of the political rights
+of our race, his companions were very few, because in the majority of
+his compatriots that consciousness was lying dormant. But it would
+be a falsehood and an error to affirm that even at that time Rizal
+did not voice the cause of his entire race, and that no attention
+should be paid to his demands because he and those with him were
+few in number. He knew that his country was oppressed, that he was
+defending a just cause, and that he was fighting for the rights of
+his fellow-citizens, and he did not stop to reflect whether or not
+those fellow-citizens had the consciousness of their rights.
+
+We must conclude, therefore, that the few women who now speak to
+us of the rights of their sex and for suffrage, represent all the
+Filipino women, unless we wish to insult our women by saying that
+they have so little common sense as to oppose the concession to
+them of rights that will broaden the scope of their lives and of
+their activity in society. It matters but little that the desire
+for suffrage appears in its initial stage, in the vague form of an
+indefinite proposition: the fact is that there has been an indication
+of that desire, and in my judgment the plant has germinated and it is
+useless to endeavor to smother it, as it will grow again. The more
+we delay female suffrage, the more shall we suffer by it, because
+why should we stifle a budding plant instead of allowing it to grow
+and in due season produce delicious fruit?
+
+We need not imitate the older nations who have been so slow in
+recognizing women's rights. We have neither their traditions nor their
+prejudices and our progress need not come by slow revolutions. We
+must foster all those peaceful revolutions of ideas that will
+result in social justice. Just as we accept the latest inventions
+in mechanics, industry, and art, such as the automobile, the dynamo,
+and the aeroplane, so must we accept the latest improvements in the
+social and political institutions of the most advanced countries.
+
+Female suffrage spells justice and vindication for the modern
+woman and we must adopt it forthwith, without unnecessary delay and
+formalities. The liberty of worship which gave us religious tolerance;
+the popular suffrage which strengthened our collective conscience; the
+free public school which emancipated our masses from the tutelage of
+the _cacique_: in short, all the achievements of democracy of which we
+are so justly proud would not yet be beautiful realities and we would
+not be able to enjoy their mature fruits as we now do, if we had been
+compelled to feel our way and make many tentative steps instead of at
+once entering fully upon our social and political life. We have to move
+quickly and anticipate the aspirations of the feminine masses, which
+are as yet vague, in order to save us the agitation which otherwise
+is sure to come and the justice of which will have to be recognized.
+
+When we are told that our social condition is such that we are not
+ready for female suffrage, and that our women are not sufficiently
+educated to exercise political rights, I feel like asking whether
+we said the same thing when we imported and implanted in our country
+the democratic institutions that are the base and foundation of our
+present society. Our traditional education was diametrically opposed to
+a popular system of government, yet we adopted that form of government,
+because we considered it better than the other, more suited to our
+interests and to the ideals of the century, and did not worry about
+whether or not we were sufficiently educated and prepared for it.
+
+It is more than twenty years now that the free public school has opened
+its doors to the women, and education has extended its benefits to them
+in the same proportion as to the men. Many of the women educated in
+these schools are now wives or mothers, and yet you still ask whether
+the Filipina has attained to the maturity necessary for her investment
+with political rights. I am sure there is no idea of requiring them
+all to be doctors or bachelors of art before we grant them the right
+of suffrage.
+
+A political education can not be acquired except by education, just
+as you can not learn how to swim except by swimming. The argument
+that the Filipina is not sufficiently prepared is a justification of
+the attitude of a country which never finds its colonies sufficiently
+prepared or educated to exercise the right of sovereignty themselves.
+
+The other day, when I made a flight in a seaplane for the sake of the
+experience, I felt--I frankly admit it--some apprehension, a certain
+fear of the unknown, but after the first few moments were happily
+past, I felt perfectly comfortable and enjoyed the flight through
+space and the view of the magnificent landscape far below me. Ah,
+it is beautiful to cleave the air like a swallow and to ride upon
+the clouds and the winds of heaven, looking down upon the cities and
+human dwellings spread like a relief map upon the crystal sheet of the
+waters, to traverse enormous distances in a few minutes almost without
+noticing it, and to emulate in everything the bird and like the bird
+to alight suddenly, without fatigue and physical hardships. When
+the voyage was over, I realized that my apprehension and fear had
+been unfounded; that it was not more risky to fly through space on
+an aeroplane than to speed across country on an automobile, and I
+then realized the numerous advantages to be derived from the flying
+machine, that product of our time which is destined to revolutionize
+not only warfare, but also the pursuits of peace.
+
+The same thing occurs with all new ideas and reforms of a moral and
+political order. They are adopted with the instinctive fear, the
+vague apprehension inspired by the new and unknown. There is much
+talk of their objectional features and dangers for the established
+order of things. You might think the firmament was going to crumble
+to pieces or the world was threatening to go out of joint. However,
+after the innovation has been made, it is found to be quite natural and
+logical, because things go on in their natural course, the heavenly
+bodies continue in their orbits as before and the mountain peaks do
+not slide down into the valleys. Courage and hope are born again in
+the human breast, the masses get used to the new state of affairs,
+and soon even the most recalcitrant would be furious if any one should
+propose to return to the old order of things. This has happened in
+our country before, and has always been and always will be the way
+in which progress is worked out.
+
+We must make up our minds to overcome our scruples and fears. If
+in discussing the aeroplane, we were to speak of nothing but of the
+number of aviators who have been killed, we would never accept that
+invention. We must embark in one in order to prove to ourselves that
+our fears and apprehensions are unfounded. Sight must not be lost of
+the fact that suffragism is not a new thing in the world, that it is
+far from being an experiment and is already an established fact in some
+countries. Exactly the same as the aeroplane: if we desire to become
+acquainted with the advantages of that apparatus, we do not ask those
+who have never traveled in it, but those who have experimented with it,
+and if we wish to know the advantages of suffragism, we must not listen
+to those who oppose it as a matter of principle and theory, but must
+consult countries that have made experiments with it and have already
+had a chance to see its results. We must take note of the fact that
+suffragism is gaining in strength every day and is becoming a general
+movement in the countries where it has found acceptance. Exactly like
+the aeroplane. Would it not be perfectly ridiculous to declaim against
+the aeroplane on account of the accidents that are liable to occur,
+and would we not be stupid to refuse to follow the lead of other
+governments who utilize its advantages for defence or aggression in
+war and for rapid communication in time of peace? And is it not just
+as stupid and even senseless to oppose suffragism on speculative or
+rather hypothetical grounds, instead of being guided by the experience
+of other countries in this respect and accepting suffragism as part
+and parcel of our modern customs and institutions?
+
+In conclusion, permit me to quote a few passages on this subject from
+an address which I made at an entertainment given at the Opera House
+in honor of Rizal by various schools for young ladies in 1913:
+
+
+    According to the old idea, woman's sphere of action should
+    not extend beyond the home, beyond her domestic occupations,
+    and she should be nothing but the glory and delight of
+    her husband and her children. This is not right. Like man,
+    woman is born and lives in society, and she can not and must
+    not remain indifferent to social distress and suffering. To
+    think otherwise would be selfishness and aberration and would
+    leave society a prey to much suffering which only the blessed
+    hand of woman can cure or relieve. Let woman be the glory and
+    happiness of the home; but do not forget that she must extend
+    her beneficent action beyond the confines of the household,
+    that she must make the world outside the participant of the
+    wealth of kindness and charity that bountiful Providence has
+    lavished upon her. Just as she shares the duties of life with
+    man within the home, so should she without it, in public life,
+    share with man the responsibility of remedying and alleviating
+    public distress and misfortune.
+
+    It is very significant that beneficence, charity, and morality
+    are feminine virtues, it being woman's mission to exercise all
+    these virtues in society. She must take a part, and should,
+    in my opinion, always take the initiative, in all work for
+    the protection of the orphans, the relief of distress, and
+    the elevation of the standard of public morality. She must
+    strive and suffer, in the society in which she is living,
+    for all that is feminine in life, must with a wave of her
+    hand attenuate the fierceness of the struggle for existence,
+    and must brighten the gloomy night of human suffering with
+    her gentle presence. Our country needs not only the strength
+    of her men, but the kindness and charity of her women;
+    she needs not only heroes, but also heroines. And heroines
+    exist and always have existed in the history of humankind;
+    and there are and always have been heroines in our country,
+    the special privilege of which, according to serious foreign
+    authors, consists in its women being superior to its men.
+
+    And the girls who to-day pay homage to Rizal and dedicate their
+    songs and prayers to him, will to-morrow be citizenesses who
+    will not, like unhappy Maria Clara, be made the victims of
+    social injustice, but will help to banish social injustice
+    and strive for justice, virtue, and the glory and greatness
+    of their native land.
+
+
+Yes; I cherish that hope and have faith in the liberty of woman. It
+is not possible to keep one-half of humanity in the upper part and
+the other half in the lower part of the balance without producing
+disequilibrium, tears, and suffering. Everything tends to reach the
+same level in life, the same as in death, the great leveller. Humanity
+has seen a new light which will shine brightly, though error and
+prejudice may endeavor to shroud it with darkness. Woe to those who
+refuse to see the light! The world continues to progress and stops
+for no one. He who wishes to lag behind is free to do so, but he will
+surely deplore it afterwards.
+
+I can not prophesy what will be the outcome of the efforts which the
+Filipino women are now making to obtain suffrage; but I know that
+these efforts must be to them, and are to us, a source of pride and
+glory, because they show that there is no part of our people which
+has remained indifferent to the great movements of the century. There
+are persons who scoff at them and many shrug their shoulders; but
+this must not discourage our women, because neither scoffing nor
+shrugging the shoulders are very weighty arguments. The same persons
+who now laugh at them and shrug their shoulders, probably because they
+do not know that the world and society are moving and progressing,
+will some day recognize that these women were in the right, just as
+the men who scoffed at Rizal lived to deplore their mistake and have
+since made amends.
+
+What we must do is to diffuse the light and spread the new doctrines,
+in order to convince those who unwittingly refuse to see justice and
+truth, the only firm foundations of the stability and prosperity of
+civilized society.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          Senado de Filipinas
+                      Quinta Legislatura Filipina,
+                       Primer período de sesiones
+
+                     La mujer y el derecho de votar
+
+
+
+                      Discurso pronunciado por el
+
+                           Hon. Rafael Palma
+                     Senador por el Cuarto Distrito
+
+     En favor del proyecto de Ley No. 23 del Senado en las sesiones
+  celebradas por dicho cuerpo en los días 22 y 25 de noviembre de 1919
+
+
+
+
+                                 Manila
+                           Bureau of Printing
+                                  1919
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LA MUJER Y EL DERECHO DE VOTAR
+
+
+Sr. Presidente y Caballeros del Senado:
+
+Pocas veces me he sentido tan orgulloso de ostentar la representación
+popular como esta vez que me permite abogar por una causa que no
+puede ser representada ni defendida en este sitio por la parte a
+quien directa y particularmente interesa, merced a esa levadura de
+prejuicios que han dejado en la mente del hombre moderno las creencias
+e ideas del antiguo. La causa del sufragio femenino es una causa que
+despierta la simpatía de todo hombre desapasionado, porque representa
+la causa del débil que, privado del medio de defenderse por sí mismo,
+pone toda su razón y derecho al arbitrio del fuerte.
+
+Pero no es solamente por esto que atrae mi simpatía y apela a mi
+defensa. Es además que dicha causa tiene en sí un fondo irresistible de
+verdad y justicia al cual no puede negarse ninguna inteligencia abierta
+y libre. Si nuestra conciencia como legisladores debe inspirarse en
+las eternas fuentes del derecho, si las leyes que aquí formulamos
+deben llevar el sello divino de dar a cada uno lo suyo, no podemos
+rehusar a la mujer el derecho del voto como no pretendamos renegar
+de todas las fórmulas y conquistas de la democracia y de la libertad
+que han hecho de este siglo el ser llamado con propiedad el siglo de
+las reivindicaciones.
+
+El sufragio femenino es una reforma exigida por las condiciones
+sociales de nuestro tiempo, por la elevación de la cultura de
+la mujer y las aspiraciones de todas las clases o grupos de la
+sociedad a organizarse para trabajar por los intereses que tienen
+de común. No podemos parar el movimiento de los astros y no podemos
+parar igualmente ninguno de esos movimientos morales que gravitan con
+incontrastable fuerza hacia su centro de atracción: la Justicia. Pues
+el mundo moral está regido por las mismas leyes que el físico y si
+el poder del hombre es impotente para suprimir una molécula de los
+espacios necesaria a la gravitación universal, menos podrá contener
+la generación de las ideas elaboradas en la conciencia y ansiosas de
+encarnar en los fecundos senos de la vida y de la realidad.
+
+Es interesante el fenómeno de que cada vez que se trata de realizar
+una reforma social en consonancia con las ideas y actividades del
+siglo y en contradicción con ańejas creencias y preocupaciones, no
+faltan nunca las objeciones fundadas en el mantenimiento del _statu
+quo_ que se quiere a toda costa preservar. Los eternos agoreros del
+desastre, los falsos profetas de la destrucción, como no puede menos
+de suceder, alzan sus fatídicas voces en esta ocasión protestando
+contra el sufragio femenino en nombre de la santidad del hogar y
+de la insustituibilidad de costumbres que han sido por largo tiempo
+admitidas.
+
+Francamente, no tengo ninguna paciencia para escuchar semejantes
+objeciones. Si este país no hubiera sido precisamente uno de los
+pocos lugares privilegiados del planeta en donde se ha realizado con
+fortuna el experimento de una brusca transición de sistemas e ideales,
+sin producir paradas ni retrocesos, sin desarticulaciones ni roturas,
+yo diría que los sobresaltos y temores de aquellos que se oponen a
+esta innovación se hallan justificados.
+
+Pero en menos de una generación, este país, sacudido en sus cuatro
+costados por esos grandes terremotos sociales que por otro nombre se
+llaman revoluciones, ha visto desmoronarse sus antiguas instituciones
+para levantarse en su lugar otras enteramente nuevas; ha visto
+desaparecer teorías, creencias y valores morales que se tenían por
+inconmovibles y eternos para ser sustituídos por diferentes principios
+y métodos, fundados en la democracia y libertad; y a despecho de esos
+cambios y trastornos que han modificado radicalmente su estructura
+social y política y gracias precisamente a ellos, nuestro pueblo se
+ha convertido en un pueblo con pensamientos e ideales modernos, con
+una constitución robusta y capaz de afrontar los estragos de la lucha
+por la existencia, en vez de aquel enfermizo y atrofiado organismo que
+tenía miedo a todas las novedades y repudiaba las luchas materiales
+por temor a las iras del cielo y por un pasivo deseo de vivir en paz
+y bienestar ideales.
+
+En frente de los provechosos resultados que esas instituciones de
+libertad y democracia han dado a este país, a la vista de los marcados
+progresos alcanzados en todos los órdenes de la vida nacional merced
+a esas mismas instituciones, pese a algunos cuantos reaccionarios y
+ultraconservadores que opinan lo contrario y ańoran el pasado, yo no
+veo, no puedo ver, como haya gente seria que seriamente sostenga que
+no debe concederse el sufragio femenino, una de las más vivísimas
+aspiraciones que agitan actualmente la conciencia del mundo moderno.
+
+Recuerdo muy bien que en otros tiempos, y no muy lejanos, los mismos
+temores y sobresaltos se habían abrigado contra la instrucción
+superior de la mujer. ĄQue ridículo, se decía, qué ridículo que la
+mujer aprenda Historia, Matemáticas, Filosofía y Química que no sólo
+no puede digerir su escaso cerebro sino que la llenaría de presunción y
+soberbia convirtiéndola en una especie de criatura híbrida, sin gracia
+y sin fuerza, intolerable y fatua, con mollera hermosa pero vacía
+y corazón grande pero seco! Y, sin embargo, hemos dado entrada a la
+mujer en las escuelas superiores y en las universidades y, al igual
+que el hombre, hemos permitido que sus cabezas ostenten las borlas
+de bachiller en Artes, Leyes, Medicina y otras profesiones. żPodemos,
+ahora, decir que esas mujeres han pervertido el hogar de sus mayores
+o cuando se han casado han sido para sus maridos motivo de deshonor
+o escándalo? Es tiempo de observar los resultados porque si estos
+resultados han sido perjudiciales al cuerpo social y político del país,
+nuestro deber es deshacer lo hecho y desandar lo andado.
+
+Nadie piensa afortunadamente en esto. Desde los más cultos centros de
+población hasta las aldeas más desconocidas se arrastra silenciosa
+y majestuosa una ola de opinión popular que aprueba y aplaude la
+educación femenina, al punto de que los más rudos sementereros
+envían a sus hijas a las ciudades a costa de los más imaginables
+sacrificios para que puedan escalar las cumbres más altas del saber,
+si a eso pudieran. Esos lugareńos ignorantes saben confusamente que la
+mujer como el hombre está hecha de la misma arcilla y no se avienen
+a creer que por haberles cabido la suerte de tener nińas en vez de
+nińos necesitan condenarlas a llevar las cadenas de la ignorancia
+incapacitándolas para ser útiles a sus familias, a su sociedad y a
+su patria.
+
+La instrucción no ha atrofiado ni desmejorado ninguna de las facultades
+fundamentales de la mujer, sino, por el contrario, las ha elevado
+y enriquecido. Lejos de ser una carga constante para la familia, la
+mujer instruída ha sido muchas veces su sostén y apoyo en apurados
+trances. La mujer instruída no se ha transformado en la marisabidilla,
+la fatua criatura forjada por la imaginación de algunos, ni siquiera ha
+perdido ninguno de sus encantos femeninos porque razone y discuta con
+el hombre sobre toda clase de materias; antes bien, a causa de ello,
+parece que encontramos en ella mayor gracia y encanto, porque nos
+comprende mejor y sabe hacerse comprender mejor. Hoy, gracias a Dios,
+ha desaparecido ya aquella comezón de ridículo que acometía a muchos
+al observar lo que consideraban necia presunción de las mujeres de
+saber tanto como los hombres, y esto se debe, indudablemente, a que
+los desastrosos resultados que pronosticaron los agoreros de las malas
+nuevas, las terribles profetas de la destrucción, no se han cumplido.
+
+Pues bien, si admitís la instrucción y educación de la mujer, en
+todos los terrenos de la ciencia, debéis admitir la intervención
+de la mujer no sólo en la vida doméstica sino también en la vida
+social o pública. La instrucción y la educación tienen un doble fin:
+el individual, que redime la inteligencia humana de los peligros de la
+ignorancia, y el social, que prepara al hombre y a la mujer a cumplir
+los deberes de una buena ciudadanía. No se educa uno exclusivamente
+para su propio bien sino principalmente para ser útil y servir a
+los demás. El mayor peligro que existe para la sociedad es el hombre
+instruído que sólo piensa en sí mismo, porque su instrucción misma le
+da mayor poder para hacer dańo y sacrificar a todos a su conveniencia,
+o su ambición personal. El verdadero objeto de la educación es el
+servicio al público, el de aplicar los conocimientos que no adquiere,
+al bien y mejoramiento de la sociedad en que vive.
+
+Por tanto, en las sociedades donde se admite a la mujer a todas
+las carreras y profesiones de la vida, donde no se escatima a la
+mujer ninguna fuente de conocimiento debe admitirse necesaria y
+lógicamente la intervención de la mujer en la vida pública. De otro
+modo, su educación sería incompleta o la sociedad sería injusta con
+ella pues después de suministrarla los medios para su educación la
+privaría de los poderes necesarios para emplear esa educación en pro
+del bien social y el progreso colectivo.
+
+No puedo resistirme a esta conclusión. Si se ofrece a la mujer igual
+oportunidad de educación que al hombre, si se la estimula para aprender
+y estudiar los conocimientos del mundo y de la vida, deben abrírsela
+las puertas de la vida pública para que pueda desempeńar en ella el
+papel que le corresponde.
+
+En las sociedades retrógradas se enseńa a la mujer solamente
+aquella parte de conocimientos que necesita para la vida del hogar,
+preparándola así inconscientemente para sufrir aquella dulce, aquella
+encantadora esclavitud que tanto agrada al ser masculino. Es cuestión
+solamente de escoger nuestro sistema: o esclavitud e ignorancia o
+libertad y educación para la mujer.
+
+El sufragio femenino es consecuencia de la educación de la mujer;
+es consecuencia, también, de su libertad de conciencia. Por el voto
+se expresa la fé política, como por el culto la fé religiosa. No hay
+razón para impedirle a la mujer el acceso a las urnas como no la hay
+para privarla de ir al templo.
+
+No hay razón para que el sufragio sea un privilegio de sexo, puesto
+que los deberes de ciudadanía pesan tanto sobre el hombre como sobre
+la mujer. żEs que la mujer, por serlo, está menos obligada a velar
+por los intereses de la Patria, por la felicidad y el porvenir de
+su país? Querer restringir la actividad de la mujer para las cosas
+públicas es como decir que la mujer no debe amar a su país ni debe
+consagrar tiempo a las obligaciones que la corresponden como ciudadana,
+ni debe sentir el carińo y la devoción que en toda criatura bien
+nacida despierta la idea de la Patria y de la colectividad.
+
+La esterilidad física es combatida y se considera como una desgracia
+en la mujer; pero queremos condenarla a una perpetua esterilidad
+política--que es lo mismo decir esterilidad patriótica--al impedirla
+que tome parte en el sufragio que da a los ciudadanos el medio más
+efectivo para influir en los destinos sociales y en el mejoramiento
+de los negocios públicos. żCómo inculcar en los nińos, esa prenda
+sagrada del porvenir de una nación, el culto y la fé en la Patria
+y en la libertad si no se les da a las madres la educación práctica
+que envuelve en sí el privilegio del voto, si se les enseńa que el
+gobierno y la política son divinidades extrańas, en cuyos templos
+les está vedado penetrar, si sobre sí mismas sienten el estigma de
+inferioridad e incapacidad para hablar a sus hijos de los negocios
+públicos y de los intereses de la nación y del Estado?
+
+Todas las clases o grupos sociales tienen derecho a ser representados
+en las legislaturas para trabajar por las leyes que afectan a sus
+intereses; los comerciantes pueden eligir a uno de ellos, lo mismo los
+agricultores, los obreros y los industriales; pero a las mujeres, que
+no son meramente un grupo sino un compuesto de grupos, con representar
+la mitad de un país, con propios intereses que sostener no sólo en
+relación a su sexo sino también en relación a su situación dentro de la
+familia, no se les permite votar y por tanto no se les permite tener
+una representación que sostenga aquellas leyes o medidas necesarias
+para su protección y mejoramiento. żEs esto justo? żEs siquiera
+moral? El trabajo de las mujeres puede ser explotado en fábricas y
+talleres, la virtud de las mujeres puede ser objeto de tráfico en el
+mercado, y, sin embargo, la mujer no puede defender directamente los
+intereses de su sexo por una de esas aberraciones del sentido moral
+proveniente del grosero egoísmo, de la brutal tiranía del hombre.
+
+ĄSi al menos las mujeres estuvieran exentas de cumplir las leyes! Pero
+la ley obliga tanto a la mujer como al hombre; el Código Penal alcanza
+con su espada las infracciones  cometidas por uno y otro sexo, y
+el impuesto y la contribución gravan lo mismo la riqueza masculina
+que la femenina. Es decir, ante la ley, los deberes son los mismos,
+pero los derechos, no.
+
+żQué extrańo que nuestras leyes contengan tantas injusticias sociales
+para la mujer, tantas irritantes desigualdades, basadas todas ellas
+en la teoría de la dependencia servil de la mujer al hombre causada
+por su congénita inferioridad mental y fisiológica? Moebius está
+encarnado en nuestros códigos, rige nuestra política y preside todas
+las modalidades de nuestro vivir social y político, en forma tal que
+hay motivos para avergonzarse que en plena época de reivindicaciones,
+cuando todas las clases han obtenido sus derechos a la libertad y a
+la igualdad, la mujer ha permanecido indefinidamente sujeta al mismo
+nivel como en los siglos de sujeción y esclavitud.
+
+Una democracia verdadera no puede existir mitad libre y mitad esclava,
+mitad con representación y mitad sin representación en las funciones
+públicas. El pueblo no es solamente hombre sino también mujer, y,
+en igualdad de condiciones, la mujer debe tener los mismos derechos
+políticos que el hombre. Pero lo menos debe tener aquéllos derechos
+fundamentales que, como el voto, requieren nada más que inteligencia
+y capacidad para ejercerlo, a fin de que pueda tener alguna voz en la
+decisión de sus propios destinos y librar por sí misma las batallas que
+exigen su honor, su libertad y otros tantos intereses que descuídan
+o ignoran los hombres en virtud del indisputado monopolio ejercido
+por ellos sobre los negocios públicos.
+
+No desaparecerán radicalmente las injusticias, las desigualdades
+sociales y jurídicas contenidas en nuestros códigos ni mejorarán las
+condiciones de la existencia para la mujer mientras sean los hombres
+los únicos que legislen y dominen todas las esferas de la vida pública,
+mientras dicten a la mujer lo que debe hacer y lo que no debe hacer;
+y, a su vez, la mujer será incompetente de cuidar de sus propios
+intereses y de dirigir sus propios destinos mientras no mire más alto,
+mientras preste su asentimiento a la superioridad del hombre y crea
+que su destino es simplemente servir y complacer al hombre para el
+lecho y el hogar, en vez de ser su verdadera ayuda y compańía para
+el progreso y felicidad del género humano.
+
+Todas las objeciones que se aducen o pueden aducirse en contra del
+sufragio femenino tienden invariablemente a estos dos objetos: a la
+seclusión doméstica de la mujer y a perpetuar su esclavitud civil
+y política.
+
+Que la mujer no debe atender más que las ocupaciones del hogar,
+que no debe vivir más que para su esposo e hijos; que tiene bastante
+trabajo para todo el día con dirigir al cocinero, limpiar la casa y
+remendar los vestidos; es la fórmula que sostienen los partidarios
+del antiguo régimen. O si no, esta otra: que la mujer no está por
+naturaleza llamada a luchar con el hombre en la vida pública; que
+el hombre por razón de esa lucha dejará de considerarla como un ser
+digno de adoración, un sagrado ídolo ante cuyos pies se arrodilla,
+sino que verá en ella a una rival a quien hay que combatir y anular
+para la propia conservación, y con ello la mujer no sólo arrastraría
+la nítida sampaguita de su virtud en el lodo de la vida política, sino
+perdería, además, la estimación, el respeto y las consideraciones,
+de los cuales se ve rodeada en la actualidad.
+
+No tengo sino el más profundo respeto para todos aquéllos, hombres y
+mujeres, que piensan honradamente así. No tienen la culpa de creer que
+aquello que ha existido siempre de un modo tal, no sea lo mejor. No
+comprenden que la vida es movimiento e insensiblemente se adhieren a
+las capas sociales nuevos elementos de vida y carácter que requieren
+necesariamente el cambio y la renovación. No es posible a la sociedad
+estancarse en un sitio, porque ocurrirá lo que ocurre a las aguas
+estancadas, que despiden pestilentes miasmas. La teoría de que la mujer
+sólo existe para el hogar y por el hogar ha dejado de existir hace
+tiempo. Ella ha tomado insensiblemente su puesto en la vida pública
+y ayuda y dirige al hombre aún cuando éste no se percate de ello,
+y aún cuando no se la reconozca derechos para ello. En las sociedades
+modernas, la mujer participa en la dirección de la caridad pública y
+en la educación de los nińos; ejerce como médica, abogada, literata;
+forma parte de la legión de la prensa, de muchos empleos públicos y se
+interesa y coopera en la supresión de los vicios y miserias sociales.
+
+żQuién no admite que la mujer tiene deberes para su hogar, su esposo e
+hijos que debe cumplir ordinariamente con preferencia a cualesquiera
+otros deberes? Pero, żexcluye eso, acaso, el cumplimiento de otros
+deberes para con Dios, para con el prójimo y para con el Estado? El
+hombre como la mujer está lleno de deberes: en cumplirlos ordenada
+y totalmente está el verdadero mérito. żNo dedica la mujer filipina
+una parte a veces considerable de su tiempo a la iglesia y a otros
+deberes llamados de sociedad, a ir de visitas o recibirlas, a concurrir
+a fiestas, teatros y bailes?
+
+żSe ha quejado alguien de esto? żSe ha criticado al menos a las
+mujeres porque asistan asiduamente y cumplan públicamente sus deberes
+religiosos en los templos llenos de bote en bote; en las calles
+públicas, ahitas de muchedumbres tumultuosas, formando cola a lo
+largo de las procesiones de los santos, entre empellones y sofocones
+desagradables que toleran mansamente a causa de la confesión pública de
+su fé? Ellas no van solamente a las iglesias sino a los espéctaculos
+públicos, a las fiestas populares, allí donde pueden ostentar la
+elegancia de sus trajes o satisfacer su curiosidad femenina. Y no
+vemos en todo ello ninguna asechanza o peligro para su virtud, sabiendo
+que esas mujeres que van a esos puntos y se exhiben de esa manera son
+madres, esposas, o hijas que tienen deberes que atender en sus casas.
+
+żCuál es la diferencia, digo ahora, de que la mujer salga también de su
+casa para asistir o tomar parte en un miting político donde se trata
+de las necesidades públicas o de la conveniencia de eligir a éste o a
+aquél funcionario? żQué peligros puede haber para la virtud o pureza de
+la mujer en que ella se interese en los asuntos públicos que afectan
+al bienestar de las familias, puesto que la mujer en cualquier estado
+de su vida ocupa siempre una posición dentro de la familia? żPor qué
+ha de considerarse que la mujer dejará en las zarzas de la política
+la flor de sus encantos si oye a un orador político--ella que está
+acostumbrada a oir sermones--o, si el caso se presenta, pronuncia ella
+misma un discurso expresando su opinión sobre algún asunto de interés
+para la familia, sobre la necesidad de remediar ciertos males sociales
+o sobre la conveniencia de recoger a nińos abandonados o desválidos?
+
+Tomemos el caso de una de las cuestiones de más palpitante interés
+en este tiempo, la cuestión del incremento de los juegos. żCreeis
+que esta cuestión no es de aquéllas que tienen relación inmediata
+con el bienestar de las familias especialmente de las mujeres dentro
+de ellas? żQuiénes son los que más sufren de los abusos del padre o
+del esposo al dedicar gran parte de los ingresos de la familia a los
+azares e incertidumbres de su pasión? Son las mujeres y las hijas a
+quienes se condenan a sufrir muchas veces privaciones y sufrimientos
+innecesarios por causa del vicio y de la falta del hombre en la
+familia. Y żquereis negar a la mujer el derecho de inmiscuírse en
+la vida política para que pueda ilustrar con su opinión al cuerpo
+electoral sobre los resultados funestos del juego o para influir con
+su voto en la elección de funcionarios que se comprometan a llevar
+a cabo las deseables medidas? żY por qué no ha de ser la opinión de
+la mujer en un asunto de esta naturaleza de tanto o mejor peso que la
+del hombre pues que a ella le alcanzan las consecuencias y resultados
+del mal? Como este asunto se pueden encontrar otros muchos en que
+el bien y la felicidad de la mujer se halla de un modo o de otro
+vitalmente interesados.
+
+No veo en todo cuanto pueda hacer la mujer en política ninguna
+actividad perniciosa, y si me apurais más, digo que semejante actividad
+es altamente saludable y beneficiosa para la mujer y para la sociedad
+entera. En todos esos casos la mujer se instruye y obtiene mejor
+conocimiento del mundo y de la vida. No se considera como un ser
+extrańo a la sociedad y al gobierno y no se mostrará por tanto ajena
+e indiferente a sus miserias y progresos. Nada puede hacer mayor
+dańo a una sociedad como el encontrar en su seno cuerpos extrańos,
+absolutamente indiferentes al bien o al mal, piezas inútiles de una
+maquinaria que está en función.
+
+Nos aterrorizamos ante la idea de que los impulsos de la mujer,
+su fanatismo, su criterio cerrado, según unos, su debilidad o falta
+de carácter, según otros, su poca preparación o poca cultura, según
+otros más, hagan del derecho de sufragio una mera farsa o una comedia
+ridícula por la que han de entrar a tener predominio elementos o
+intereses privilegiados. Lo que yo digo es que todos esos impulsos,
+sentimientos, debilidades e imperfecciones de la mujer se deben
+precisamente a su estado de seclusión doméstica, efectos de una
+educación o de un sistema tocado de senil debilidad, que no permite
+a las facultades naturales de la mujer aquella expansión que es tan
+necesaria a la vida como el vapor a la electricidad y la electricidad
+a la luz. Y que para corregir esos defectos e imperfecciones, no es lo
+más cuerdo mantener el sistema bajo el cual han crecido y prosperado,
+sino producir un cambio violento, un vuelco regenerador para que ella
+pudiera, como el ave que ensaya sus alas, volar a los altos espacios,
+abundantes de aire y luz, libre para derramar allí la graciosa esencia
+de su ser y ensayar los límites de sus facultades e instintos.
+
+Tenemos que procurar a la mujer nuevos objetivos en la vida, otras
+ocupaciones elevadas para que pruebe su aptitud y de esta manera
+todo eso que se seńala como defectuoso y deforme en su carácter
+y educación se eliminará en un ambiente de libertad y publicidad,
+donde sin miedo ni piedad se puedan sacar a colación los defectos y
+expurgar al individuo de sus vicios. Y por esto quiero y pretendo
+para la mujer derechos políticos, porque entiendo que uno de sus
+resultados será enriquecer, mejorar y favorecer sus aptitudes y
+aspiraciones para servir a los altos ideales de la vida y de la
+sociedad. La mujer se ocupará menos de fruslerías y pequeńeces,
+de cortes de vestidos y modas, de chismes y otros tópicos comunes,
+que constituyen por lo general, el asunto de sus conversaciones y
+se esmerará en aprender y tratar de las cosas serias que atańen al
+mejoramiento y bienestar sociales.
+
+La política no es una ocupación permanente que pueda absorber
+el tiempo de una persona que tiene otros negocios regulares que
+atender. De hecho, con excepción de los funcionarios políticos y
+ciertos profesionales, la mayoría de los ciudadanos no emplea en
+política más que el tiempo puramente preciso que le permiten sus
+ocupaciones ordinarias.  El hombre o la mujer que haga depender su
+suerte o sus medios de vida de la política tiene que convencerse de
+que la política no dá para comer pero si para tener hambre.
+
+Es perfectamente compatible la política con las ocupaciones y tareas
+domésticas de la mujer, sea ella madre esposa o hija. La mujer educada
+sabe sus responsabilidades y conoce la manera de dividir su tiempo
+y anteponer sus obligaciones domésticas a cualesquiera otras fuera
+del hogar. Y cuando la mujer está muy atareada en casa, no hará
+política; o cuando se ve atada al lecho por los dolores y cuidados
+de la maternidad no podrá hacer política, aunque quiera. Y, por eso,
+cuando se dice que la mujer va a descuidar el hogar por la política o
+va a desatender el cuidado del esposo y de los hijos por el mero hecho
+de obtener el sufragio, realmente confieso que, por mi torpeza quizá,
+no puedo entenderlo.
+
+Insistís en que la mujer, según el plan divino, es para el hogar y el
+hombre para la sociedad y en eso consiste la verdadera división del
+trabajo entre las dos mitades del género humano. żMe quereis decir
+por qué, si eso fuera el plan de Dios, todas las religiones y todas
+las escuelas de moral coinciden en prescribir el deber al prójimo,
+el amor a los semejantes? żSe ha dirigido el Seńor sólo al hombre
+y no a la mujer también cuando entre temblores de tierra y llamas
+resplandecientes entregó el mundo las tablas del Decálogo y dijo:
+"Ama a tu prójimo como a tí mismo"? żSe refiere al hombre y no a la
+mujer inclusive aquel precepto universal, contenido de toda moral y de
+toda religión, que dice: "Haz a tu prójimo lo que quieras que hagan
+contigo"? Estos preceptos me indican que el hombre y la mujer tienen
+deberes para con los demás, tienen deberes para con sus semejantes
+y que no deben concentrar su felicidad en el hogar sino también,
+fuera de él, en la sociedad. żMe quereis decir si el hogar puede ser
+feliz entretanto que la sociedad no lo sea, puesto que la sociedad es
+nada más que la ampliación y la suma de todos los hogares, y todas
+las miserias y males de la sociedad repercuten en el hogar de la
+misma manera que la felicidad y el bienestar del hogar influyen en
+el bienestar y felicidad de la sociedad?
+
+Quereis hacer una división imposible, dividir al individuo humano en
+dos mitades: mitad feliz en el hogar y mitad infeliz en la sociedad,
+o viceversa. Podeis hacer, si quereis, esa división; pero una de dos:
+o teneis que barrer por inútiles todos vuestros códigos que dan al
+hombre el gobierno y administración de la casa para arreglar otros que
+entreguen ambos poderes a la mujer; o tenéis que admitir a la mujer,
+si no quereis eso, en la participación de los negocios públicos para
+que ella pueda, como en el hogar, ayudar al hombre a formar y cimentar
+la felicidad de ese otro hogar grande que se llama sociedad.
+
+Se dice que la mujer al presentarse en el escenario político se
+enajenará al punto el respeto y la admiración del hombre y, lejos
+de ganar, perderá las ventajas en que su actual posición le coloca,
+fuera de toda lucha directa con el hombre, siendo adorable y adorada
+en todas partes y reinando suprema en el hogar con la autoridad
+indiscutible de la madre o de la esposa, envuelta en ese espléndido
+manto de gracia y majestad de que la ha dotado la Naturaleza, pura
+e impoluta de las manchas que las luchas e intrigas políticas dejan
+siempre en la reputación y en la dignidad humanas.
+
+No creo que haya dejado de expresar deliberadamente en términos más
+poéticos y exactos la posición de nuestros adversarios, y al decir
+"de nuestros adversarios" yo incluyo a la innumerable legión de
+mujeres que titubean aún en pedir el sufragio por consideraciones
+que no sé si llamarlas egoístas.
+
+Pero, con todo, digo que ese ideal político de la mujer no puede
+desaparecer porque ella sea educada en la política a la manera que
+se educa en las ciencias y en las artes. La educación política,
+lejos de perjudicar los encantos naturales de la mujer los realzará,
+a mi juicio, por la misma razón y motivo que la educación actual de
+la mujer moderna le ha dado otros encantos que no poseía la mujer
+antigua. A menos que sostengais que la educación es en sí misma un
+mal más que un bien, que desmejora el carácter en vez de mejorarlo,
+no podeis eludir la deducción de que ampliando los conocimientos y
+las experiencias de la mujer, daríais más vigor, más energía y más
+encanto a la personalidad femenina.
+
+Nada infunde mayor respeto como la educación; la educación es lo que
+eleva el nivel de las personas. Desde el momento en que uno muestra
+ser educado, al punto obtiene la consideración y el respeto de los
+demás. A pesar de los prejuicios de raza, solamente por su educación
+el hombre amarillo u oscuro puede conquistar el respeto y a veces la
+admiración del hombre blanco.
+
+żCuando ha inspirado la mujer mayor respeto al hombre sino cuando
+la ha visto instruida y educada a su altura en los colegios y
+universidades? żAntes, cuando la mujer permanecía en estado de
+ignorancia era acaso más respetada que ahora? Estoy dispuesto a
+convenir en que era más asediada, más agasajada quizás, pero no
+por eso más respetada. żLlamais respeto y consideración a aquéllas
+vanas fórmulas de etiqueta que hacían doblar el espinazo del hombre
+a la vista de una mujer y le hacían decir cuatro frases vulgares de
+cumplimiento, para hinchar la vanidad o marear la cabeza de una mujer
+crédula y fatua? żLlamais respeto a ese hábito singular de algunos
+hombres de calificar siempre de divinos los ojos de la mujer que tiene
+delante, de comparar sus labios a lindos pétalos de rosa, sus dientes
+a sarta de diminutas perlas, su cintura a cimbreante tallo de azucena
+y otras tantas necedades de ese jaez? Si es esa la forma de respeto
+y consideración que perdería la mujer por dedicarse a la política,
+ella debe celebrarlo, porque todas esas fórmulas insustanciales de
+galantería no pasan de ser lo que el cacareo del gallo para sorprender
+y asaltar repentinamente a la descuidada gallina.
+
+żNi como puede, en verdad, inspirar respeto la debilidad y la
+ignorancia? De hecho cuando la mujer estaba en aquel estado en que se
+tasaban sus conocimientos, porque se creía que un poco de culinaria,
+de bordado y de piano, a más de saber el catecismo, eran suficientes
+para el matrimonio, única carrera que se le permitía, el hombre le
+dispensaba toda clase de consideraciones y cortesías, pero éstas
+no estaban inspiradas en un verdadero sentimiento de respeto sino
+más bien en una especie de caballerosidad, hija de la idea de que la
+mujer siendo de suyo débil e ignorante, merecia de parte del hombre,
+aquella protección, consideración y cortesía debidas a la debilidad
+y a la ignorancia. żEs esta acaso la idea que quieren las mujeres
+que se tenga de sí mismas? El respeto es un sentimiento que nace
+de la idea de igualdad y a menos que la mujer se coloque al nivel
+del hombre en las cuestiones políticas, no dejarán de oirse estas o
+semejantes ignominiosas exclamaciones. ĄPero, mujer, que entiendes
+de estas cosas! No te metas en asuntos que no te importan.
+
+No necesita preocuparse la mujer de que al participar en el sufragio, y
+como resultado de él habrá de perder necesariamente las consideraciones
+y cortesías de que se ve rodeada en la actualidad, fuera de toda lucha
+directa con el hombre y libre de ser atacada por él como una rival
+a quién hay que anular y destruir por propia conservación. En primer
+lugar, es un error el considerar que la intervención de la mujer en
+la vida pública dará por resultado la rivalidad de los dos sexos. La
+atracción y simpatía entre el hombre y la mujer nace precisamente
+de la oposición del sexo: si no hubiera más que puramente hombres o
+puramente mujeres, acaso sería posible pensar que se destruirían porque
+no tendría objeto la vida ni la especie humana se reproduciría. De
+modo que en el interés de un sexo está el no destruir al otro sexo. La
+política, por otro lado, no es siempre una lucha personal; en su
+sentido propio y elevado es lucha de ideas y principios, de teorías
+y procedimientos y suponiendo el caso de que un hombre y una mujer
+se ponen frente a frente en una lucha política no están obligados
+seguramente a dar un espectáculo de _boxeo_ y de matarse a brazo
+partido, sino solamente a presentar puntos de vista y opiniones que
+tienen más o menos fundamento, según sus propios juicios. No creo que
+ningún hombre tenga derecho a insultar a una mujer por el hecho de
+ser su oponente, cuando no lo tiene tratándose de un hombre. Y en el
+caso de que las pasiones políticas dieran lugar a semejante insulto,
+żno tendría la mujer el mismo derecho para contestar o echar otro
+insulto? He aquí un caso en que la mujer tendrá oportunidad para
+aprender a ser independiente en sus juicios y en sus acciones, ya
+que algunos parece que no quieren el sufragio sino a condición de
+que la mujer tenga independiente manera de pensar y obrar. No quiero
+tampoco suponer que muchos hombres no quieren el sufragio de la mujer
+porque temen que pueden resultar vencidos en una discusión pública
+y el prestigio del sexo quedaría mal parado.
+
+En segundo lugar, si lo que quiere la mujer es encontrar siempre en
+el hombre aquella especie de adoración que se tributa a un ídolo, ella
+puede estar segura de ello con sufragio o sin sufragio. Esa adoración
+no nace en el hombre por el hecho de que la mujer tenga menos derechos
+o esté privada de ellos, nace de que la mujer es mujer, arquetipo
+de gracia y belleza de la creación y el hombre quemará siempre el
+incienso de su admiración ante el ara de esas divinidades. Recordad
+que se ha dicho siempre que el Cristianismo elevó la condición de
+la mujer y la dió más derechos; y sin embargo los pueblos cristianos
+son los que rodean a la mujer de mayores consideraciones y respetos.
+
+El sufragio no hará menos hermosos los cabellos largos de la mujer,
+ni empalidecerá la rosa de sus mejillas y de sus labios ni hará menos
+graciosas las curvas de su talle, por el contrario la imprimirá una
+gracia adicional--la de saber escribir una balota con su pequeńa
+letra--y mientras sea así, el hombre guardará siempre para ella aquel
+tesoro de amor, de ternura y de adoración que en todas partes y en
+todos tiempos y por los siglos de los siglos inspirará la idea de la
+gracia y de la belleza. Hércules se rendirá siempre a Venus por ser
+Venus, aunque Venus sea sufragista.
+
+La educación política dará a la mujer nuevas armas para atraerse
+el respeto y la admiración del hombre. La mujer entenderá que su
+obligación no consiste solamente en dar hijos a la Patria sino
+en educar y dirigir sus sentimientos, de modo que desde nińos se
+interesen en las cosas que se puedan hacer para mejorar las condiciones
+sociales, inspirándoles de este modo el amor o la afición a servir
+una causa determinada o un partido determinado en pró del interés
+público. La conciencia pública se dilatará, se robustecerá conteniendo
+y reflejando los sentimientos de la mujer, elemento pasivo, hoy por
+hoy, de nuestra ciudadanía, y en horas de crisis, cuando la nación
+alguna vez se encuentre en peligro, ella se verá servida y ayudada,
+no sólo por ciudadanos, sino también por ciudadanas, que no van a ser
+improvisadas ni inexpertas en las tareas y deberes colectivos sino
+acostumbradas a la disciplina de la organización y a los llamamientos
+del servicio público.
+
+Tiene--żqué duda cabe?--sus infinitas ventajas para el hombre el dejar
+a la mujer en la ignorancia, no sólo de la política sino también
+de otras materias. żNo es más fácil así al hombre satisfacer sus
+caprichos y hacer de ella un juguete que puede dejar o utilizar cuando
+quiera? Ella es obediente, sumisa, resignada; no discute ni razona
+nunca; calla, obedece, sirve, un mueble hermoso que se diferencia
+de los demás de la casa en que tiene vida; muńeca deliciosa porque
+habla y tiene un poco de juicio. Yo sé que este es el ideal que muchos
+hombres quieren, por la sencilla y única razón de que así les conviene.
+
+Pero no es esa la mujer como debe ser; la mujer que nuestro siglo
+ha redimido de la ignorancia y de la esclavitud; la mujer que ha
+recibido de Dios una inteligencia, una voluntad y un corazón para que
+los cultive y perfeccione al objeto de que ella sea, no la sierva del
+hombre sino su compańera, no la súbdita de un rey sino reina al lado
+del rey, fieles y constantes aliados desde la cuna hasta el sepulcro,
+en la hora feliz o en la adversa, no sólo en las intimidades del
+santuario doméstico, sino también en los abiertos y dilatados espacios
+de la vida pública. El hombre y la mujer han sido hechos para unirse,
+comprenderse y amarse, para estar juntos siempre a trabajar, sufrir
+y luchar por cuanto hay de bueno y de bello en la vida, para afirmar
+el reinado de la pareja humana sobre el planeta y hacer de él una
+habitación digna y feliz, libre de tiranías y sufrimientos y apta
+para ser vivida por séres pacíficos e inteligentes y no por buitres
+y otras fieras voraces.
+
+Esta es la misión de la mujer y del hombre sobre la tierra tal como la
+comprendo y la concibo. Hasta que el hombre y la mujer no se encuentren
+en un perfecto nivel, en un plano completo de igualdad según sus
+naturalezas respectivas de modo que pueda haber una comunión íntima
+de pensamientos, afectos e intereses, la vida será siempre ominosa y
+miserable para el uno o para la otra, y la Humanidad no triunfará de
+sus presentes desdichas. La criatura femenina ha salido de la mano de
+Dios tan perfecta como el hombre y no es justo privarla de ninguna de
+las satisfacciones y ventajas que al hombre proporcionan las ciencias,
+las artes y la política. Si la política es una noble ocupación de la
+vida, ciencia y arte de hacer la felicidad de los pueblos, justo es
+que la mujer contribuya con cuanto quiera y con cuanto pueda a lograr
+esa felicidad.
+
+żQué duda cabe que la mujer tiene facultades, sentimientos, puntos
+de vista y métodos propios para hacer las cosas, diferentes del
+hombre? ĄCuántas veces se ha visto que cuando un hombre no se
+ha atrevido a hacer una cosa se ha dejado obrar a la mujer para
+conseguirla! Ella tiene su propia personalidad y debe dársela,
+como al hombre, la libertad necesaria para que pueda desarrollarla,
+tener voz decisiva en sus intereses y destinos, tomar por su cuenta
+los riesgos de la vida, hacer sus propias aventuras, experimentos y
+descubrimientos en vez de que el hombre la fije invariablemente la
+pauta de conducta y le imponga el molde en que debe trabajar.
+
+La política ha dejado de ser lo que debía, se ha hecho demasiado
+masculina, se ha vuelto brutal, egoísta, personalísima, porque le
+ha faltado la bondad, la abnegación, el altruísmo y el espíritu de
+sacrificio, que son cualidades características del ser femenino. żPor
+qué no sacar ventajas de las energías de la mujer, de sus impulsos
+y modos de ver las cosas para mejorar nuestras prácticas y nuestros
+procedimientos en la vida pública? ĄQuién sabe si la política se sanea
+y se purifica un poco con la presencia y la intervención de la mujer,
+de la misma manera que la presencia de ésta en una reunión cohibe en
+cierto modo la licencia de las palabras y de la acción de los hombres!
+
+El monopolio ejercido por el hombre sobre las funciones públicas,
+ha sido, como otras tantas instituciones ahora desaparecidas, basado
+en la fuerza y violencia y con el fin de perpetuarlo se parapeta
+detrás de la muralla de prejuicios levantada a costa del tiempo y
+del orden de cosas establecido, lanzando de allí los dardos de la
+sátira y del ridículo contra aquéllos que demandan la cesación de ese
+estado de violencia. Así, ridículo es la más fuerte arma que ahora
+se esgrime contra la mujer que pretende reclamar justicia y obtener
+la reivindicación de los derechos de su sexo, alguno de los cuales,
+como el gobierno de los pueblos, no ha sido negado ni aún en muchas
+de las sociedades primitivas.
+
+Por ésto, la idea que muchos tienen de la sufragista es muy curiosa. Se
+la representa como una mujer que odia los quehaceres de la casa y
+está constantemente fuera de ella, de día y de noche. La pintura más
+común es aquella en que la mujer arenga en una especie de asamblea a
+algunas de su sexo, mientras su marido se dedica a barrer la casa y
+entretener al bebé que llora. Esa es la idea que ha sido vulgarizada
+por los cines y revistas y la que está fijada en la mente de las
+muchedumbres que no se paran a reflexionar elevándose por encima de
+la superficie de las cosas.
+
+Nada hay, sin embargo, más lejos de representar la realidad. La
+sufragista es una mujer, producto de nuestros tiempos de libertad;
+instruída como el hombre, conoce y no rehuye las responsabilidades que
+tiene en la familia; pero a la vez esta libre de preocupaciones y cree
+sencillamente en el deber de compartir con el hombre los trabajos
+concernientes al mejoramiento social, al bienestar público de la
+comunidad en que vive; cree que por lo mismo que en el hogar hay
+deberes asignados a su sexo, tiene asimismo deberes que desempeńar
+en la vida pública. En la vida doméstica y familiar no surge ningún
+conflicto entre los dos seres por estar repartido el trabajo entre
+ambos; no hay motivo tampoco para temer ningún conflicto en la vida
+pública si se sabe asignar a cada sexo los deberes que le corresponden
+según su naturaleza.
+
+La sufragista, por el hecho de serlo, no es antagónica a los deberes
+de la familia, antes bien comprende que el bienestar de la familia
+es el fundamento del bienestar de la sociedad, y tiene conciencia de
+que las miserias y vicios sociales afectan a la familia y ella puede
+y debe acudir a remediar con el hombre esas miserias y esos vicios.
+
+ĄNo! la idea que se tiene de la sufragista es errónea; y es hora de que
+por lo menos las personas inteligentes y educadas corrijan su propia
+impresión basada en prejuicios y en una mentalidad atrasada. No podemos
+impedir que el vulgo piense a la manera que pensaba hace medio siglo
+atrás, pero el que muchas personas serias y por demás progresivas se
+contenten con la opinión del vulgo dá idea de que aquí no analizamos
+bien el fondo de las cosas y nos dejamos llevar simplemente de las
+impresiones del momento.
+
+El sufragismo es una aspiración legítima, un ideal de nuestro
+siglo. Tiene su raíz de vida en la filosofía e instituciones del
+mundo moderno y en las condiciones cada vez más difíciles en que
+pone a la mujer la lucha por la existencia. Ella necesita protegerse
+y organizarse no para crear la rivalidad y armarse contra el hombre
+sino para ser un activo sumando en el progreso social y evitar ser
+víctima de la explotación y de la iniquidad de los demás grupos
+sociales por su indiferencia y absentismo en la vida pública.
+
+No seré yo, hombre de ley y legislador, quien me oponga a que esta
+aspiración fuera satisfecha. La considero tan natural como el derecho
+a la vida y el derecho a la propia defensa. Y por ser natural no
+considero prematuro el que la mujer filipina reclame ese derecho,
+como ya lo han reclamado y obtenido sus congéneres en otras partes
+del mundo. Me es indiferente que el grupo que ahora lo reclama sea
+pequeńo e insignificante: aún más, me sería completamente indiferente
+si la mujer de este país no lo pidiera o deseara. Para otorgar,
+para reconocer derechos fundamentalmente concordes con el espíritu
+de nuestras instituciones y con los ideales de nuestra época no
+consultaría con quién tuviera opción de reclamarlos, los daría,
+los concedería porque es de justicia y es el plan de Dios que se
+realice la justicia en el tiempo y en el espacio. No soy juez sino
+legislador y mi primer deber es dictar la justicia, no administrarla,
+no esperar que haya quién la pida y quién se oponga a ella.
+
+Me satisface que haya un grupo de mujeres que representando la
+aspiración de todas las de su sexo, se atrevan a acercarse a las
+gradas de nuestra Legislatura para llamar la atención sobre una falta
+en nuestros estatutos. Esto me indica que ha nacido y se ha revelado
+la conciencia de ese derecho en la mujer filipina y no necesito más;
+no necesito  contar el número y la clase de las que están en esa
+condición. Rizal en su tiempo al abogar por los derechos políticos de
+nuestra raza, estaba con muy pocos compańeros; en la mayoría de sus
+compatriotas, la conciencia de esos derechos estaba dormida. Pero
+mentiría y erraría quién dijera que aún en aquel tiempo la voz de
+Rizal no representaba la causa de toda su raza y porque él y los
+que con él trabajaban eran muy pocos, no debia prestarse atención a
+sus demandas. El sabía en conciencia que su patria estaba oprimida,
+que defendía una causa justa, que abogaba por los derechos de sus
+conciudadanos y no se paraba a reflexionar si sus conciudadanos tenían
+o no la conciencia de sus derechos.
+
+Estoy satisfecho, por esto, de que las pocas mujeres que ahora hablan
+de los derechos de su sexo y reclaman el sufragio representan a las
+demás mujeres filipinas, a no ser que queramos inferir el insulto de
+decir que las mujeres de este país están privadas de sentido común
+para oponerse o rehusar la concesión de derechos que pueden ensanchar
+sus medios de vida y sus actividades dentro de la sociedad. Importa
+poco que la aspiración al sufragismo aparezca en su estado inicial
+o tenga la forma vaga de una proposición no definida y concreta:
+desde el momento en que ha apuntado esa aspiración, para mi es que
+ha brotado la semilla a flor de tierra y es inútil ahogarla, pues
+volverá a brotar. Cuanto más retrasemos la concesión del sufragio
+femenino sería tanto más en nuestro dańo, porque es lo mismo que
+impedir que la semilla de ahora se convierta en planta y dé a su
+sazón apetitosos frutos.
+
+No, nuestro país no necesita imitar la lentitud con que han procedido
+las viejas naciones en reconocer los derechos de la mujer. No tenemos
+sus tradiciones, no tenemos sus preocupaciones para ir por lentas
+evoluciones y no por súbitas revoluciones. Debemos admitir todas las
+revoluciones pacíficas de ideas que condensan, como el vapor la gota
+de lluvia, una fórmula de justicia social. Lo mismo que admitimos los
+últimos inventos en mecánica, industria y artes, los automobiles, las
+maquinarias centrales, los aeroplanos, debemos admitir los últimos
+progresos en instituciones sociales y políticas de las sociedades
+más avanzadas.
+
+El sufragio femenino encierra un fondo de justicia, de reivindicación
+para la aptitud de la mujer moderna y debemos enseguida adoptarla
+sin necesidad de pasar por procesos innecesarios. La libertad de
+cultos que engendró la tolerancia religiosa, el sufragio popular que
+vigorizó nuestra conciencia colectiva, la escuela libre que emancipó
+nuestras masas de la tutela de los caciques, todas las conquistas
+de la democracia de que nos enorgullecemos no serían realidades
+hermosas, llenas de sazonados frutos, en estos días, si hubiésemos
+tenido que hacer tanteos y dar pasos vacilantes antes de incorporarlos
+súbitamente a nuestra vida social y política. Tenemos que movernos
+de prisa y anticiparnos a las horas vagas aspiraciones de las masas
+femeninas para ahorrarnos de ese modo agitaciones que al fin habrían
+de sobrevenir y cuya justicia se ha de reconocer más tarde.
+
+Cuando se dice que nuestro estado social no está preparado para
+el sufragismo, que la mujer no está suficientemente educada para
+ejercer sus derechos políticos, quiero preguntar si es que hemos
+necesitado decir lo mismo cuando importamos e implantamos en éste
+país las instituciones democráticas que son la base y el fundamento de
+nuestra sociedad actual. Nuestra educación tradicional era enteramente
+contraria al sistema popular de gobierno y hemos adoptado éste por
+considerarlo mejor que el otro, más adecuado a nuestros intereses y
+a los ideales del siglo, sin preguntarnos si estábamos preparados y
+educados suficientemente para ello.
+
+Hace más de veinte ańos que la escuela libre ha abierto sus puertas
+a la mujer del pueblo, la educación se ha extendido entre ellas en
+la misma proporción que entre los hombres, muchas de las mujeres
+que han producido nuestras escuelas son ya ahora esposas o madres y
+todavía estamos preguntándonos si la mujer filipina ha llegado o no
+a la madurez necesaria para poder ser investida de sus privilegios
+políticos. No creo que se pretenda exigir que todas ellas sean doctoras
+y bachilleres antes de concederlas el sufragio.
+
+La educación política no se adquiere más que educándose como no se
+llega a saber nadar más que nadando. El argumento de la falta de
+preparación suficiente de la mujer filipina favorece y justifica la
+posición intelectual de los imperialistas de una metrópoli que no
+encuentran a una colonia jamás preparada o educada suficientemente
+para recibir sus derechos soberánicos.
+
+Cuando el otro día subí a un hidroplano para experimentar la sensación
+de un viaje por las alturas, tenía--żcomo no decirlo?--cierta
+aprensión, algo así como un vago temor a lo desconocido, a lo nuevo,
+pero pasados los primeros momentos con felicidad me sentí perfectamente
+confortado y dichoso de sondear los espacios y escudrińar los
+magníficos paisajes que se presentan a los ojos desde la altura. ĄOh,
+que hermosura nadar en la luz, cabalgar sobre las nubes y el viento,
+divisar el panorama de las ciudades, de las viviendas humanas como
+un mapa de relieve sobre el fondo de cristal de las aguas, cruzar
+distancias enormes en minutos, en instantes de un modo imperceptible,
+emular en todo al pájaro y como el pájaro aterrizar de repente
+sin fatiga y sin sufrimiento! Una vez terminado el viaje es cuando
+comprendí que mi aprensión y mi temor carecían de fundamento, que
+no envolvía más riesgos el volar por los aires en un aeroplano como
+el correr a campo traviesa en un automovil y me hice cargo de las
+innumerables ventajas que se pueden sacar de este aparato, producto
+también de nuestros tiempos, destinado a revolucionar no sólo los
+medios de guerra sino también las artes de la paz.
+
+Lo mismo pasa con las nuevas fórmulas, con las innovaciones en el
+orden moral y político. No se las adopta sin ese instintivo temor, esa
+vaga aprensión que produce lo nuevo y lo desconocido. Se oye hablar
+mucho de sus peligros e inconvenientes para el orden establecido. Se
+cree poco menos que se desquiciarían las esferas del firmamento y
+que el eje del mundo se rompería en pedazos. Luego, después que la
+innovación se ha admitido, se encuentra que parece lo más natural
+y lógico porque las cosas siguen su curso normal, las estrellas
+ruedan y brillan lo mismo que antes en el azul y las montańas altas
+no se vienen abajo. Se sienten renacer el ánimo y la esperanza,
+las muchedumbres se avienen con el nuevo estado de cosas y los más
+recalcitrantes se lastimarían si se les propusiera que se volviese
+el antiguo estado. Así ha ocurrido en nuestro país. Así se ha hecho
+siempre el progreso y así marchará siempre par nuevos caminos.
+
+Es preciso que tomemos la resolución de vencer nuestros temores y
+escrúpulos. Si habláramos del aeroplano solamente por el número de
+aviadores que han perecido, no admitiriamos nunca esa invención. Es
+preciso que nos embarquemos en él para probarnos a nosotros mismos que
+nuestros temores y preocupaciones carecen de fundamento. No hay que
+perder de vista que el sufragismo no es una cosa nueva en el mundo, ya
+no es un experimento sino un hecho y ha tomado carta de naturaleza en
+algunos paises. Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Del mismo modo
+que para conocer las ventajas de este aparato no vamos a preguntar a
+los que nunca han viajado con él sino a los que han hecho experiencias
+con el mismo, así también para conocer las ventajas del sufragismo
+no debemos dar crédito a los que lo combaten por principios y teorías
+sino a los paises que han hecho experimentos con él y han probado ya
+sus resultados. El hecho que debemos anotar es que el sufragismo cunde
+con mayor fuerza cada día y se va generalizando en los paises en que se
+ha admitido. Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Por consiguiente,
+así como sería perfectamente ridículo en estos momentos declamar
+contra el aeroplano, por los riesgos y accidentes que pueden ocurrir
+y sería estúpido no seguir los pasos de otros gobiernos que utilizan
+sus ventajas, para la defensa o la agresión en caso de guerra o para
+abreviar las comunicaciones interiores en tiempos de paz, asimismo me
+parece ridículo, sino insensato, combatir el sufragismo en el terreno
+especulativo o más bien hipotético y no tomar la experiencia de otros
+paises como guía de nuestra conducta haciendo que el sufragismo forme
+parte de nuestras modernas costumbres e instituciones.
+
+Quisiera, para terminar, citar algunos extractos, pertinentes a
+este asunto, de un discurso que pronuncié en una velada celebrada en
+el Opera House y dedicado a Rizal por varios colegios de seńoritas
+en 1913:
+
+
+    Se ha creído que la mujer debe reducir toda su esfera de acción
+    al hogar a la vida doméstica, ser absolutamente la gloria y el
+    encanto de su esposo y de sus hijos; y no es así, pues que la
+    mujer tanto como el hombre, nace en la sociedad y vive dentro
+    de ella, y no puede, no debe ser indiferente a las miserías
+    y las desgracias sociales. Pensar de otro modo sería egoísmo
+    y aberración, y dejaría a la sociedad abandonada a muchos
+    sufrimientos que solo la mano bendita de la mujer puede curar
+    o acallar al menos. Bien haya que la mujer sea en su casa amor
+    y ensueńo, gloria y felicidad; pero también más allá de los
+    muros de su hogar debe cumplir su misión divina y hacer llegar
+    a todos el secreto tesoro de bondad y dulzura de que la ha
+    provisto la buena providencia. Así como en el hogar comparte
+    con el hombre los deberes de la vida, así fuera de él, en la
+    vida pública, debe compartir con el hombre la responsabilidad
+    de remediar y de aliviar las desdichas públicas.
+
+    La beneficiencia, la caridad, la moral, por algo, tienen
+    nombres femeninos: y es a la mujer a quien corresponde
+    el ejercicio de todas esas virtudes en el seno de la
+    sociedad. Ella debe tomar parte, si es que no debe iniciar
+    en todos los casos, toda propaganda y toda acción que tienda
+    a amparar la orfandad, a socorrer la indigencia, a elevar la
+    idea de la moralidad pública. Ella debe luchar y sufrir, en
+    medio de la sociedad en que vive por cuanto hay de femenino en
+    la vida para calmar con un bello gesto de piedad la furiosa
+    contienda que se libra por la existencia, y durar con el
+    mágico esplendor de su carińosa mirada la noche eterna del
+    humano dolor. La patria necesita no sólo la fuerza de los
+    hombres, sino también la piedad, la caridad de las mujeres;
+    no sólo requiere héroes, sino también heroínas. Y las hay,
+    y las ha habido siempre en la historia de la humanidad: y
+    las hay y las ha habido en esta nuestra tierra, cuyo especial
+    privilegio consiste, en sentir de graves autores extranjeros,
+    en que sus mujeres son superiores a los hombres.
+
+    Y estas nińas de hoy que adoran en Rizal y que le dedican sus
+    cantos y oraciones, mańana se convertirán en las ciudadanas,
+    que no serán, como la infeliz Maria Clara, víctimas de las
+    injusticias sociales, sino reparadoras de ellas, y sublimes
+    propagadoras del bien, de la virtud de la gloria y grandeza
+    de su patria.
+
+
+Sí; abrigo esa esperanza, tengo fé en la libertad de la mujer. No
+puede permanecer una mitad de la humanidad en la parte superior y otra
+mitad en la parte inferior de la escala sin producirse desequilibrios,
+lágrimas y sufrimientos. Todos tienden a nivelarse en la vida como
+todos se nivelan en la muerte. La humanidad ha descubierto una nueva
+luz y su antorcha iluminará aunque los errores y preocupaciones
+de los hombres se empeńen en cubrirla de tinieblas. ĄAy de los que
+resistan la luz! El mundo marcha, no se detiene en su progreso. Los
+que quieran quedar atrás se quedarán porque es dado a los seres humanos
+ese albedrío, pero será para lamentar más tarde su culpa y su retraso.
+
+No me es dado vaticinar la suerte que cabrá a los esfuerzos presentes
+que hacen las mujeres filipinas para obtener el sufragio; sé sin
+embargo que sus esfuerzos deben ser para ellas y para nosotros un
+motivo de orgullo y de honor porque indican que ninguna parte de
+nuestro pueblo es insensible a los grandes movimientos del siglo. Hay
+algunos que se mofarán de ellas, muchos que se encogerán de hombros,
+pero las mujeres no deben desalentarse por eso, porque ni la mofa ni
+el encogimiento de hombros son razones de peso. Algún día les darán la
+razón esos mismos que ahora se ríen y se encogen de hombros ignorando
+probablemente la marcha del mundo y la de su propia sociedad, como
+aquellos que se burlaron de Rizal en su tiempo han lamentado su error
+muy tarde y le han completamente justificado y vindicado.
+
+Lo que necesitamos es hacer la luz y propagar las nuevas doctrinas
+para que las acepten las conciencias que no se niegan voluntariamente
+a reconocer la justicia y la verdad, únicos e inconmovibles fundamentos
+sobre los que descansan la estabilidad y el bienestar de las sociedades
+civilizadas.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+***** This file should be named 26699-8.txt or 26699-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/9/26699/
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/26699-8.zip b/26699-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd3ffe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-8.zip
diff --git a/26699-h.zip b/26699-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7626da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-h.zip
diff --git a/26699-h/26699-h.htm b/26699-h/26699-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..764f725
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-h/26699-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,2606 @@
+
+<!DOCTYPE html
+PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
+
+<!-- This HTML file has been automatically generated from an XML source, using XSLT. If you find any mistakes, please edit the XML source. -->
+<html lang="en-us">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
+
+<title>The Woman and the Right to Vote</title>
+<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://dublincore.org/documents/1998/09/dces/">
+<meta name="author" content="Rafael Palma">
+<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Rafael Palma">
+<meta name="DC.Title" content="The Woman and the Right to Vote">
+<meta name="DC.Date" content="#####">
+<meta name="DC.Language" content="en-us"><style type="text/css">
+/* Standard CSS stylesheet */
+
+
+
+body
+{
+font: 100%/1.2em "Times New Roman", Times, serif;
+margin: 1.58em 16%;
+text-align: left;
+}
+
+.titlePage
+{
+border: #DDDDDD 2px solid;
+margin: 3em 0% 7em 0%;
+padding: 5em 10% 6em 10%;
+}
+
+h1.docTitle
+{
+font-size:1.6em;
+line-height:2em;
+}
+
+h2.byline
+{
+font-size:1.1em;
+font-weight:normal;
+line-height:1.44em;
+}
+
+span.docAuthor
+{
+font-size:1.2em;
+font-weight:bold;
+}
+
+h2.docImprint
+{
+font-size:1.2em;
+font-weight:normal;
+}
+
+.transcribernote
+{
+background-color:#DDE;
+border:black 1px dotted;
+color:#000;
+font-family:sans-serif;
+font-size:80%;
+margin:2em 5%;
+padding:1em;
+}
+
+.div0
+{
+padding-top: 5.6em;
+}
+
+.div1
+{
+padding-top: 4.8em;
+}
+
+.index
+{
+font-size: 80%;
+}
+
+.div2
+{
+padding-top: 3.6em;
+}
+
+.div3, .div4, .div5
+{
+padding-top: 2.4em;
+}
+
+.footnotes .body,
+.footnotes .div1
+{
+padding: 0;
+}
+
+h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, pseudoh4
+{
+clear: both;
+font-style: normal;
+text-transform: none;
+}
+
+h3, .pseudoh3
+{
+font-size:1.2em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+}
+
+h3.label
+{
+font-size:1em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+margin-bottom:0;
+}
+
+h4, pseudoh4
+{
+font-size:1em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+}
+
+h4.lghead
+{
+margin-left:10%;
+margin-right:10%;
+
+}
+
+.alignleft
+{
+text-align:left;
+}
+
+.alignright
+{
+text-align:right;
+}
+
+.alignblock
+{
+text-align:justify;
+}
+
+p.tb, hr.tb
+{
+margin-top: 1.6em;
+margin-bottom: 1.6em;
+margin-left: auto;
+margin-right: auto;
+text-align: center;
+}
+
+p.poetry
+{
+margin:0 10% 1.58em;
+}
+
+span.hemistich /* invisible text to achieve visual effect of hemistich indentation. */
+{
+color: white;
+}
+
+p.line
+{
+margin:0 10%;
+}
+
+p.argument, p.note, p.tocArgument
+{
+font-size:0.9em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+text-indent:0;
+}
+
+p.argument, p.tocArgument
+{
+margin:1.58em 10%;
+}
+
+p.tocChapter
+{
+margin:1.58em 0%;
+}
+
+p.tocSection
+{
+margin:0.7em 5%;
+}
+
+
+div.epigraph
+{
+font-size:0.9em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+width: 60%;
+margin-left: auto;
+}
+
+.epigraph .bibl
+{
+text-align: right;
+}
+
+.epigraph .poem
+{
+margin-left: 0;
+}
+
+.epigraph .line
+{
+margin-left: 0;
+text-indent: 0;
+}
+
+.trailer
+{
+clear: both;
+padding-top: 2.4em;
+padding-bottom: 1.6em;
+}
+
+.floatLeft
+{
+float:left;
+margin:10px 10px 10px 0;
+}
+
+.floatRight
+{
+float:right;
+margin:10px 0 10px 10px;
+}
+
+p.figureHead
+{
+font-size:100%;
+text-align:center;
+}
+
+.figure p
+{
+font-size:80%;
+margin-top:0;
+text-align:center;
+}
+
+p.smallprint,li.smallprint
+{
+color:#666666;
+font-size:80%;
+}
+
+span.parnum
+{
+font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.leftnote
+{
+font-size:0.8em;
+height:0;
+left:1%;
+line-height:1.2em;
+position:absolute;
+text-indent:0;
+width:14%;
+}
+
+.pagenum
+{
+display:inline;
+font-size:70%;
+font-style:normal;
+margin:0;
+padding:0;
+position:absolute;
+right:1%;
+text-align:right;
+}
+
+a.noteref
+{
+font-size: 80%;
+text-decoration: none;
+vertical-align: 0.25em;
+}
+
+
+.red
+{
+color: red;
+}
+
+.displayfootnote
+{
+display: none;
+}
+
+div.footnotes
+{
+margin-top: 1em;
+padding: 0;
+}
+
+hr.fnsep
+{
+margin-left: 0;
+margin-right: 0;
+text-align: left;
+width: 25%;
+}
+
+p.footnote
+{
+font-size: 80%;
+margin-bottom: 0.5em;
+margin-top: 0.5em;
+}
+
+p.footnote .label
+{
+float: left;
+text-align:left;
+width:2em;
+}
+
+.footnotes td, .footnotes th, .footnotes .tablecaption
+{
+font-size: 80%;
+}
+
+.centertable
+{
+/* center the table */
+margin: 0px auto;
+}
+
+.poem
+{
+margin-left:5%;
+position:relative;
+text-align:left;
+width:90%;
+}
+
+.poem h4
+{
+font-weight:normal;
+margin-left:5em;
+}
+
+.poem .linenum
+{
+color:#777;
+font-size:90%;
+left:-2.5em;
+margin:0;
+position:absolute;
+text-align:center;
+text-indent:0;
+top:auto;
+width:1.75em;
+}
+
+.versenum
+{
+font-weight:bold;
+}
+
+/* right aligned page number in table of contents */
+.tocPagenum, .flushright
+{
+position: absolute;
+right: 16%;
+top: auto;
+}
+
+.footnotes .line
+{
+font-size:80%;
+margin:0 5%;
+}
+
+.poem .i0
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:2em;
+}
+
+.poem .i1
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:3em;
+}
+
+.poem .i2
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:4em;
+}
+
+.poem .i3
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:5em;
+}
+
+.poem .i4
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:6em;
+}
+
+.poem .i5
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:7em;
+}
+
+.poem .i6
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:8em;
+}
+
+.poem .i7
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:9em;
+}
+
+.poem .i8
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:10em;
+}
+
+.poem .i9
+{
+display:block;
+margin-left:11em;
+}
+
+span.corr
+{
+border-bottom:1px dotted red;
+}
+
+span.abbr
+{
+border-bottom:1px dotted gray;
+}
+
+span.measure
+{
+border-bottom:1px dotted green;
+}
+
+.letterspaced
+{
+letter-spacing:0.2em;
+}
+
+.smallcaps
+{
+font-variant:small-caps;
+}
+
+
+.caps
+{
+text-transform:uppercase;
+}
+
+.fraktur
+{
+font-family: 'Walbaum-Fraktur';
+}
+
+hr
+{
+clear:both;
+height:1px;
+margin-left:auto;
+margin-right:auto;
+margin-top:1em;
+text-align:center;
+width:45%;
+}
+
+h2.docImprint,h1.docTitle,h2.byline,h2.docTitle,.aligncenter,div.figure
+{
+text-align:center;
+}
+
+h1,h2
+{
+font-size:1.44em;
+line-height:1.5em;
+}
+
+h1.label,h2.label
+{
+font-size:1.2em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+margin-bottom:0;
+}
+
+h5,h6
+{
+font-size:1em;
+font-style:italic;
+line-height:1em;
+}
+
+p,p.initial
+{
+text-indent:0;
+}
+
+p.firstlinecaps:first-line
+{
+text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+
+p.dropcap:first-letter
+{
+float: left;
+clear: left;
+margin: 0em 0.05em 0 0;
+padding: 0px;
+line-height: 0.8em;
+font-size: 420%;
+vertical-align:super;
+}
+
+.poem
+{
+padding: .5em 0% .5em 0%;
+}
+
+p.quote,div.blockquote,div.argument
+{
+font-size:0.9em;
+line-height:1.2em;
+margin:1.58em 5%;
+}
+
+.pagenum a, a.noteref:hover, a.hidden:hover, a.hidden
+{
+text-decoration:none;
+}
+
+
+ul { list-style-type: disc; }
+ol { list-style-type: decimal; }
+ol.AL { list-style-type: lower-alpha; }
+ol.AU { list-style-type: upper-alpha; }
+ol.RU { list-style-type: upper-roman; }
+ol.RL { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
+.lsoff { list-style-type: none; }
+
+.castlist, .castitem { list-style-type: none; }
+
+
+
+
+
+/* Supplement CSS stylesheet "style/arctic.css.xml
+" */
+
+
+
+body
+{
+background: #FFFFFF;
+font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;
+}
+
+body, a.hidden
+{
+color: black;
+}
+
+h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, .pseudoh4
+{
+color: #001FA4;
+font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
+}
+
+p.byline
+{
+font-style: italic;
+margin-bottom: 2em;
+}
+
+.figureHead, .noteref, span.leftnote, p.legend, .versenum, .stage
+{
+color: #001FA4;
+}
+
+.rightnote, .pagenum, .linenum, .pagenum a
+{
+color: #AAAAAA;
+}
+
+a.hidden:hover, a.noteref:hover
+{
+color: red;
+}
+
+p.dropcap:first-letter
+{
+color: #001FA4;
+font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+sub, sup
+{
+line-height: 0;
+}
+
+
+
+</style></head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Woman and the Right to Vote
+
+Author: Rafael Palma
+
+Release Date: September 24, 2008 [EBook #26699]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="front"><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e70" href="#xd0e70">1</a>]</span><div class="titlePage">
+<h2 class="docTitle">Philippine Senate</h2>
+<h2 class="docTitle">Fifth Philippine Legislature</h2>
+<h2 class="docTitle">First Session</h2>
+<h1 class="docTitle">The Woman and the Right to Vote</h1>
+<h2 class="byline">Address Delivered By
+<br>
+<span class="docAuthor">Hon. Rafael Palma</span><br>
+Senator for the Fourth District
+<br>
+In support of Bill No. 23 of the Senate in the sessions held by said body on the 22d and 25th of November, 1919
+</h2>
+<h2 class="docImprint">Manila<br>
+Bureau of Printing<br>
+1919
+</h2>
+</div>
+</div><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e106" href="#xd0e106">2</a>]</span><div class="body">
+<div class="div1">
+<h2 class="normal">The Woman and the Right to Vote</h2>
+<p>Mr. <span class="smallcaps">President and Gentlemen of the Senate</span>:
+
+</p>
+<p>I have seldom felt so proud of being a representative of the people as now, when it gives me an opportunity to advocate a
+cause which can not be represented or defended in this chamber by those directly and particularly affected by it, owing to
+the leven of prejudice that the beliefs and ideas of the past have left in the mind of modern man. The cause of female suffrage
+is one sure to strike a sympathetic chord in every unprejudiced man, because it represents the cause of the weak who, deprived
+of the means to defend themselves, are compelled to throw themselves upon the mercy of the strong.
+
+</p>
+<p>But it is not on this account alone that this cause has my sympathy and appeals to me. It has, besides, the irresistible attraction
+of truth and justice, which no open and liberal mind can deny. If our action as legislators must be inspired by the eternal
+sources of right, if the laws passed here must comply with the divine precept to give everybody his due, then we can not deny
+woman the right to vote, because to do otherwise would be to prove false to all the precepts and achievements of democracy
+and liberty which have made this century what may be properly called the century of vindication.
+
+</p>
+<p>Female suffrage is a reform demanded by the social conditions of our times, by the high culture of woman, and by the aspiration
+of all classes of society to organize and work for the interests they have in common. We can not detain the celestial bodies
+in their course; neither can we check any of those moral movements that gravitate with irresistible force towards their center
+of attraction: Justice. The moral world is governed by the same laws as the physical world, and all the power of man being
+impotent to suppress a single molecule of the spaces required <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e122" href="#xd0e122">3</a>]</span>for the gravitation of the universe, it is still less able to prevent the generation of the ideas that take shape in the mind
+and strive to attain to fruition in the field of life and reality.
+
+</p>
+<p>It is an interesting phenomenon that whenever an attempt is made to introduce a social reform, in accordance with modern ideas
+and tendencies and in contradiction with old beliefs and prejudices, there is never a lack of opposition, based on the maintenance
+of the <i lang="la">statu quo</i>, which it is desired to preserve at any cost. As was to be expected, the eternal calamity howlers and false prophets of evil
+raise their fatidical voices on this present occasion, in protest against female suffrage, invoking the sanctity of the home
+and the necessity of perpetuating customs that have been observed for many years.
+
+</p>
+<p>Frankly speaking, I have no patience with people who voice such objections. If this country had not been one of the few privileged
+places on our planet where the experiment of a sudden change of institutions and ideals has been carried on most successfully,
+without paralyzation or retrogression, disorganization or destruction, I would say that the apprehension and fears of those
+who oppose this innovation might be justified.
+
+</p>
+<p>However, in less than a generation our country, shaken to its very foundations by the great social upheavals known as revolutions,
+has seen its old institutions crumble to pieces and other, entirely new institutions rise in their place; it has seen theories,
+beliefs, and codes of ethics, theretofore looked upon as immovable, give way to different principles and methods based upon
+democracy and liberty, and despite all those upheavals and changes which have brought about a radical modification in its
+social and political structure, or rather in consequence of the same, our people has become a people with modern thoughts
+and modern ideals, with a constitution sufficiently robust and strong to withstand the ravages of the struggle for existence,
+instead of remaining a sickly and atrophied organism, afraid of everything new and opposed to material struggles from fear
+of the wrath of Heaven and from a passive desire to live in an ideal state of peace and well-being.
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e133" href="#xd0e133">4</a>]</span></p>
+<p>In view of the fruitful results which those institutions of liberty and democracy have brought to our country; and considering
+the marked progress made by us, thanks to these same institutions, in all the orders of national life, in spite of a few reactionists
+and ultra-conservatives, who hold opinions to the contrary and regret the past, I do not and can not, understand how there
+still are serious people who seriously object to the granting of female suffrage, one of the most vivid aspirations now agitating
+modern society.
+
+</p>
+<p>I remember very well that in the past, not so very long ago, the same apprehension and fears were felt with regard to higher
+education for our women. How ridiculous&#8212;the same people argued&#8212;is it for woman to study history, <span class="corr" id="xd0e138" title="Source: mathemathics">mathematics</span>, philosophy, and chemistry, which are not only superior to the assimilating power of her deficient brain, but will make her
+presumptuous and arrogant and convert her into a hybrid being without grace or strength, intolerable and fatuous, with a <span class="corr" id="xd0e141" title="Source: beatiful">beautiful</span>, but empty head and a big, but dry heart! However, we admitted the women to our high schools and universities and made it
+possible for them to attain to the degree of bachelor of arts and graduate in law, medicine, and other professions. Can it
+be said that those women have perverted the homes of their parents or that, when they married, they were a source of disgrace
+or scandal to their husbands? We are now able to observe the results, and if these results are found to be detrimental to
+the social and political welfare of the country, it is our duty to undo what we have done and to return to where we were before.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Fortunately, nobody would think of such a thing. From the most cultured centers of population to the remotest villages, public
+opinion fervently approves and applauds the education of <span class="corr" id="xd0e146" title="Source: woman">women</span>, and even the most backward peasants send their daughters to the cities and go to the greatest sacrifices imaginable in order
+to make it possible for them to ascend to the highest pinnacles of knowledge. Though ignorant rustics, they reason in their
+own rude way that woman and man are made of the same clay, and refuse to believe that because it has been their fate to have
+daughters <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e149" href="#xd0e149">5</a>]</span>instead of sons, they must condemn them to bear the chains of ignorance, incapacitating them from being useful to their families,
+society, and their country.
+
+</p>
+<p>Education has not atrophied or impaired any of the fundamental faculties of woman; on the contrary, it has enhanced and enriched
+them. Far from being a constant charge to the family, the educated woman has often been its sustain and support in times of
+great need. The educated woman has not become a blue-stocking, that fatuous creature imagined by certain elements, nor has
+she lost any of her feminine charms by being able to argue and discuss on every subject with the men. On the contrary, it
+seems to lend her an additional grace and charm, because she understands us better and can make herself better understood.
+Thank God, people are no longer ready to cast ridicule upon what some used to consider the foolish presumption of women to
+know as much as the men, and this is doubtless due to the fact that the disastrous results predicted by the calamity howlers,
+the terrible prophets of failure, have not materialized.
+
+</p>
+<p>Very well; if you allow the instruction and education of woman in all the branches of science, you must allow woman to take
+on her place not only in domestic life, but also in social and public life. Instruction and education have a twofold purpose;
+individually, they redeem the human intellect from the perils of ignorance, and socially they prepare man and woman for the
+proper performance of their duties of citizenship. A person is not educated exclusively for his or her own good, but principally
+to be useful and of service to the others. Nothing is more dangerous to society than the educated man who thinks only of himself,
+because his education enables him to do more harm and to sacrifice everybody else to his convenience or personal ambition.
+The real object of education is public service, that is, to utilize the knowledge one has acquired for the benefit and improvement
+of the society in which one is living.
+
+</p>
+<p>In societies, therefore, where woman is admitted to all the professions and where no source of knowledge is barred to her,
+woman must necessarily and logically be allowed to take a part in the public life, otherwise, her education <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e157" href="#xd0e157">6</a>]</span>would be incomplete or society would commit an injustice towards her, giving her the means to educate herself and then depriving
+her of the necessary power to use that education for the benefit of society and collective progress.
+
+</p>
+<p>I can not resist this conclusion. If woman is given equal opportunities with man for educating herself; if she is encouraged
+to learn and study the knowledge of the world and of life, it is but just that the doors of public life should be thrown open
+to her in order to allow her to play in it the part to which she is entitled.
+
+</p>
+<p>In backward societies, woman is taught only such knowledge as she requires for the home; that is, she is unconsciously prepared
+for that gentle, that charming slavery so pleasing to the masculine sex. The question now before us is what system we shall
+adopt for our women: whether slavery and ignorance, or liberty and education.
+
+</p>
+<p>Female suffrage is the consequence of the education of woman; it is also the consequence of her liberty of conscience. The
+vote is the expression of political faith, just as worship is the expression of religious faith. There is no more reason for
+keeping woman from the ballot box than there is for preventing her from going to church.
+
+</p>
+<p>There is no reason why suffrage should be a privilege of sex, considering that the duties of citizenship rest as heavily upon
+woman as upon man. Is woman under less obligation to strive for the welfare and future of her country because she is a woman?
+To attempt to curtail the activity of woman in public life is tantamount to declaring that a woman must not love her country
+and must not dedicate any of her time to her duties of citizenship; that she must not feel the affection and devotion which
+the idea of native land and community awaken in every well-born creature.
+
+</p>
+<p>Physical barrenness is combated and looked upon as a misfortune in woman; but we condemn her to a perpetual political barrenness,
+to <span class="corr" id="xd0e169" title="Source: patrotic">patriotic</span> barrenness, if we keep her away from exercising the right of suffrage which affords the citizen the most effective means
+to make his influence felt in social questions and in the improvement of the public affairs. How are we to inculcate in our
+children, that sacred pledge of the future of the nation, the cult and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e172" href="#xd0e172">7</a>]</span>worship of native land and liberty if we do not give their mothers that practical education involved in the exercise of the
+right of suffrage; if they are taught that government and politics are strange gods at whose shrines they are forbidden to
+worship; if they feel upon themselves the stigma of inferiority, of being incapacitated from speaking to their children about
+the public affairs and the interests of the nation and the State?
+
+</p>
+<p>All social classes are entitled to representation in the legislative houses and are thus enabled to work for legislation favoring
+their interests: the merchants, the laborers, the manufacturers, all can choose one of their own number; but the women, who
+are not merely one group or class, but a collection of groups or classes, who represent one-half of the country and have interests
+of their own to defend, not only with relation to their sex, but also with relation to their position in the family, are not
+allowed to vote and are therefore not permitted to have representatives to promote and defend laws and measures necessary
+for their protection and betterment. Is this just? Is this even moral? Female labor can be exploited in shop and factory;
+feminine virtue can be made the object of commerce, and yet woman is not allowed to defend directly the interests of her sex,
+owing to one of those aberrations of the moral sense that spring from the crass egoism and brutal tyranny of man.
+
+</p>
+<p>If woman were at least exempt from complying with the laws! But no; the law binds the woman as well as the man; the Penal
+Code menaces man and woman alike with the sword of justice, and the burden of taxation rests upon both the masculine and the
+feminine wealth. Consequently, before the law, their duties are the same, but their rights are not.
+
+</p>
+<p>Is it not strange that our laws should contain so much social injustice towards woman, so much exasperating discrimination,
+all based upon the theory of the servile dependency of woman upon man, resulting from her congenital mental and physical inferiority?
+Moebius is incarnated in our Codes, governs our policy, and influences all the customs <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e180" href="#xd0e180">8</a>]</span>and usages of our social and political life, to such a point that we ought to be ashamed that in the midst of this era of
+vindication, when all classes have secured their right to liberty and equality, woman has been kept indefinitely upon the
+same level as in the centuries of subjection and slavery.
+
+</p>
+<p>True democracy can not exist with one-half of the people free and the other half in a stage of slavery, with one-half of the people with representation in the public affairs and the other half without it. The people
+does not consist of men alone, but of women as well, and conditions being equal, woman should have the same political rights
+as man. She should, at least, have those fundamental rights the exercise of which, like that of the right to vote, requires
+nothing but intelligence and capacity, in order that she may have some voice in the decision of her own destiny and may herself
+fight the battles for her honor, her liberty, and other rights neglected or ignored by man on account of the undisputed monopoly
+exercised by him over the public affairs.
+
+</p>
+<p>The injustices and social and juridical discriminations contained in our codes will not be eliminated in a radical manner
+and the condition of woman will not improve while man alone legislates and controls all the spheres of public life, dictating
+to woman what she must do and what she must not do; and woman will be incompetent to take care of her own interests and shape
+her own life so long as she does not look higher, so long as she consents to the superiority of man and believes that her
+lot is simply that of serving and pleasing man in bed and home, instead of being his true helpmate and companion, for the
+progress and felicity of the human race.
+
+</p>
+<p>All arguments that are or may be adduced against female suffrage tend invariably towards these two objects: the confinement
+of woman to the home and the perpetuation of her civil and political slavery.
+
+</p>
+<p>Woman must busy herself with nothing but her household duties and must live only for her husband and her children; she has
+her hands full from the rising to the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e193" href="#xd0e193">9</a>]</span>setting sun if she manages the cook, cleans the house, and mends the clothes: this is the great argument of the partisans
+of the old r&eacute;gime. Another is, that it is not in the nature of things that woman should struggle with man in the battle of
+public life; that if she enters that struggle, man will cease to look upon her as a being to be worshipped, as a sacred idol
+at whose feet he must kneel, and will see in her a rival to be combated and overcome, for his own preservation, and woman
+will not only drag the pure flower of her virtue into the mire of political life, but will lose the esteem, respect, and consideration
+now tributed to her.
+
+</p>
+<p>I have the most profound respect for all men and women who honestly believe this to be the case. It is not their fault that
+they believe that what has always been so is the best. They do not realize that life is motion and that the new elements of
+life and character which are being imperceptibly introduced into society demand changes and innovations. Society can not become
+stagnant, otherwise it runs the risk of becoming like stagnant water, which generates pestilential miasma. The theory that
+woman exists for the home alone has been a dead issue for some time past. Woman has quietly taken her place in public life
+and aids and directs man, even though he may not notice it and may not recognize her right to do so. In modern society, woman
+participates in the direction of public charity and in the education of the children, she practises law and medicine, engages
+in literary and journalistic pursuits, occupies many public offices, and takes interest and cooperates in the suppression
+of social vice and suffering.
+
+</p>
+<p>Who does not admit that woman has duties towards her home and her husband and children to which she must ordinarily give the
+preference over all other duties? However, does this exclude the performance of other duties towards God, her neighbor, and
+the State? Like man, woman has many duties to perform, and the true merit lies in the orderly and complete performance of
+these duties. Does not the Filipina dedicate part of her time, sometimes a very considerable part, to the church and to her
+so-called <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e199" href="#xd0e199">10</a>]</span>social duties, receiving and making calls and attending celebrations, theaters, and balls?
+
+</p>
+<p>Has anybody ever complained against this? Has woman <span class="corr" id="xd0e203" title="Source: even">ever</span> been criticised for her assiduous attendance of the religious services and the public performance of her religious duties
+in crowded churches, in the public streets, filled with tumultuous throngs of people, marching in a procession behind some
+saint, jostled about and exposed to disagreeable incidents, which she bears with resignation because she suffers them for
+the cause of the public confession of her faith? Our women go not only to church, but to the theater and to popular entertainments
+and celebrations, where they may show off their elegant dresses and satisfy their feminine curiosity. In all this we see no
+pitfalls or dangers to their virtue, though we know that the women who go to those places and exhibit themselves in this manner
+are mothers, wives or daughters who have duties to attend at home.
+
+</p>
+<p>Now, what is the difference if woman leaves her home to attend or take part in a political meeting where the public needs
+or the election of candidates for public office are discussed? In what way is the virtue or purity of woman imperilled by
+her taking an interest in public questions affecting the welfare of the families, considering that whatever her status may
+be in life, woman always occupies some position in the family? Why should we fear that woman will leave the flower of her
+charms on the brambles of politics if she listens to a political speaker, after having listened to sermons all her life, or
+if she herself makes a speech giving her opinions on some subject of interest to the family, on the necessity of remedying
+some social evil or of providing a home for abandoned and indigent children?
+
+</p>
+<p>Let us take the case of one of the most vital questions of the present time, the subject of gambling. Do you not believe that
+this question has a direct bearing upon the welfare of the families, especially of the feminine part of them? Who suffers
+the most if the father or husband spends the money of the family in order to satisfy his craving for gambling? The women,
+of course, the daughters <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e210" href="#xd0e210">11</a>]</span>who are often condemned to undergo unnecessary privations and suffering because of the conduct of the head of the family.
+And you try to deny to woman the right to take a part in political affairs, to enlighten the electorate with regard to the
+fatal results of gambling or cast her vote for the candidate who promises to secure the passage of measures against it? And
+why should the opinion of woman on issues like this not have as much weight as that of man? Should it not be given greater
+weight, it being she who suffers the consequences and results of the evil? There are many questions like this which vitally
+affect the welfare and happiness of woman.
+
+</p>
+<p>I fail to see anything pernicious in the activity of woman in the field of politics: I even believe that her activity in this
+respect will be highly salutary and beneficent not only for womankind, but for society in general. It will serve to instruct
+woman and give her a more extensive knowledge of the world and of life. She will not be considered as an outsider where society
+and government are concerned and will therefore not remain indifferent to their short-comings and progress. Nothing could
+possibly be more harmful to society than the presence in it of foreign bodies absolutely indifferent to its weal or woe, of
+useless parts in the machinery of progress.
+
+</p>
+<p>We are terrified by the idea that the impulsiveness of woman and her fanaticism and narrow-mindedness, according to some,
+her weakness and lack of character, according to others, and her unpreparedness and deficient culture, according to still
+others, will make female suffrage a mere farce and will convert it into a tool for certain elements and interests. My opinion
+is that all these impulses, sentiments, weaknesses, and imperfections of woman are due to nothing but to the seclusion in
+which she has been kept. They are the effects of an educational and social system tottering to decay, of a system that does
+not give the natural faculties of woman that room for expansion and development which is as necessary to life as steam is
+to electricity and electricity to light. And those defects and imperfections can not be cured by continuing the system <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e216" href="#xd0e216">12</a>]</span>under which they have formed and developed, but there must be a radical reform, a regeneration, in order that, as a bird on
+its first flight stretches its wings and soars forth into space, where there is an abundance of air and light, woman may have
+an opportunity to develop to their fullest extent her faculties and instincts and to show the graceful essence of her being.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>We must give woman new objectives in life and lofty occupations in which she can test her aptitude, in order that everything
+defective and ill-developed in her character and education may be eliminated in the atmosphere of liberty and publicity, where
+all defects can be brought to light without fear or pity and all vices crushed with iron heel. This is why I desire and demand
+political rights for our women. I am convinced that one of the results of this concession will be to enrich, improve, and
+develop her aptitude and aspiration to serve the high ideals of life and society. Woman will devote less time to dress, fashions,
+gossip and all the other petty and trifling things that are generally the subject of their conversation and will endeavor
+to study and discuss the more serious questions of social betterment and welfare.
+
+</p>
+<p>Politics is not a permanent occupation that absorbs all the time of a person who has other regular business to attend to.
+As a matter of fact, not speaking of political officers and a few professional politicians, most of the citizens devote to
+politics only the time strictly necessary and which they can spare. Any man or woman depending for his or her living or future
+upon politics will soon come to the conviction that politics bring starvation instead of bread.
+
+</p>
+<p>Politics are perfectly compatible with the domestic duties and occupations of woman, whether she be mother, wife, or daughter.
+An educated woman realizes her responsibilities; she knows how to divide her time and will give her domestic duties the preference
+over any other duties outside of the home. A woman is not liable to engage in political activity if she is very busy at home,
+and when confined to her bed by the labors and cares of maternity, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e224" href="#xd0e224">13</a>]</span>she will be unable to engage in politics, even if she were willing. Therefore, when I hear the argument that woman will be
+remiss in her household duties on account of politics and that she will neglect to take care of her husband and children if
+she is given the right to vote, I frankly confess that I am, perhaps, too dull to see the truth of it.
+
+</p>
+<p>You insist that by divine precept the place of woman is in the home and that of man in society, and that this is the true
+and proper division of labor between the two halves of the human species. If this is really the plan of God, will you tell
+me then why all religions and all schools of ethics coincide in prescribing duties towards the neighbor and teach us to love
+our fellow-beings? Did the Lord speak to man alone, and not also to woman when amidst fire and smoke, on the quaking mountain,
+he gave to the world the tables of the Decalogue and said: &#8220;Love thy neighbor as thyself?&#8221; And the universal precept contained
+in every code of morals and in every religion, &#8220;Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,&#8221;&#8212;does
+it refer to man alone, or does it include woman also? To me, these precepts indicate that man and woman have duties towards
+others, that they have duties towards their fellow-beings, and that they must not confine their efforts towards happiness
+to the home, but extend them beyond it, to society. Will you tell me whether there can be happiness in the homes if society
+is not happy, seeing that society is nothing but the extension and sum of all the homes, and that all the suffering and evils
+that afflict society find their echo in the home, just as the happiness of the home exercises <span class="corr" id="xd0e228" title="Source: and">an</span> influence upon the happiness of society?
+
+</p>
+<p>You attempt to do something impossible: You try to divide the human being into halves: one-half that is happy in the home
+and the other that is happy in society, or vice versa. You can do it if you wish, but then you will either have to consign
+all your codes which confer upon man the government and administration of the home to the waste basket and make others vesting
+these powers in woman, or if you do not wish to do that, you will have to give woman a share in the public affairs in order
+that she may, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e233" href="#xd0e233">14</a>]</span>the same as in the home, assist man in building up and strengthening the happiness of that other big home which we call society.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>You say that woman, upon appearing on the stage of politics, will lose the respect and admiration of man; that instead of
+gaining any advantages, she will lose all those inherent in her present position, in which she is removed from any direct
+struggle with man, is adorable and adored everywhere, and reigns supreme in her home with the undisputed authority of the
+wife or mother, clad in the purple of the grace and majesty with which Nature has endowed her, pure and undefiled by the mire
+with which political strife and intrigue always bespatter the reputation and dignity of those who engage in them.
+
+</p>
+<p>I believe I have stated the position of our adversaries in terms both poetical and precise, and when I speak of our adversaries,
+I include that numerous legion of women who still hesitate to ask for the right of suffrage, for reasons which, perhaps, deserve
+being called selfish.
+
+</p>
+<p>However, the idealistic woman I have depicted will not disappear if our <span class="corr" id="xd0e241" title="Source: woman">women</span> are educated in politics the same as they are educated in the arts and sciences. A political education<span class="corr" id="xd0e244" title="Source: .">,</span> far from being harmful to the natural charms of woman, will in my opinion enhance these, for the same reason that our modern
+education has given woman charms which the woman of the past did not possess. Unless you argue that education is in itself
+an evil rather than a blessing, and that it vitiates the character instead of improving it, you can not escape the conclusion
+that by increasing the knowledge and experience of woman, you give her more vigor, more energy, and a greater personal charm.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Nothing commands greater respect than education. Education elevates a person. From the moment that you show that you possess
+education, the consideration and respect of the others are yours. Education does not know the bar of race prejudice; through
+it an individual of a colored race can win the respect and often the admiration of the white man.
+
+</p>
+<p>Does woman ever inspire man with greater respect than when she is instructed, when a college education has brought <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e251" href="#xd0e251">15</a>]</span>her to his own level? Was woman more respected in the past, when she remained ignorant, than she is now? I am willing to concede
+that she may have been courted more assiduously, but that does not mean that she was more respected. Do you understand by
+respect and consideration those empty forms of etiquette which make a man bow down to the ground to a woman and regale her
+with a few hollow compliments, designed to tickle the vanity or turn the head of a credulous and frivolous being? Do you call
+respect the singular habit of certain men to always find the eyes of the woman to whom they are speaking divine, to compare
+her mouth to a rosebud, her teeth to a string of beautiful pearls, and her form to the slender willow, and other stupidities
+of that kind? If that is the sort of respect and consideration that woman will lose if she goes into politics, she ought to
+be very glad to get rid of it, because all these empty phrases of gallantry are like the crowing of the rooster who wishes
+to dazzle a silly hen on which he has designs.
+
+</p>
+<p>And, tell me, how is it possible for weakness and ignorance to inspire respect? As a matter of fact, when a little cooking,
+embroidering, and music, and the knowledge of the catechism were deemed sufficient to prepare a girl for married life, which
+was then the only career open to woman, she was the recipient of great consideration and courtesy from man. These, however,
+were not inspired by real respect, but rather by a sentiment of chivalry, because man thought woman so weak and ignorant that
+he deemed it his duty to show her that protection, consideration, and courtesy which are due to weakness and ignorance. Is
+this the opinion that our <span class="corr" id="xd0e255" title="Source: woman">women</span> want us to have of them? Respect is a sentiment engendered by the idea of equality, and unless woman is placed <span class="corr" id="xd0e258" title="Source: of">on</span> the same level with man in the field of politics, we shall continue to hear ignominious phrases such as &#8220;But, woman, what
+do you know about these things! You go and mind your own business!<span class="corr" id="xd0e261" title="Not in source">&#8221;</span>
+
+</p>
+<p>Our women need not worry that if they are allowed to vote, they will necessarily forfeit the consideration and courtesy accorded
+to them at present, when they do not <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e266" href="#xd0e266">16</a>]</span>come into direct collision with man on the field of politics, and that the men will then consider themselves free to attack
+them as a rival whom they must overcome and destroy for their own preservation. In the first place it is a mistake to conclude
+that the participation of woman in public life will result in rivalry between the sexes. The attraction and sympathy between
+man and woman springs precisely from the difference in sex. If there were only men or only women, there might be such a thing
+as our mutually destroying each other, because there would be no purpose in life and the human race would not reproduce itself.
+It is in the interest of one sex not to destroy the other. On the other hand, politics is not always a personal struggle.
+In its proper and loftiest sense it is a struggle of ideas and principles, of theories and methods. Therefore, if a man is
+pitted against a woman in the arena of politics, they are certainly not compelled to engage in fisticuffs and kill each other,
+but each will present his own views on the points at issue, with more or less sound arguments in support of them. I do not
+believe any man has the right to insult a woman because she is his opponent, seeing that he has no such a right where a man
+is concerned. And if in the heat of political strife such an insult should be passed, has not woman the right to reply or
+to pay the offender back in his own coin? This is a case where woman will be given an opportunity to learn to be independent
+in judgment and action, seeing that certain persons do not want woman to vote unless she <span class="corr" id="xd0e268" title="Source: possess">possesses</span> independence of thought and action. I do not want, either, to give voice to the suspicion that many men are against female
+suffrage because they fear they might be worsted in a public debate, and what would then become of the prestige of the strong
+sex?
+
+</p>
+<p>In the second place, if woman wants man to adore and idolize her, she can get him to do it whether she votes or not. Man does
+not adore woman because she has less rights than he has; but he worships her because woman is woman, the <span class="corr" id="xd0e273" title="Source: archtype">archetype</span> of grace and beauty of creation, and man will forever burn incense at the shrine of that divinity. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e276" href="#xd0e276">17</a>]</span>Remember that it has always been said that christianity elevated the condition of woman and gave her greater rights, and yet
+it is the Christian countries where woman is accorded the greatest consideration and respect.
+
+</p>
+<p>Suffrage will not detract from the beauty of the long tresses of woman, nor will it make her cheeks and lips less rosy and
+the curves of her body less graceful. On the contrary, it will lend her an additional grace, that of being able to write a
+ballot in her diminutive handwriting, and man will always feel for her that love, tenderness, and adoration which grace and
+beauty will always inspire all the world over. Hercules will always bow to Venus because she is Venus, though Venus be a suffragist.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>A political education will provide woman with new means for gaining the respect and admiration of man. Woman will realize
+that her duty does not merely consist in giving sons and daughters to the fatherland, but in educating and training them in
+such a manner that from their childhood on they will take interest in everything tending to improve social conditions, and
+in inspiring them with the desire to devote their efforts to a certain cause or party, for the best of their people. Public
+opinion will become much broader and stronger when it shall reflect the sentiments of our women, who are at present a passive
+element where the duties of citizenship are concerned; and when in her dark hours the nation shall need assistance, she will
+receive it not only from her citizens, but also from her citizenesses, who will not be ignorant and inexperienced in the tasks
+and duties confronting the people, but will be accustomed to the discipline of organization and to the calls of the public
+service.
+
+</p>
+<p>There is no doubt, of course, that it is greatly to the advantage of man to maintain woman in ignorance, not only with regard
+to politics, but also where other matters are concerned. For one thing, it renders it easier for man to satisfy his whims
+and make of woman a toy which he can use or drop according to his fancy. She is obedient, submissive, and resigned; she never
+discusses or argues; she obeys and serves in silence, like a beautiful piece of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e284" href="#xd0e284">18</a>]</span>furniture, differing from the rest only in that she is animate; she is a delightful doll because she can speak and has a little
+sense. I know that this is the ideal of many men, for the only reason that it suits their convenience.
+
+</p>
+<p>But that is not woman as she should be; the woman that our century has redeemed from ignorance and slavery; the woman whom
+God has endowed with an intellect, a will and a heart, hers to cultivate and perfect in order that she may be not the servant
+of man, but his companion, not the subject of the king, but the queen enthroned by his side, to be his faithful and constant
+ally from the cradle to the grave, in prosperity and adversity, not only in the intimacy of the home, but also in the wide
+arena of public life. Man and woman were created to mate and to understand and love each other, to work, suffer, and struggle
+side by side for all that is good and beautiful in life, to perpetuate the sovereignty of human couple on earth, and to make
+it a place of happiness, free from tyranny and suffering and fit to be inhabited by peaceful and intelligent beings and not
+by vultures and wild beasts.
+
+</p>
+<p>This is the mission of woman and man on earth as I understand and conceive it. Until man and woman are placed on exactly the
+same footing, until they stand on the same plane, so that there can be an intimate communion of thoughts, ideas, and interests,
+life will always be ominous and unhappy for one or for the other, and humanity will never overcome the evils with which it
+is now struggling. God made woman as perfect as man, and it is unjust to deprive her of any of the benefits and advantages
+which man derives from science, arts, and politics. Politics is a noble occupation, as it is the art or science of making
+nations happy, and it is but just that woman should contribute her share to the attainment of that happiness.
+
+</p>
+<p>Is there any doubt that woman has faculties, sentiments, views, and methods of doing things of her own, different from those
+of man? How often has man, when he did not dare to do a thing, left it to woman to do! She has a personality of her own and
+should, like man, be given an opportunity to develop it; she should be given a voice where her own interests are concerned,
+and should on her own <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e292" href="#xd0e292">19</a>]</span>account face the risks incidental to life, venturing, experimenting, and discovering things for herself instead of having
+man establish an invariable rule of conduct for her and imposing upon her the methods which she must follow.
+
+</p>
+<p>Politics is no longer what it should be; it has become too masculine and is brutal, selfish, and altogether too personal,
+because it lacks the kindness, the self-denial, the altruism, and the spirit of sacrifice which are characteristic qualities
+of the feminine sex. Why should we not benefit by the energy of woman, by her impulses and her views of things, in order to
+improve our practices and methods in public life? Perhaps, politics will be chastened and purified to some extent by the intervention
+and presence of woman, just as her presence at any gathering makes man more careful in language and actions!
+
+</p>
+<p>Like a number of other institutions that are now a thing of the past, the monopoly exercised by man over the public functions
+is based on force and violence, and in order to perpetuate this monopoly, its supporters take shelter behind the wall of prejudice
+erected in the course of the times under the protection of the established order of things, and from there they hurl the shafts
+of satire and ridicule upon all who demand that this violent condition cease. Ridicule is the most powerful weapon now used
+against the woman who attempts to obtain justice and the vindication of the rights of her sex, some of which rights, such
+as that of governing the peoples, were not even withheld from them in many of the primitive states.
+
+</p>
+<p>The result is that many persons have a very queer idea of the suffragist. She is represented as a woman who dislikes home
+work and is absent from her home at all hours of the day and night. The most common picture is that in which the wife addresses
+a gathering of other women, while the husband is busy at home, sweeping the floor and attempting to pacify the squalling baby.
+This is the idea which has been spread by cinematographs and reviews and which has impressed itself upon the minds of the
+unthinking <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e300" href="#xd0e300">20</a>]</span>masses, who are incapable of rising above a superficial view of things.
+
+</p>
+<p>Nothing, however<span class="corr" id="xd0e304" title="Not in source">,</span> is farther from representing her as she really is. The suffragist is a true product of our era of liberty. Having received
+the same education as man, she knows and does not shirk her responsibilities towards her family; but at the same time she
+is free from prejudice and deems it her duty to co&ouml;perate with man in all work concerning social reform and the public welfare
+of the community in which she lives. She believes that for the very reason that there are duties in the home which are assigned
+to woman, she has also duties to perform in public life. The distribution of the work between man and woman causes no conflict
+between them in their home and family life, and there is no reason why there should be any conflict in public life if each
+sex is assigned the duties adapted to it.
+
+</p>
+<p>Being a suffragist does not mean being antagonistic to the family duties. On the contrary, the suffragist realizes that the
+happiness of the family is the foundation of the happiness of society, and she knows that social distress and vices affect
+the family and that she can and should co&ouml;perate with man in the relief of that distress and the suppression of those vices.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>No, the general idea people have of the suffragist is altogether a wrong one and it is high time that at least the educated
+and intelligent correct their views where they are based on prejudices and ideas belonging to the past. We can not prevent
+the uneducated masses from thinking as they did half a century ago; but the fact that many serious and otherwise progressive
+persons content themselves with the opinion of the uneducated shows that here we do not go deep into subjects and allow ourselves
+to be carried away by the impressions of the moment.
+
+</p>
+<p>Suffragism is a legitimate aspiration, an ideal of our century. It springs from the philosophy and institutions of the modern
+world and from the growing difficulty of the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e313" href="#xd0e313">21</a>]</span>position of woman in the struggle for existence. It is necessary for her to protect herself and organize, not to create rivalry
+and make war upon man, but to become an asset in the social progress and protect herself from the exploitation and iniquity
+of the other social groups, whose victim she would become if she remained indifferent and took no part in the public life.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>As a man of the law and a legislator, I would not think of opposing this aspiration. I consider it as natural as the right
+to live and the right of self-defence. I do not consider it premature for the Filipino woman to demand this right, as her
+sisters have done, successfully in some cases, in other parts of the world. To me it makes no difference that the number of
+those now demanding it is small and insignificant. It would even make no difference to me if the women of our country did
+not demand or want it at all. Where rights fundamentally in accordance with the spirit of our institutions and with the ideals
+of our times are to be granted, I would not consult those who are entitled to demand them, but would give them without the
+asking, because it would be just and God wants justice to prevail at all times and everywhere. I am not a judge, but a legislator,
+and it is my first duty to provide for justice, not to administer it, nor wait for some one to ask for it and some one to
+object to it.
+
+</p>
+<p>It is a source of gratification to me that there is a group of women who, voicing the aspirations of their sex, have dared
+to approach our Legislature and call attention to a void in our statutes. This indicates to me that the consciousness of that
+right has been born and has revealed its existence in the Filipino woman, and more than that I need not know. I do not have
+to count and classify the women who think that way. When Rizal espoused the cause of the political rights of our race, his
+companions were very few, because in the majority of his compatriots that consciousness was lying dormant. But it would be
+a falsehood and an error to affirm that even at that time Rizal did not voice the cause of his entire race, and that no attention
+should be paid to his demands because he and those with <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e319" href="#xd0e319">22</a>]</span>him were few in number. He knew that his country was oppressed, that he was defending a just cause, and that he was fighting
+for the rights of his fellow-citizens, and he did not stop to reflect whether or not those fellow-citizens had the consciousness
+of their rights.
+
+</p>
+<p>We must conclude, therefore, that the few women who now speak to us of the rights of their sex and for suffrage, represent
+all the Filipino women, unless we wish to insult our women by saying that they have so little common sense as to oppose the
+concession to them of rights that will broaden the scope of their lives and of their activity in society. It matters but little
+that the desire for suffrage appears in its initial stage, in the vague form of an indefinite proposition: the fact is that
+there has been an indication of that desire, and in my judgment the plant has germinated and it is useless to endeavor to
+smother it, as it will grow again. The more we delay female suffrage, the more shall we suffer by it, because why should we
+stifle a budding plant instead of allowing it to grow and in due season produce delicious fruit?
+
+</p>
+<p>We need not imitate the older nations who have been so slow in recognizing women's rights. We have neither their traditions
+nor their prejudices and our progress need not come by slow revolutions. We must foster all those peaceful revolutions of
+ideas that will result in social justice. Just as we accept the latest inventions in mechanics, industry, and art, such as
+the automobile, the dynamo, and the aeroplane, so must we accept the latest improvements in the social and political institutions
+of the most advanced countries.
+
+</p>
+<p>Female suffrage spells justice and vindication for the modern woman and we must adopt it forthwith, without unnecessary delay
+and formalities. The liberty of worship which gave us religious tolerance; the popular suffrage which strengthened our collective
+conscience; the free public school which emancipated our masses from the tutelage of the <i>cacique</i>: in short, all the achievements of democracy of which we are so justly proud would not yet be beautiful realities and we
+would not be able to enjoy their mature <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e330" href="#xd0e330">23</a>]</span>fruits as we now do, if we had been compelled to feel our way and make many tentative steps instead of at once entering fully
+upon our social and political life. We have to move quickly and anticipate the aspirations of the feminine masses, which are
+as yet vague, in order to save us the agitation which otherwise is sure to come and the justice of which will have to be recognized.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>When we are told that our social condition is such that we are not ready for female suffrage, and that our women are not sufficiently
+educated to exercise political rights, I feel like asking whether we said the same thing when we imported and implanted in
+our country the democratic institutions that are the base and foundation of our present society. Our traditional education
+was diametrically opposed to a popular system of government, yet we adopted that form of government, because we considered
+it better than the other, more suited to our interests and to the ideals of the century, and did not worry about whether or
+not we were sufficiently educated and prepared for it.
+
+</p>
+<p>It is more than twenty years now that the free public school has opened its doors to the women, and education has extended
+its benefits to them in the same proportion as to the men. Many of the women educated in these schools are now wives or mothers,
+and yet you still ask whether the Filipina has attained to the maturity necessary for her investment with political rights.
+I am sure there is no idea of requiring them all to be doctors or bachelors of art before we grant them the right of suffrage.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>A political education can not be acquired except by education, just as you can not learn how to swim except by swimming. The
+argument that the Filipina is not sufficiently prepared is a justification of the attitude of a country which never finds
+its colonies sufficiently prepared or educated to exercise the right of sovereignty themselves.
+
+</p>
+<p>The other day, when I made a flight in a seaplane for the sake of the experience, I felt&#8212;I frankly admit it&#8212;some apprehension,
+a certain fear of the unknown, but after the first few moments were happily past, I felt perfectly comfortable and enjoyed
+the flight through space and the view of the magnificent landscape far below me. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e340" href="#xd0e340">24</a>]</span>Ah, it is beautiful to cleave the air like a swallow and to ride upon the clouds and the winds of heaven, looking down upon
+the cities and human dwellings spread like a relief map upon the crystal sheet of the waters, to traverse enormous distances
+in a few minutes almost without noticing it, and to emulate in everything the bird and like the bird to alight suddenly, without
+fatigue and physical hardships. When the voyage was over, I realized that my apprehension and fear had been unfounded; that
+it was not more risky to fly through space on an aeroplane than to speed across country on an automobile, and I then realized
+the numerous advantages to be derived from the flying machine, that product of our time which is destined to revolutionize
+not only warfare, but also the pursuits of peace.
+
+</p>
+<p>The same thing occurs with all new ideas and reforms of a moral and political order. They are adopted with the instinctive
+fear, the vague apprehension inspired by the new and unknown. There is much talk of their objectional features and dangers
+for the established order of things. You might think the firmament was going to crumble to pieces or the world was threatening
+to go out of joint. However, after the innovation has been made, it is found to be quite natural and logical, because things
+go on in their natural course, the heavenly bodies continue in their orbits as before and the mountain peaks do not slide
+down into the valleys. Courage and hope are born again in the human breast, the masses get used to the new state of affairs,
+and soon even the most recalcitrant would be furious if any one should propose to return to the old order of things. This
+has happened in our country before, and has always been and always will be the way in which progress is worked out.
+
+</p>
+<p>We must make up our minds to overcome our scruples and fears. If in discussing the aeroplane, we were to speak of nothing
+but of the number of aviators who have been killed, we would never accept that invention. We must embark in one in order to
+prove to ourselves that our fears and apprehensions are unfounded. Sight must not be lost of the fact that suffragism is not
+a new thing <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e346" href="#xd0e346">25</a>]</span>in the world, that it is far from being an experiment and is already an established fact in some countries. Exactly the same
+as the aeroplane: if we desire to become acquainted with the advantages of that apparatus, we do not ask those who have never
+traveled in it, but those who have experimented with it, and if we wish to know the advantages of suffragism, we must not
+listen to those who oppose it as a matter of principle and theory, but must consult countries that have made experiments with
+it and have already had a chance to see its results. We must take note of the fact that suffragism is gaining in strength
+every day and is becoming a general movement in the countries where it has found acceptance. Exactly like the aeroplane. Would
+it not be perfectly ridiculous to declaim against the aeroplane on account of the accidents that are liable to occur, and
+would we not be stupid to refuse to follow the lead of other <span class="corr" id="xd0e348" title="Source: government">governments</span> who utilize its advantages for defence or aggression in war and for rapid communication in time of peace? And is it not just
+as stupid and even senseless to oppose suffragism on speculative or rather hypothetical grounds, instead of being guided by
+the experience of other countries in this respect and accepting suffragism as part and parcel of our modern customs and institutions?
+
+
+</p>
+<p>In conclusion, permit me to quote a few passages on this subject from an address which I made at an entertainment given at
+the Opera House in honor of Rizal by various schools for young ladies in 1913:
+
+
+</p>
+<div class="blockquote">
+<p>According to the old idea, woman's sphere of action should not extend beyond the home, beyond her domestic occupations, and
+she should be nothing but the glory and delight of her husband and her children. This is not right. Like man, woman is born
+and lives in society, and she can not and must not remain indifferent to social distress and suffering. To think otherwise
+would be selfishness and aberration and would leave society a prey to much suffering which only the blessed hand of woman
+can cure or relieve. Let woman be the glory and happiness of the home; but do not forget that she must extend her beneficent
+action beyond the confines of the household, that she must make the world outside the participant of the wealth of kindness
+and charity that bountiful Providence has lavished upon her. Just as she shares the duties of life with man within <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e356" href="#xd0e356">26</a>]</span>the home, so should she without it, in public life, share with man the responsibility of remedying and alleviating public
+distress and misfortune.
+
+</p>
+<hr class="tb"><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>It is very significant that beneficence, charity, and morality are feminine virtues, it being woman's mission to exercise
+all these virtues in society. She must take a part, and should, in my opinion, always take the initiative, in all work for
+the protection of the orphans, the relief of distress, and the elevation of the standard of public morality. She must strive
+and suffer, in the society in which she is living, for all that is feminine in life, must with a wave of her hand attenuate
+the fierceness of the struggle for existence, and must brighten the gloomy night of human suffering with her gentle presence.
+Our country needs not only the strength of her men, but the kindness and charity of her women; she needs not only heroes,
+but also heroines. And heroines exist and always have existed in the history of humankind; and there are and always have been
+heroines in our country, the special privilege of which, according to serious foreign authors, consists in its women being
+superior to its men.
+
+</p>
+<hr class="tb"><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>And the girls who to-day pay homage to Rizal and dedicate their songs and prayers to him, will to-morrow be citizenesses who
+will not, like unhappy Maria Clara, be made the victims of social injustice, but will help to banish social injustice and
+strive for justice, virtue, and the glory and greatness of their native land.
+</p>
+</div><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Yes; I cherish that hope and have faith in the liberty of woman. It is not possible to keep one-half of humanity in the upper
+part and the other half in the lower part of the balance without producing <span class="corr" id="xd0e369" title="Source: desequilibrium">disequilibrium</span>, tears, and suffering. Everything tends to reach the same level in life, the same as in death, the great leveller. Humanity
+has seen a new light which will shine brightly, though error and prejudice may endeavor to shroud it with darkness. Woe to
+those who refuse to see the light! The world continues to progress and stops for no one. He who wishes to lag behind is free
+to do so, but he will surely deplore it afterwards.
+
+</p>
+<p>I can not prophesy what will be the outcome of the efforts which the Filipino women are now making to obtain suffrage; but
+I know that these efforts must be to them, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e374" href="#xd0e374">27</a>]</span>and are to us, a source of pride and glory, because they show that there is no part of our people which has remained indifferent
+to the great movements of the century. There are persons who scoff at them and many shrug their shoulders; but this must not
+discourage our women, because neither scoffing nor shrugging the shoulders are very weighty arguments. The same persons who
+now laugh at them and shrug their shoulders, probably because they do not know that the world and society are moving and progressing,
+will some day recognize that these women were in the right, just as the men who scoffed at Rizal lived to deplore their mistake
+and have since made amends.
+
+</p>
+<p>What we must do is to diffuse the light and spread the new doctrines, in order to convince those who unwittingly refuse to
+see justice and truth, the only firm foundations of the stability and prosperity of civilized society.
+
+
+
+
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e378" href="#xd0e378">28</a>]</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="back">
+<div class="titlePage" lang="es">
+<h2 class="docTitle">Senado de Filipinas</h2>
+<h2 class="docTitle">Quinta Legislatura Filipina,</h2>
+<h2 class="docTitle">Primer per&iacute;odo de sesiones</h2>
+<h1 class="docTitle">La mujer y el derecho de votar</h1>
+<h2 class="byline">Discurso pronunciado por el
+<br>
+<span class="docAuthor">Hon. Rafael Palma</span><br>
+Senador por el Cuarto Distrito
+<br>
+En favor del proyecto de Ley No. 23 del Senado en las sesiones celebradas por dicho cuerpo en los d&iacute;as 22 y 25 de noviembre de 1919
+</h2>
+<h2 class="docImprint">Manila<br>
+Bureau of Printing<br>
+1919
+</h2>
+</div><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e409" href="#xd0e409">29</a>]</span><div lang="es" class="div1">
+<h2 class="normal">La mujer y el derecho de votar</h2>
+<p>Sr. <span class="smallcaps">Presidente y Caballeros del Senado</span>:
+
+</p>
+<p>Pocas veces me he sentido tan orgulloso de ostentar la representaci&oacute;n popular como esta vez que me permite abogar por una
+causa que no puede ser representada ni defendida en este sitio por la parte a quien directa y particularmente interesa, merced
+a esa levadura de prejuicios que han dejado en la mente del hombre moderno las creencias e ideas del antiguo. La causa del
+sufragio femenino es una causa que despierta la simpat&iacute;a de todo hombre desapasionado, porque representa la causa del d&eacute;bil
+que, privado del medio de defenderse por s&iacute; mismo, pone toda su raz&oacute;n y derecho al arbitrio del fuerte.
+
+</p>
+<p>Pero no es solamente por esto que atrae mi simpat&iacute;a y apela a mi defensa. Es adem&aacute;s que dicha causa tiene en s&iacute; un fondo irresistible
+de verdad y justicia al cual no puede negarse ninguna inteligencia abierta y libre. Si nuestra conciencia como legisladores
+debe inspirarse en las eternas fuentes del derecho, si las leyes que aqu&iacute; formulamos deben llevar el sello divino de dar a
+cada uno lo suyo, no podemos rehusar a la mujer el derecho del voto como no pretendamos renegar de todas las f&oacute;rmulas y conquistas
+de la democracia y de la libertad que han hecho de este siglo el ser llamado con propiedad el siglo de las reivindicaciones.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>El sufragio femenino es una reforma exigida por las condiciones sociales de nuestro tiempo, por la elevaci&oacute;n de la cultura
+de la mujer y las aspiraciones de todas las clases o grupos de la sociedad a organizarse para trabajar por los intereses que
+tienen de com&uacute;n. No podemos parar el movimiento de los astros y no podemos parar igualmente ninguno de esos movimientos morales
+que gravitan con <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e424" href="#xd0e424">30</a>]</span>incontrastable fuerza hacia su centro de atracci&oacute;n: la Justicia. Pues el mundo moral est&aacute; regido por las mismas leyes que
+el f&iacute;sico y si el poder del hombre es impotente para suprimir una mol&eacute;cula de los espacios necesaria a la gravitaci&oacute;n universal,
+menos podr&aacute; contener la generaci&oacute;n de las ideas elaboradas en la conciencia y ansiosas de encarnar en los fecundos senos de
+la vida y de la realidad.
+
+</p>
+<p>Es interesante el fen&oacute;meno de que cada vez que se trata de realizar una reforma social en consonancia con las ideas y actividades
+del siglo y en contradicci&oacute;n con a&ntilde;ejas creencias y preocupaciones, no faltan nunca las objeciones fundadas en el mantenimiento
+del <i lang="la">statu quo</i> que se quiere a toda costa preservar. Los eternos agoreros del desastre, los falsos profetas de la destrucci&oacute;n, como no puede
+menos de suceder, alzan sus fat&iacute;dicas voces en esta ocasi&oacute;n protestando contra el sufragio femenino en nombre de la santidad
+del hogar y de la insustituibilidad de costumbres que han sido por largo tiempo admitidas.
+
+</p>
+<p>Francamente, no tengo ninguna paciencia para escuchar semejantes objeciones. Si este pa&iacute;s no hubiera sido precisamente uno
+de los pocos lugares privilegiados del planeta en donde se ha realizado con fortuna el experimento de una brusca transici&oacute;n
+de sistemas e ideales, sin producir paradas ni retrocesos, sin desarticulaciones ni roturas, yo dir&iacute;a que los sobresaltos
+y temores de aquellos que se oponen a esta innovaci&oacute;n se hallan justificados.
+
+</p>
+<p>Pero en menos de una generaci&oacute;n, este pa&iacute;s, sacudido en sus cuatro costados por esos grandes terremotos sociales que por otro
+nombre se llaman revoluciones, ha visto desmoronarse sus antiguas instituciones para levantarse en su lugar otras enteramente
+nuevas; ha visto desaparecer teor&iacute;as, creencias y valores morales que se ten&iacute;an por inconmovibles y eternos para ser sustitu&iacute;dos
+por diferentes principios y m&eacute;todos, fundados en la democracia y libertad; y a despecho de esos cambios y trastornos que han
+modificado radicalmente su estructura social y pol&iacute;tica y gracias precisamente a ellos, nuestro pueblo se ha convertido en
+un pueblo con pensamientos e ideales modernos, con una constituci&oacute;n robusta y capaz de afrontar los estragos de la lucha por
+la existencia, en vez de aquel enfermizo y atrofiado <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e435" href="#xd0e435">31</a>]</span>organismo que ten&iacute;a miedo a todas las novedades y repudiaba las luchas materiales por temor a las iras del cielo y por un
+pasivo deseo de vivir en paz y bienestar ideales.
+
+</p>
+<p>En frente de los provechosos resultados que esas instituciones de libertad y democracia han dado a este pa&iacute;s, a la vista de
+los marcados progresos alcanzados en todos los &oacute;rdenes de la vida nacional merced a esas mismas instituciones, pese a algunos
+cuantos reaccionarios y ultraconservadores que opinan lo contrario y a&ntilde;oran el pasado, yo no veo, no puedo ver, como haya
+gente seria que seriamente sostenga que no debe concederse el sufragio femenino, una de las m&aacute;s viv&iacute;simas aspiraciones que
+agitan actualmente la conciencia del mundo moderno.
+
+</p>
+<p>Recuerdo muy bien que en otros tiempos, y no muy lejanos, los mismos temores y sobresaltos se hab&iacute;an abrigado contra la instrucci&oacute;n
+superior de la mujer. &iexcl;Que rid&iacute;culo, se dec&iacute;a, qu&eacute; rid&iacute;culo que la mujer aprenda Historia, Matem&aacute;ticas, Filosof&iacute;a y Qu&iacute;mica
+que no s&oacute;lo no puede digerir su escaso cerebro sino que la llenar&iacute;a de presunci&oacute;n y soberbia convirti&eacute;ndola en una especie
+de criatura h&iacute;brida, sin gracia y sin fuerza, intolerable y fatua, con mollera hermosa pero vac&iacute;a y coraz&oacute;n grande pero seco!
+Y, sin embargo, hemos dado entrada a la mujer en las escuelas superiores y en las universidades y, al igual que el hombre,
+hemos permitido que sus cabezas ostenten las borlas de bachiller en Artes, Leyes, Medicina y otras profesiones. &iquest;Podemos,
+ahora, decir que esas mujeres han pervertido el hogar de sus mayores o cuando se han casado han sido para sus maridos motivo
+de deshonor o esc&aacute;ndalo? Es tiempo de observar los resultados porque si estos resultados han sido perjudiciales al cuerpo
+social y pol&iacute;tico del pa&iacute;s, nuestro deber es deshacer lo hecho y desandar lo andado.
+
+</p>
+<p>Nadie piensa afortunadamente en esto. Desde los m&aacute;s cultos centros de poblaci&oacute;n hasta las aldeas m&aacute;s desconocidas se arrastra
+silenciosa y majestuosa una ola de opini&oacute;n popular que aprueba y aplaude la educaci&oacute;n femenina, al punto de que los m&aacute;s rudos
+sementereros env&iacute;an a sus hijas a las ciudades a costa de los m&aacute;s imaginables sacrificios <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e443" href="#xd0e443">32</a>]</span>para que puedan escalar las cumbres m&aacute;s altas del saber, si a eso pudieran. Esos lugare&ntilde;os ignorantes saben confusamente que
+la mujer como el hombre est&aacute; hecha de la misma arcilla y no se avienen a creer que por haberles cabido la suerte de tener
+ni&ntilde;as en vez de ni&ntilde;os necesitan condenarlas a llevar las cadenas de la ignorancia incapacit&aacute;ndolas para ser &uacute;tiles a sus familias,
+a su sociedad y a su patria.
+
+</p>
+<p>La instrucci&oacute;n no ha atrofiado ni desmejorado ninguna de las facultades fundamentales de la mujer, sino, por el contrario,
+las ha elevado y enriquecido. Lejos de ser una carga constante para la familia, la mujer instru&iacute;da ha sido muchas veces su
+sost&eacute;n y apoyo en apurados trances. La mujer instru&iacute;da no se ha transformado en la marisabidilla, la fatua criatura forjada
+por la imaginaci&oacute;n de algunos, ni siquiera ha perdido ninguno de sus encantos femeninos porque razone y discuta con el hombre
+sobre toda clase de materias; antes bien, a causa de ello, parece que encontramos en ella mayor gracia y encanto, porque nos
+comprende mejor y sabe hacerse comprender mejor. Hoy, gracias a Dios, ha desaparecido ya aquella comez&oacute;n de rid&iacute;culo que acomet&iacute;a
+a muchos al observar lo que consideraban necia presunci&oacute;n de las mujeres de saber tanto como los hombres, y esto se debe,
+indudablemente, a que los desastrosos resultados que pronosticaron los agoreros de las malas nuevas, las terribles profetas
+de la destrucci&oacute;n, no se han cumplido.
+
+</p>
+<p>Pues bien, si admit&iacute;s la instrucci&oacute;n y educaci&oacute;n de la mujer, en todos los terrenos de la ciencia, deb&eacute;is admitir la intervenci&oacute;n
+de la mujer no s&oacute;lo en la vida dom&eacute;stica sino tambi&eacute;n en la vida social o p&uacute;blica. La instrucci&oacute;n y la educaci&oacute;n tienen un
+doble fin: el individual, que redime la inteligencia humana de los peligros de la ignorancia, y el social, que prepara al
+hombre y a la mujer a cumplir los deberes de una buena ciudadan&iacute;a. No se educa uno exclusivamente para su propio bien sino
+principalmente para ser &uacute;til y servir a los dem&aacute;s. El mayor peligro que existe para la sociedad es el hombre instru&iacute;do que
+s&oacute;lo piensa en s&iacute; mismo, porque su instrucci&oacute;n misma le da mayor poder para hacer da&ntilde;o y sacrificar a todos a su conveniencia,
+o su ambici&oacute;n personal. El verdadero <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e449" href="#xd0e449">33</a>]</span>objeto de la educaci&oacute;n es el servicio al p&uacute;blico, el de aplicar los conocimientos que no adquiere, al bien y mejoramiento
+de la sociedad en que vive.
+
+</p>
+<p>Por tanto, en las sociedades donde se admite a la mujer a todas las carreras y profesiones de la vida, donde no se escatima
+a la mujer ninguna fuente de conocimiento debe admitirse necesaria y l&oacute;gicamente la intervenci&oacute;n de la mujer en la vida p&uacute;blica.
+De otro modo, su educaci&oacute;n ser&iacute;a incompleta o la sociedad ser&iacute;a injusta con ella pues despu&eacute;s de suministrarla los medios
+para su educaci&oacute;n la privar&iacute;a de los poderes necesarios para emplear esa educaci&oacute;n en pro del bien social y el progreso colectivo.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>No puedo resistirme a esta conclusi&oacute;n. Si se ofrece a la mujer igual oportunidad de educaci&oacute;n que al hombre, si se la estimula
+para aprender y estudiar los conocimientos del mundo y de la vida, <span class="corr" id="xd0e455" title="Source: debe">deben</span> abr&iacute;rsela las puertas de la vida p&uacute;blica para que pueda desempe&ntilde;ar en ella el papel que le corresponde.
+
+</p>
+<p>En las <span class="corr" id="xd0e460" title="Source: socidades">sociedades</span> retr&oacute;gradas se ense&ntilde;a a la mujer solamente aquella parte de conocimientos que necesita para la vida del hogar, prepar&aacute;ndola
+as&iacute; inconscientemente para sufrir aquella dulce, aquella encantadora esclavitud que tanto agrada al ser masculino. Es cuesti&oacute;n
+solamente de escoger nuestro sistema: o esclavitud e ignorancia o libertad y educaci&oacute;n para la mujer.
+
+</p>
+<p>El sufragio femenino es consecuencia de la educaci&oacute;n de la mujer; es consecuencia, tambi&eacute;n, de su libertad de conciencia.
+Por el voto se expresa la f&eacute; pol&iacute;tica, como por el culto la f&eacute; religiosa. No hay raz&oacute;n para impedirle a la mujer el acceso
+a las urnas como no la hay para privarla de ir al templo.
+
+</p>
+<p>No hay raz&oacute;n para que el sufragio sea un privilegio de sexo, puesto que los deberes de ciudadan&iacute;a pesan tanto sobre el hombre
+como sobre la mujer. &iquest;Es que la mujer, por serlo, est&aacute; menos obligada a velar por los intereses de la Patria, por la felicidad
+y el porvenir de su pa&iacute;s? Querer restringir la actividad de la mujer para las cosas p&uacute;blicas es como decir que la mujer no
+debe amar a su pa&iacute;s ni debe consagrar tiempo a las obligaciones que la corresponden <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e467" href="#xd0e467">34</a>]</span>como ciudadana, ni debe sentir el cari&ntilde;o y la devoci&oacute;n que en toda criatura bien nacida despierta la idea de la Patria y de
+la colectividad.
+
+</p>
+<p>La esterilidad f&iacute;sica es combatida y se considera como una desgracia en la mujer; pero queremos condenarla a una perpetua
+esterilidad pol&iacute;tica&#8212;que es lo mismo decir esterilidad patri&oacute;tica&#8212;al impedirla que tome parte en el sufragio que da a los
+ciudadanos el medio m&aacute;s efectivo para influir en los destinos sociales y en el mejoramiento de los negocios p&uacute;blicos. &iquest;C&oacute;mo
+inculcar en los ni&ntilde;os, esa prenda sagrada del porvenir de una naci&oacute;n, el culto y la <span class="corr" id="xd0e471" title="Source: fe">f&eacute;</span> en la Patria y en la libertad si no se les da a las madres la educaci&oacute;n pr&aacute;ctica que envuelve en s&iacute; el privilegio del voto,
+si se les ense&ntilde;a que el gobierno y la pol&iacute;tica son divinidades extra&ntilde;as, en cuyos templos les est&aacute; vedado penetrar, si sobre
+s&iacute; mismas sienten el estigma de inferioridad e incapacidad para hablar a sus hijos de los negocios p&uacute;blicos y de los intereses
+de la naci&oacute;n y del Estado?
+
+</p>
+<p>Todas las clases o grupos sociales tienen derecho a ser representados en las legislaturas para trabajar por las leyes que
+afectan a sus intereses; los comerciantes pueden eligir a uno de ellos, lo mismo los agricultores, los obreros y los industriales;
+pero a las mujeres, que no son meramente un grupo sino un compuesto de grupos, con representar la mitad de un pa&iacute;s, con propios
+intereses que sostener no s&oacute;lo en relaci&oacute;n a su sexo sino tambi&eacute;n en relaci&oacute;n a su situaci&oacute;n dentro de la familia, no se les
+permite votar y por tanto no se les permite tener una representaci&oacute;n que sostenga aquellas leyes o medidas necesarias para
+su protecci&oacute;n y mejoramiento. &iquest;Es esto justo? &iquest;Es siquiera moral? El trabajo de las mujeres puede ser explotado en f&aacute;bricas
+y talleres, la virtud de las mujeres puede ser objeto de tr&aacute;fico en el mercado, y, sin embargo, la mujer no puede defender
+directamente los intereses de su sexo por una de esas aberraciones del sentido moral proveniente del grosero ego&iacute;smo, de la
+brutal tiran&iacute;a del hombre.
+
+</p>
+<p><span class="corr" id="xd0e477" title="Not in source">&iexcl;</span>Si al menos las mujeres estuvieran exentas de cumplir las leyes! Pero la ley obliga tanto a la mujer como al hombre; el C&oacute;digo
+Penal alcanza con su espada las infracciones <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e480" href="#xd0e480">35</a>]</span>cometidas por uno y otro sexo, y el impuesto y la contribuci&oacute;n gravan lo mismo la riqueza masculina que la femenina. Es decir,
+ante la ley, los deberes son los mismos, pero los derechos, no.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iquest;Qu&eacute; extra&ntilde;o que nuestras leyes contengan tantas injusticias sociales para la mujer, tantas irritantes desigualdades, basadas
+todas ellas en la teor&iacute;a de la dependencia servil de la mujer al hombre causada por su <span class="corr" id="xd0e484" title="Source: cong&eacute;n&iacute;ta">cong&eacute;nita</span> inferioridad mental y fisiol&oacute;gica? Moebius est&aacute; encarnado en nuestros c&oacute;digos, rige nuestra pol&iacute;tica y preside todas las
+modalidades de nuestro vivir social y pol&iacute;tico, en forma tal que hay motivos para avergonzarse que en plena &eacute;poca de reivindicaciones,
+cuando todas las clases han obtenido sus derechos a la libertad y a la igualdad, la mujer ha permanecido indefinidamente sujeta
+al mismo nivel como en los siglos de sujeci&oacute;n y esclavitud.
+
+</p>
+<p>Una democracia verdadera no puede existir mitad libre y mitad esclava, mitad con representaci&oacute;n y mitad sin representaci&oacute;n
+en las funciones p&uacute;blicas. El pueblo no es solamente hombre sino tambi&eacute;n mujer, y, en igualdad de condiciones, la mujer debe
+tener los mismos derechos pol&iacute;ticos que el hombre. Pero lo menos debe tener aqu&eacute;llos derechos fundamentales que, como el voto,
+requieren nada m&aacute;s que inteligencia y capacidad para ejercerlo, a fin de que pueda tener alguna voz en la decisi&oacute;n de sus
+propios destinos y librar por s&iacute; misma las batallas que exigen su honor, su libertad y otros tantos intereses que descu&iacute;dan
+o ignoran los hombres en virtud del indisputado monopolio ejercido por ellos sobre los negocios p&uacute;blicos.
+
+</p>
+<p>No desaparecer&aacute;n radicalmente las injusticias, las desigualdades sociales y jur&iacute;dicas contenidas en nuestros c&oacute;digos ni mejorar&aacute;n
+las condiciones de la existencia para la mujer mientras sean los hombres<span class="corr" id="xd0e491" title="Source: ,"></span> los &uacute;nicos que legislen y dominen todas las esferas de la vida p&uacute;blica, mientras dicten a la mujer lo que debe hacer y lo
+que no debe hacer; y, a su vez, la mujer ser&aacute; incompetente de cuidar de sus propios intereses y de dirigir sus propios destinos
+mientras no mire m&aacute;s alto, mientras preste su asentimiento a la superioridad del hombre y crea que su destino es simplemente
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e493" href="#xd0e493">36</a>]</span>servir y complacer al hombre para el lecho y el hogar, en vez de ser su verdadera ayuda y compa&ntilde;&iacute;a para el progreso y felicidad
+del g&eacute;nero humano.
+
+</p>
+<p>Todas las objeciones que se aducen o pueden aducirse en contra del sufragio femenino tienden invariablemente a estos dos objetos:
+a la seclusi&oacute;n dom&eacute;stica de la mujer y a perpetuar su esclavitud civil y pol&iacute;tica.
+
+</p>
+<p>Que la mujer no debe atender m&aacute;s que las ocupaciones del hogar, que no debe vivir m&aacute;s que para su esposo e hijos; que tiene
+bastante trabajo para todo el d&iacute;a con dirigir al cocinero, limpiar la casa y remendar los vestidos; es la f&oacute;rmula que sostienen
+los partidarios del antiguo r&eacute;gimen. O si no, esta otra: que la mujer no est&aacute; por naturaleza llamada a luchar con el hombre
+en la vida p&uacute;blica; que el hombre por raz&oacute;n de esa lucha dejar&aacute; de considerarla como un <span class="corr" id="xd0e499" title="Source: s&eacute;r">ser</span> digno de adoraci&oacute;n, un sagrado &iacute;dolo ante cuyos pies se arrodilla, sino que ver&aacute; en ella a una rival a quien hay que combatir
+y anular para la propia conservaci&oacute;n, y con ello la mujer no s&oacute;lo arrastrar&iacute;a la n&iacute;tida sampaguita de su virtud en el lodo
+de la vida pol&iacute;tica, sino perder&iacute;a, adem&aacute;s, la estimaci&oacute;n, el respeto y las consideraciones, de los cuales se ve rodeada en
+la actualidad.
+
+</p>
+<p>No tengo sino el m&aacute;s profundo respeto para todos aqu&eacute;llos, hombres y mujeres, que piensan honradamente as&iacute;. No tienen la culpa
+de creer que aquello que ha existido siempre de un modo tal, no sea lo mejor. No comprenden que la vida es movimiento e insensiblemente
+se adhieren a <span class="corr" id="xd0e504" title="Source: los">las</span> capas sociales nuevos elementos de vida y car&aacute;cter que requieren necesariamente el cambio y la renovaci&oacute;n. No es posible
+a la sociedad estancarse en un sitio, porque ocurrir&aacute; lo que ocurre a las aguas estancadas, que despiden pestilentes miasmas.
+La teor&iacute;a de que la mujer s&oacute;lo existe para el hogar y por el hogar ha dejado de existir hace tiempo. Ella ha tomado insensiblemente
+su puesto en la vida p&uacute;blica y ayuda y dirige al hombre a&uacute;n cuando &eacute;ste no se percate de ello, y a&uacute;n cuando no se la reconozca
+derechos para ello. En las sociedades modernas, la mujer participa en la direcci&oacute;n de la caridad p&uacute;blica y en la educaci&oacute;n
+de los ni&ntilde;os; ejerce como m&eacute;dica, abogada, literata; forma <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e507" href="#xd0e507">37</a>]</span>parte de la legi&oacute;n de la prensa, de muchos empleos p&uacute;blicos y se interesa y coopera en la supresi&oacute;n de los vicios y miserias
+sociales.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iquest;Qui&eacute;n no admite que la mujer tiene deberes para su hogar, su esposo e hijos que debe cumplir ordinariamente con preferencia
+a cualesquiera otros deberes? Pero, &iquest;excluye eso, acaso, el cumplimiento de otros deberes para con Dios, para con el pr&oacute;jimo
+y para con el Estado? El hombre como la mujer est&aacute; lleno de deberes: en cumplirlos ordenada y totalmente est&aacute; el verdadero
+m&eacute;rito. &iquest;No dedica la mujer filipina una parte a veces considerable de su tiempo a la iglesia y a otros deberes llamados de
+sociedad, a ir de visitas o recibirlas, a concurrir a fiestas, teatros y bailes?
+
+</p>
+<p><span class="corr" id="xd0e512" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Se ha quejado alguien de esto? <span class="corr" id="xd0e515" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Se ha criticado al menos a las mujeres porque asistan asiduamente y cumplan p&uacute;blicamente sus deberes <span class="corr" id="xd0e518" title="Source: religiosas">religiosos</span> en los templos llenos de bote en bote; en las calles p&uacute;blicas, ahitas de muchedumbres tumultuosas, formando cola a lo largo
+de las procesiones de los santos, entre empellones y sofocones desagradables que toleran mansamente a causa de la confesi&oacute;n
+p&uacute;blica de su f&eacute;? <span class="corr" id="xd0e521" title="Source: &Eacute;llas">Ellas</span> no van solamente a las iglesias sino a los esp&eacute;ctaculos p&uacute;blicos, a las fiestas populares, all&iacute; donde pueden ostentar la
+elegancia de sus trajes o satisfacer su curiosidad femenina. Y no vemos en todo ello ninguna asechanza o peligro para su virtud,
+sabiendo que esas mujeres que van a esos puntos y se exhiben de esa manera son madres, esposas, o hijas que tienen deberes
+que atender en sus casas.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iquest;Cu&aacute;l es la diferencia, digo ahora, de que la mujer salga tambi&eacute;n de su casa para asistir o tomar parte en un miting pol&iacute;tico
+donde se trata de las necesidades p&uacute;blicas o de la conveniencia de eligir a &eacute;ste o a aqu&eacute;l funcionario? &iquest;Qu&eacute; peligros puede
+haber para la virtud o pureza de la mujer en que ella se interese en los asuntos p&uacute;blicos que afectan al bienestar de las
+familias, puesto que la mujer en cualquier estado de su vida ocupa siempre una posici&oacute;n dentro de la familia? &iquest;Por qu&eacute; ha
+de considerarse que la mujer dejar&aacute; en las zarzas de la pol&iacute;tica la flor de sus encantos si oye a un orador pol&iacute;tico&#8212;ella
+que est&aacute; acostumbrada a oir sermones&#8212;o, si el caso se presenta, pronuncia ella <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e526" href="#xd0e526">38</a>]</span>misma un discurso expresando su opini&oacute;n sobre alg&uacute;n asunto de inter&eacute;s para la familia, sobre la necesidad de remediar ciertos
+males sociales o sobre la conveniencia de recoger a ni&ntilde;os abandonados o desv&aacute;lidos?
+
+</p>
+<p>Tomemos el caso de una de las cuestiones de m&aacute;s palpitante inter&eacute;s en este tiempo, la cuesti&oacute;n del incremento de los juegos.
+&iquest;Creeis que esta cuesti&oacute;n no es de aqu&eacute;llas que tienen relaci&oacute;n inmediata con el bienestar de las familias especialmente de
+las mujeres dentro de ellas? &iquest;Qui&eacute;nes son los que m&aacute;s sufren de los abusos del padre o del esposo al dedicar gran parte de
+los ingresos de la familia a los azares e incertidumbres de su pasi&oacute;n? Son las mujeres y las hijas a quienes se condenan a
+sufrir muchas veces privaciones y sufrimientos innecesarios por causa del vicio y de la falta del hombre en la familia. Y
+&iquest;quereis negar a la mujer el derecho de inmiscu&iacute;rse en la vida pol&iacute;tica para que pueda ilustrar con su opini&oacute;n al cuerpo electoral
+sobre los resultados funestos del juego o para influir con su voto en la elecci&oacute;n de funcionarios que se comprometan a llevar
+a cabo las deseables medidas? &iquest;Y por qu&eacute; no ha de ser la opini&oacute;n de la mujer en un asunto de esta naturaleza de tanto o mejor
+peso que la del hombre pues que a ella le alcanzan las consecuencias y resultados del mal? Como este asunto se pueden encontrar
+otros muchos en que el bien y la felicidad de la mujer se halla de un modo o de otro vitalmente interesados.
+
+</p>
+<p>No veo en todo cuanto pueda hacer la mujer en pol&iacute;tica ninguna actividad perniciosa, y si me apurais m&aacute;s, digo que semejante
+actividad es altamente saludable y beneficiosa para la mujer y para la sociedad entera. En todos esos casos la mujer se instruye
+y obtiene mejor conocimiento del mundo y de la vida. No se considera como un ser extra&ntilde;o a la sociedad y al gobierno y no
+se mostrar&aacute; por tanto ajena e indiferente a sus miserias y progresos. Nada puede hacer mayor da&ntilde;o a una sociedad como el encontrar
+en su seno cuerpos extra&ntilde;os, absolutamente indiferentes al bien o al mal, piezas in&uacute;tiles de una maquinaria que est&aacute; en funci&oacute;n.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Nos aterrorizamos ante la idea de que los impulsos de la mujer, su fanatismo, su criterio cerrado, seg&uacute;n unos, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e534" href="#xd0e534">39</a>]</span>su debilidad o falta de car&aacute;cter, seg&uacute;n otros, su poca preparaci&oacute;n o poca cultura, seg&uacute;n otros m&aacute;s, hagan del derecho de sufragio
+una mera farsa o una comedia rid&iacute;cula por la que han de entrar a tener predominio elementos o intereses privilegiados. Lo
+que yo digo es que todos esos impulsos, sentimientos, debilidades e imperfecciones de la mujer se deben precisamente a su
+estado de seclusi&oacute;n dom&eacute;stica, efectos de una educaci&oacute;n o de un sistema tocado de senil debilidad, que no permite a las facultades
+naturales de la mujer aquella expansi&oacute;n que es tan necesaria a la vida como el vapor a la electricidad y la electricidad a
+la luz. Y que para corregir esos defectos e imperfecciones, no es lo m&aacute;s cuerdo mantener el sistema bajo el cual han crecido
+y prosperado, sino producir un cambio violento, un vuelco regenerador para que ella pudiera, como el ave que ensaya sus alas,
+volar a los altos espacios, abundantes de aire y luz, libre para derramar all&iacute; la graciosa esencia de su ser y ensayar los
+l&iacute;mites de sus facultades e instintos.
+
+</p>
+<p>Tenemos que procurar a la mujer nuevos objetivos en la vida, otras ocupaciones elevadas para que pruebe su aptitud y de esta
+manera todo eso que se se&ntilde;ala como defectuoso y deforme en su car&aacute;cter y educaci&oacute;n se eliminar&aacute; en un ambiente de libertad
+y publicidad, donde sin miedo ni piedad se puedan sacar a colaci&oacute;n los defectos y expurgar al individuo de sus vicios. Y por
+esto quiero y pretendo para la mujer derechos pol&iacute;ticos, porque entiendo que uno de sus resultados ser&aacute; enriquecer, mejorar
+y favorecer sus aptitudes y aspiraciones para servir a los altos ideales de la vida y de la sociedad. La mujer se ocupar&aacute;
+menos de frusler&iacute;as y peque&ntilde;eces, de cortes de vestidos y modas, de chismes y otros t&oacute;picos comunes, que constituyen por lo
+general, el asunto de sus conversaciones y se esmerar&aacute; en aprender y tratar de las cosas serias que ata&ntilde;en al mejoramiento
+y bienestar sociales.
+
+</p>
+<p>La pol&iacute;tica no es una ocupaci&oacute;n permanente que pueda absorber el tiempo de una persona que tiene otros negocios regulares
+que atender. De hecho, con excepci&oacute;n de los funcionarios pol&iacute;ticos y ciertos profesionales, la mayor&iacute;a de los ciudadanos no
+emplea en pol&iacute;tica m&aacute;s que el tiempo puramente preciso que le permiten sus ocupaciones ordinarias. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e540" href="#xd0e540">40</a>]</span>El hombre o la mujer que haga depender su suerte o sus medios de vida de la pol&iacute;tica tiene que convencerse de que la pol&iacute;tica
+no d&aacute; para comer pero si para tener hambre.
+
+</p>
+<p>Es perfectamente compatible la pol&iacute;tica con las ocupaciones y <span class="corr" id="xd0e544" title="Source: t&aacute;reas">tareas</span> dom&eacute;sticas de la mujer, sea ella madre esposa o hija. La mujer educada sabe sus responsabilidades y conoce la manera de dividir
+su tiempo y anteponer sus obligaciones dom&eacute;sticas a cualesquiera otras fuera del hogar. Y cuando la mujer est&aacute; muy atareada
+en casa, no har&aacute; pol&iacute;tica; o cuando se ve atada al lecho por los dolores y cuidados de la maternidad no podr&aacute; hacer pol&iacute;tica,
+aunque quiera. Y, por eso, cuando se dice que la mujer va a descuidar el hogar por la pol&iacute;tica o va a desatender el cuidado
+del esposo y de los hijos por el mero hecho de obtener el sufragio, realmente confieso que, por mi torpeza quiz&aacute;, no puedo
+entenderlo.
+
+</p>
+<p>Insist&iacute;s en que la mujer, seg&uacute;n el plan divino, es para el hogar y el hombre para la sociedad y en eso consiste la verdadera
+divisi&oacute;n del trabajo entre las dos mitades del g&eacute;nero humano. &iquest;Me quereis decir por qu&eacute;, si eso fuera el plan de Dios, todas
+las religiones y todas las escuelas de moral coinciden en prescribir el deber al pr&oacute;jimo, el amor a los semejantes? &iquest;Se ha
+dirigido el Se&ntilde;or s&oacute;lo al hombre y no a la mujer tambi&eacute;n cuando entre temblores de tierra y llamas resplandecientes entreg&oacute;
+el mundo las tablas del Dec&aacute;logo y dijo: &#8220;Ama a tu pr&oacute;jimo como a t&iacute; mismo&#8221;? &iquest;Se refiere al hombre y no a la mujer inclusive
+aquel precepto universal, contenido de toda moral y de toda religi&oacute;n, que dice: &#8220;Haz a tu pr&oacute;jimo lo que quieras que hagan
+contigo&#8221;? Estos preceptos me indican que el hombre y la mujer tienen deberes para con los dem&aacute;s, tienen deberes para con sus
+semejantes y que no deben concentrar su felicidad en el hogar sino tambi&eacute;n, fuera de &eacute;l, en la sociedad. &iquest;Me quereis decir
+si el hogar puede ser feliz entretanto que la sociedad no lo sea, puesto que la sociedad es nada m&aacute;s que la ampliaci&oacute;n y la
+suma de todos los hogares, y todas las miserias y males de la sociedad repercuten en el hogar de la misma manera que la felicidad
+y el bienestar del hogar influyen en el bienestar y felicidad de la sociedad?
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e549" href="#xd0e549">41</a>]</span></p>
+<p>Quereis hacer una divisi&oacute;n imposible, dividir al individuo humano en dos mitades: mitad feliz en el hogar y mitad infeliz
+en la sociedad, o viceversa. Podeis hacer, si quereis, esa divisi&oacute;n; pero una de dos: o teneis que barrer por in&uacute;tiles todos
+vuestros c&oacute;digos que dan al hombre el gobierno y administraci&oacute;n de la casa para arreglar otros que entreguen ambos poderes
+a la mujer; o ten&eacute;is que admitir a la mujer, si no quereis eso, en la participaci&oacute;n de los negocios p&uacute;blicos para que ella
+pueda, como en el hogar, ayudar al hombre a formar y cimentar la felicidad de ese otro hogar grande que se llama sociedad.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Se dice que la mujer al presentarse en el escenario pol&iacute;tico se enajenar&aacute; al punto el respeto y la admiraci&oacute;n del hombre y,
+lejos de ganar, perder&aacute; las ventajas en que su actual posici&oacute;n le coloca, fuera de toda lucha directa con el hombre, siendo
+adorable y adorada en todas partes y reinando suprema en el hogar con la autoridad indiscutible de la madre o de la esposa,
+envuelta en ese espl&eacute;ndido manto de gracia y majestad de que la ha dotado la Naturaleza, pura e impoluta de las manchas que
+las luchas e intrigas pol&iacute;ticas dejan siempre en la reputaci&oacute;n y en la dignidad humanas.
+
+</p>
+<p>No creo que haya dejado de expresar deliberadamente en t&eacute;rminos m&aacute;s po&eacute;ticos y exactos la posici&oacute;n de nuestros adversarios,
+y al decir &#8220;de nuestros adversarios&#8221; yo incluyo a la innumerable legi&oacute;n de mujeres que titubean a&uacute;n en pedir el sufragio por
+consideraciones que no s&eacute; si llamarlas ego&iacute;stas.
+
+</p>
+<p>Pero, con todo, digo que ese ideal pol&iacute;tico de la mujer no puede desaparecer porque ella sea educada en la pol&iacute;tica a la manera
+que se educa en las ciencias y en las artes. La educaci&oacute;n pol&iacute;tica, lejos de perjudicar los encantos naturales de la mujer
+los realzar&aacute;, a mi juicio, por la misma raz&oacute;n y motivo que la educaci&oacute;n actual de la mujer moderna le ha dado otros encantos
+que no pose&iacute;a la mujer antigua. A menos que sostengais que la educaci&oacute;n es en s&iacute; misma un mal m&aacute;s que un bien, que desmejora
+el car&aacute;cter en vez de mejorarlo, no podeis eludir la deducci&oacute;n de que ampliando los conocimientos y las experiencias de la
+mujer, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e558" href="#xd0e558">42</a>]</span>dar&iacute;ais m&aacute;s vigor, m&aacute;s energ&iacute;a y m&aacute;s encanto a la personalidad femenina.
+
+</p>
+<p>Nada infunde mayor respeto como la educaci&oacute;n; la educaci&oacute;n es lo que eleva el nivel de las personas. Desde el momento en que
+uno muestra ser educado, al punto obtiene la consideraci&oacute;n y el respeto de los dem&aacute;s. A pesar de los prejuicios de raza, solamente
+por su educaci&oacute;n el hombre amarillo u oscuro puede conquistar el respeto y a veces la admiraci&oacute;n del hombre blanco.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iquest;Cuando ha inspirado la mujer mayor respeto al hombre sino cuando la ha visto instruida y educada a su altura en los colegios
+y universidades? <span class="corr" id="xd0e564" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Antes, cuando la mujer permanec&iacute;a en estado de ignorancia era acaso m&aacute;s respetada que ahora? Estoy dispuesto a convenir en
+que era m&aacute;s asediada, m&aacute;s agasajada quiz&aacute;s, pero no por eso m&aacute;s respetada. <span class="corr" id="xd0e567" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Llamais respeto y consideraci&oacute;n a aqu&eacute;llas vanas f&oacute;rmulas de etiqueta que hac&iacute;an doblar el espinazo del hombre a la vista
+de una mujer y le hac&iacute;an decir cuatro frases vulgares de cumplimiento, para hinchar la vanidad o marear la cabeza de una mujer
+cr&eacute;dula y fatua? <span class="corr" id="xd0e570" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Llamais respeto a ese h&aacute;bito singular de algunos hombres de calificar siempre de divinos los ojos de la mujer que tiene delante,
+de comparar sus labios a lindos p&eacute;talos de rosa, sus dientes a sarta de diminutas perlas, su cintura a cimbreante tallo de
+azucena y otras tantas necedades de ese jaez? Si es esa la forma de respeto y consideraci&oacute;n que perder&iacute;a la mujer por dedicarse
+a la pol&iacute;tica, ella debe celebrarlo, porque todas esas f&oacute;rmulas insustanciales de galanter&iacute;a no pasan de ser lo que el cacareo
+del gallo para sorprender y asaltar repentinamente a la descuidada gallina.
+
+</p>
+<p><span class="corr" id="xd0e574" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Ni como puede, en verdad, inspirar respeto la debilidad y la ignorancia? De hecho cuando la mujer estaba en aquel estado en
+que se tasaban sus conocimientos, porque se cre&iacute;a que un poco de culinaria, de bordado y de piano, a m&aacute;s de saber el catecismo,
+eran suficientes para el matrimonio, &uacute;nica carrera que se le permit&iacute;a, el hombre le dispensaba toda clase de consideraciones
+y cortes&iacute;as, pero &eacute;stas no estaban inspiradas en un verdadero sentimiento de respeto sino m&aacute;s bien en una especie de caballerosidad,
+hija de la idea de que la mujer siendo de suyo d&eacute;bil e ignorante, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e577" href="#xd0e577">43</a>]</span>merecia de parte del hombre, aquella protecci&oacute;n, consideraci&oacute;n y cortes&iacute;a debidas a la debilidad y a la ignorancia. <span class="corr" id="xd0e579" title="Not in source">&iquest;</span>Es esta acaso la idea que quieren las mujeres que se tenga de s&iacute; mismas? El respeto es un sentimiento que nace de la idea
+de igualdad y a menos que la mujer se coloque al nivel del hombre en las cuestiones pol&iacute;ticas, no dejar&aacute;n de oirse estas o
+semejantes ignominiosas exclamaciones. &iexcl;Pero, mujer, que entiendes de estas cosas! No te metas en asuntos que no te importan.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>No necesita preocuparse la mujer de que al participar en el sufragio, y como resultado de &eacute;l habr&aacute; de perder necesariamente
+las consideraciones y cortes&iacute;as de que se ve rodeada en la actualidad, fuera de toda lucha directa con el hombre y libre de
+ser atacada por &eacute;l como una rival a qui&eacute;n hay que anular y destruir por propia conservaci&oacute;n. En primer lugar, es un error
+el considerar que la intervenci&oacute;n de la mujer en la vida p&uacute;blica dar&aacute; por resultado la rivalidad de los dos sexos. La atracci&oacute;n
+y simpat&iacute;a entre el hombre y la mujer nace precisamente de la oposici&oacute;n del sexo: si no hubiera m&aacute;s que puramente hombres
+o puramente mujeres, acaso ser&iacute;a posible pensar que se destruir&iacute;an porque no tendr&iacute;a objeto la vida ni la especie humana se
+reproducir&iacute;a. De modo que en el inter&eacute;s de un sexo est&aacute; el no destruir al otro sexo. La pol&iacute;tica, por otro lado, no es siempre
+una lucha personal; en su sentido propio y elevado es lucha de ideas y principios, de teor&iacute;as y procedimientos y suponiendo
+el caso de que un hombre y una mujer se ponen frente a frente en una lucha pol&iacute;tica no est&aacute;n obligados seguramente a dar un
+espect&aacute;culo de <i>boxeo</i> y de matarse a brazo partido, sino solamente a presentar puntos de vista y opiniones que tienen m&aacute;s o menos fundamento, seg&uacute;n
+sus propios juicios. No creo que ning&uacute;n hombre tenga derecho a insultar a una mujer por el hecho de ser su oponente, cuando
+no lo tiene trat&aacute;ndose de un hombre. Y en el caso de que las pasiones pol&iacute;ticas dieran lugar a semejante insulto, &iquest;no tendr&iacute;a
+la mujer el mismo derecho para contestar o echar otro insulto? He aqu&iacute; un caso en que la mujer tendr&aacute; oportunidad para aprender
+a ser independiente en sus juicios y en sus acciones, ya que algunos parece que no quieren el sufragio sino a <span class="corr" id="xd0e587" title="Source: condicci&oacute;n">condici&oacute;n</span> de que <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e590" href="#xd0e590">44</a>]</span>la mujer tenga independiente manera de pensar y obrar. No quiero tampoco suponer que muchos hombres no quieren el sufragio
+de la mujer porque temen que pueden resultar vencidos en una discusi&oacute;n p&uacute;blica y el prestigio del sexo quedar&iacute;a mal parado.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>En segundo lugar, si lo que quiere la mujer es encontrar siempre en el hombre aquella especie de adoraci&oacute;n que se tributa
+a un &iacute;dolo, ella puede estar segura de ello con sufragio o sin sufragio. Esa adoraci&oacute;n no nace en el hombre por el hecho de
+que la mujer tenga menos derechos o est&eacute; privada de ellos, nace de que la mujer es mujer, arquetipo de gracia y belleza de
+la creaci&oacute;n y el hombre quemar&aacute; siempre el incienso de su admiraci&oacute;n ante el ara de esas divinidades. Recordad que se ha dicho
+siempre que el Cristianismo elev&oacute; la condici&oacute;n de la mujer y la di&oacute; m&aacute;s derechos; y sin embargo los pueblos cristianos son
+los que rodean a la mujer de mayores consideraciones y respetos.
+
+</p>
+<p>El sufragio no har&aacute; menos hermosos los cabellos largos de la mujer, ni empalidecer&aacute; la rosa de sus mejillas y de sus labios
+ni har&aacute; menos graciosas las curvas de su talle, por el contrario la imprimir&aacute; una gracia adicional&#8212;la de saber escribir una
+balota con su peque&ntilde;a letra&#8212;y mientras sea as&iacute;, el hombre guardar&aacute; siempre para ella aquel tesoro de amor, de ternura y de
+adoraci&oacute;n que en todas partes y en todos tiempos y por los siglos de los siglos inspirar&aacute; la idea de la gracia y de la belleza.
+H&eacute;rcules se rendir&aacute; siempre a Venus por ser Venus, aunque Venus sea sufragista.
+
+</p>
+<p>La educaci&oacute;n pol&iacute;tica dar&aacute; a la mujer nuevas armas para atraerse el respeto y la admiraci&oacute;n del hombre. La mujer entender&aacute;
+que su obligaci&oacute;n no consiste solamente en dar hijos a la Patria sino en educar y dirigir sus sentimientos, de modo que desde
+ni&ntilde;os se interesen en las cosas que se puedan hacer para mejorar las condiciones sociales, inspir&aacute;ndoles de este modo el amor
+o la afici&oacute;n a servir una causa determinada o un partido determinado en pr&oacute; del inter&eacute;s p&uacute;blico. La conciencia p&uacute;blica se
+dilatar&aacute;, se robustecer&aacute; conteniendo y reflejando los sentimientos de la mujer, elemento pasivo, hoy por hoy, de nuestra ciudadan&iacute;a,
+y en horas de crisis, cuando la naci&oacute;n alguna vez <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e598" href="#xd0e598">45</a>]</span>se encuentre en peligro, ella se ver&aacute; servida y ayudada, no s&oacute;lo por ciudadanos, sino tambi&eacute;n por ciudadanas, que no van a
+ser improvisadas ni inexpertas en las tareas y deberes colectivos sino acostumbradas a la disciplina de la organizaci&oacute;n y
+a los llamamientos del servicio p&uacute;blico.
+
+</p>
+<p>Tiene&#8212;&iquest;qu&eacute; duda cabe?&#8212;sus infinitas ventajas para el hombre el dejar a la mujer en la ignorancia, no s&oacute;lo de la pol&iacute;tica sino
+tambi&eacute;n de otras materias. &iquest;No es m&aacute;s f&aacute;cil as&iacute; al hombre satisfacer sus caprichos y hacer de ella un juguete que puede dejar
+o utilizar cuando quiera? Ella es obediente, sumisa, resignada; no discute ni razona nunca; calla, obedece, sirve, un mueble
+hermoso que se diferencia de los dem&aacute;s de la casa en que tiene vida; mu&ntilde;eca deliciosa porque habla y tiene un poco de juicio.
+Yo s&eacute; que este es el ideal que muchos hombres quieren, por la sencilla y &uacute;nica raz&oacute;n de que as&iacute; les conviene.
+
+</p>
+<p>Pero no es esa la mujer como debe ser; la mujer que nuestro siglo ha redimido de la ignorancia y de la esclavitud; la mujer
+que ha recibido de Dios una inteligencia, una voluntad y un coraz&oacute;n para que los cultive y perfeccione al objeto de que ella
+sea, no la sierva del hombre sino su compa&ntilde;era, no la s&uacute;bdita de un rey sino reina al lado del rey, fieles y constantes aliados
+desde la cuna hasta el sepulcro, en la hora feliz o en la adversa, no s&oacute;lo en las intimidades del santuario dom&eacute;stico, sino
+tambi&eacute;n en los abiertos y dilatados espacios de la vida p&uacute;blica. El hombre y la mujer han sido hechos para unirse, comprenderse
+y amarse, para estar juntos siempre a trabajar, sufrir y luchar por cuanto hay de bueno y de bello en la vida, para afirmar
+el reinado de la pareja humana sobre el planeta y hacer de &eacute;l una habitaci&oacute;n digna y feliz, libre de tiran&iacute;as y sufrimientos
+y apta para ser vivida por s&eacute;res pac&iacute;ficos e inteligentes y no por buitres y otras fieras voraces.
+
+</p>
+<p>Esta es la misi&oacute;n de la mujer y del hombre sobre la tierra tal como la comprendo y la concibo. Hasta que el hombre y la mujer
+no se encuentren en un perfecto nivel, en un plano completo de igualdad seg&uacute;n sus naturalezas respectivas de modo que pueda
+haber una comuni&oacute;n &iacute;ntima de pensamientos, afectos e intereses, la vida ser&aacute; siempre ominosa y miserable para el uno o para
+la otra, y la Humanidad no <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e606" href="#xd0e606">46</a>]</span>triunfar&aacute; de sus presentes desdichas. La criatura femenina ha salido de la mano de Dios tan perfecta como el hombre y no es
+justo privarla de ninguna de las satisfacciones y ventajas que al hombre proporcionan las ciencias, las artes y la pol&iacute;tica.
+Si la pol&iacute;tica es una noble ocupaci&oacute;n de la vida, ciencia y arte de hacer la felicidad de los pueblos, justo es que la mujer
+contribuya con cuanto quiera y con cuanto pueda a lograr esa felicidad.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iquest;Qu&eacute; duda cabe que la mujer tiene facultades, sentimientos, puntos de vista y m&eacute;todos propios para hacer las cosas, diferentes
+del hombre? &iexcl;Cu&aacute;ntas veces se ha visto que cuando un hombre no se ha atrevido a hacer una cosa se ha dejado obrar a la mujer
+para conseguirla! Ella tiene su propia personalidad y debe d&aacute;rsela, como al hombre, la libertad necesaria para que pueda desarrollarla,
+tener voz decisiva en sus intereses y destinos, tomar por su cuenta los riesgos de la vida, hacer sus propias aventuras, experimentos
+y descubrimientos en vez de que el hombre la fije invariablemente la pauta de conducta y le imponga el molde en que debe trabajar.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>La pol&iacute;tica ha dejado de ser lo que deb&iacute;a, se ha hecho demasiado masculina, se ha vuelto brutal, ego&iacute;sta, personal&iacute;sima, porque
+le ha faltado la bondad, la abnegaci&oacute;n, el altru&iacute;smo y el esp&iacute;ritu de sacrificio, que son cualidades caracter&iacute;sticas del ser
+femenino. &iquest;Por qu&eacute; no sacar ventajas de las energ&iacute;as de la mujer, de sus impulsos y modos de ver las cosas para mejorar nuestras
+pr&aacute;cticas y nuestros procedimientos en la vida p&uacute;blica? &iexcl;Qui&eacute;n sabe si la pol&iacute;tica se sanea y se purifica un poco con la presencia
+y la intervenci&oacute;n de la mujer, de la misma manera que la presencia de &eacute;sta en una reuni&oacute;n cohibe en cierto modo la licencia
+de las palabras y de la acci&oacute;n de los hombres!
+
+</p>
+<p>El monopolio ejercido por el hombre sobre las funciones p&uacute;blicas, ha sido, como otras tantas instituciones ahora desaparecidas,
+basado en la fuerza y violencia y con el fin de perpetuarlo se parapeta detr&aacute;s de la muralla de prejuicios levantada a costa
+del tiempo y del orden de cosas establecido, lanzando de all&iacute; los dardos de la s&aacute;tira y del rid&iacute;culo contra aqu&eacute;llos que demandan
+la cesaci&oacute;n de ese estado de violencia. As&iacute;, rid&iacute;culo es la m&aacute;s fuerte arma <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e614" href="#xd0e614">47</a>]</span>que ahora se esgrime contra la mujer que pretende reclamar justicia y obtener la reivindicaci&oacute;n de los derechos de su sexo,
+alguno de los cuales, como el gobierno de los pueblos, no ha sido negado ni a&uacute;n en muchas de las sociedades primitivas.
+
+</p>
+<p>Por &eacute;sto, la idea que muchos tienen de la sufragista es muy curiosa. Se la representa como una mujer que odia los quehaceres
+de la casa y est&aacute; constantemente fuera de ella, de d&iacute;a y de noche. La pintura m&aacute;s com&uacute;n es aquella en que la mujer arenga
+en una especie de asamblea a algunas de su sexo, mientras su marido se dedica a barrer la casa y entretener al beb&eacute; que llora.
+Esa es la idea que ha sido vulgarizada por los cines y revistas y la que est&aacute; fijada en la mente de las muchedumbres que no
+se paran a reflexionar elev&aacute;ndose por encima de la superficie de las cosas.
+
+</p>
+<p>Nada hay, sin embargo, m&aacute;s lejos de representar la realidad. La sufragista es una mujer, producto de nuestros tiempos de libertad;
+instru&iacute;da como el hombre, conoce y no rehuye las responsabilidades que tiene en la familia; pero a la vez esta libre de preocupaciones
+y cree sencillamente en el deber de compartir con el hombre los trabajos concernientes al mejoramiento social, al bienestar
+p&uacute;blico de la comunidad en que vive; cree que por lo mismo que en el hogar hay deberes asignados a su sexo, tiene asimismo
+deberes que desempe&ntilde;ar en la vida p&uacute;blica. En la vida dom&eacute;stica y familiar no surge ning&uacute;n conflicto entre los dos seres por
+estar repartido el trabajo entre ambos; no hay motivo tampoco para temer ning&uacute;n conflicto en la vida p&uacute;blica si se sabe asignar
+a cada sexo los deberes que le corresponden seg&uacute;n su naturaleza.
+
+</p>
+<p>La sufragista, por el hecho de serlo, no es antag&oacute;nica a los deberes de la familia, antes bien comprende que el bienestar
+de la familia es el fundamento del bienestar de la sociedad, y tiene conciencia de que las miserias y vicios sociales afectan
+a la familia y ella puede y debe acudir a remediar con el hombre esas miserias y esos vicios.
+
+</p>
+<p>&iexcl;No! la idea que se tiene de la sufragista es err&oacute;nea; y es hora de que por lo menos las personas inteligentes y <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e624" href="#xd0e624">48</a>]</span>educadas corrijan su propia impresi&oacute;n basada en prejuicios y en una mentalidad atrasada. No podemos impedir que el vulgo piense
+a la manera que pensaba hace medio siglo atr&aacute;s, pero el que muchas personas serias y por dem&aacute;s progresivas se contenten con
+la opini&oacute;n del vulgo d&aacute; idea de que aqu&iacute; no analizamos bien el fondo de las cosas y nos dejamos llevar simplemente de las
+impresiones del momento.
+
+</p>
+<p>El sufragismo es una aspiraci&oacute;n leg&iacute;tima, un ideal de nuestro siglo. Tiene su ra&iacute;z de vida en la filosof&iacute;a e instituciones
+del mundo moderno y en las condiciones cada vez m&aacute;s dif&iacute;ciles en que pone a la mujer la lucha por la existencia. Ella necesita
+protegerse y organizarse no para crear la rivalidad y armarse contra el hombre sino para ser un activo sumando en el progreso
+social y evitar ser v&iacute;ctima de la explotaci&oacute;n y de la iniquidad de los dem&aacute;s grupos sociales por su indiferencia y absentismo
+en la vida p&uacute;blica.
+
+</p>
+<p>No ser&eacute; yo, hombre de ley y legislador, quien me oponga a que esta aspiraci&oacute;n fuera satisfecha. La considero tan natural como
+el derecho a la vida y el derecho a la propia defensa. Y por ser natural no considero prematuro el que la mujer filipina reclame
+ese derecho, como ya lo han reclamado y obtenido sus cong&eacute;neres en otras partes del mundo. Me es indiferente que el grupo
+que ahora lo reclama sea peque&ntilde;o e insignificante: a&uacute;n m&aacute;s, me ser&iacute;a completamente indiferente si la mujer de este pa&iacute;s no
+lo pidiera o deseara. Para otorgar, para reconocer derechos fundamentalmente concordes con el esp&iacute;ritu de nuestras instituciones
+y con los ideales de nuestra &eacute;poca no consultar&iacute;a con qui&eacute;n tuviera opci&oacute;n de reclamarlos, los dar&iacute;a, los conceder&iacute;a porque
+es de justicia y es el plan de Dios que se realice la justicia en el tiempo y en el espacio. No soy juez sino legislador y
+mi primer deber es dictar la justicia, no administrarla, no esperar que haya qui&eacute;n la pida y qui&eacute;n se oponga a ella.
+
+</p>
+<p>Me satisface que haya un grupo de mujeres que representando la aspiraci&oacute;n de todas las de su sexo, se atrevan a acercarse
+a las gradas de nuestra Legislatura para llamar la atenci&oacute;n sobre una falta en nuestros estatutos. Esto me indica que ha nacido
+y se ha revelado la conciencia de ese derecho en la mujer filipina y no necesito m&aacute;s; no necesito <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e632" href="#xd0e632">49</a>]</span>contar el n&uacute;mero y la clase de las que est&aacute;n en esa condici&oacute;n. Rizal en su tiempo al abogar por los derechos pol&iacute;ticos de
+nuestra raza, estaba con muy pocos compa&ntilde;eros; en la mayor&iacute;a de sus compatriotas, la conciencia de esos derechos estaba dormida.
+Pero mentir&iacute;a y errar&iacute;a qui&eacute;n dijera que a&uacute;n en aquel tiempo la voz de Rizal no representaba la causa de toda su raza y porque
+&eacute;l y los que con &eacute;l trabajaban eran muy pocos, no debia prestarse atenci&oacute;n a sus demandas. El sab&iacute;a en conciencia que su patria
+estaba oprimida, que defend&iacute;a una causa justa, que abogaba por los derechos de sus conciudadanos y no se paraba a reflexionar
+si sus conciudadanos ten&iacute;an o no la conciencia de sus derechos.
+
+</p>
+<p>Estoy satisfecho, por esto, de que las pocas mujeres que ahora hablan de los derechos de su sexo y reclaman el sufragio representan
+a las dem&aacute;s mujeres filipinas, a no ser que queramos inferir el insulto de decir que las mujeres de este pa&iacute;s est&aacute;n privadas
+de sentido com&uacute;n para oponerse o rehusar la concesi&oacute;n de derechos que pueden ensanchar sus medios de vida y sus actividades
+dentro de la sociedad. Importa poco que la aspiraci&oacute;n al sufragismo aparezca en su estado inicial o tenga la forma vaga de
+una proposici&oacute;n no definida y concreta: desde el momento en que ha apuntado esa aspiraci&oacute;n, para mi es que ha brotado la semilla
+a flor de tierra y es in&uacute;til ahogarla, pues volver&aacute; a brotar. Cuanto m&aacute;s retrasemos la concesi&oacute;n del sufragio femenino ser&iacute;a
+tanto m&aacute;s en nuestro da&ntilde;o, porque es lo mismo que impedir que la semilla de ahora se convierta en planta y d&eacute; a su saz&oacute;n apetitosos
+frutos.
+
+</p>
+<p>No, nuestro pa&iacute;s no necesita imitar la lentitud con que han procedido las viejas naciones en reconocer los derechos de la
+mujer. No tenemos sus tradiciones, no tenemos sus preocupaciones para ir por lentas evoluciones y no por s&uacute;bitas revoluciones.
+Debemos admitir todas las revoluciones pac&iacute;ficas de ideas que condensan, como el vapor la gota de lluvia, una f&oacute;rmula de justicia
+social. Lo mismo que admitimos los &uacute;ltimos inventos en mec&aacute;nica, industria y artes, los automobiles, las maquinarias centrales,
+los aeroplanos, debemos admitir los &uacute;ltimos progresos en instituciones sociales y pol&iacute;ticas de las sociedades m&aacute;s avanzadas.
+
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e638" href="#xd0e638">50</a>]</span></p>
+<p>El sufragio femenino encierra un fondo de justicia, de reivindicaci&oacute;n para la aptitud de la mujer moderna y debemos enseguida
+adoptarla sin necesidad de pasar por procesos innecesarios. La libertad de cultos que engendr&oacute; la tolerancia religiosa, el
+sufragio popular que vigoriz&oacute; nuestra conciencia colectiva, la escuela libre que emancip&oacute; nuestras masas de la tutela de los
+caciques, todas las conquistas de la democracia de que nos enorgullecemos no ser&iacute;an realidades hermosas, llenas de sazonados
+frutos, en estos d&iacute;as, si hubi&eacute;semos tenido que hacer tanteos y dar pasos vacilantes antes de incorporarlos s&uacute;bitamente a
+nuestra vida social y pol&iacute;tica. Tenemos que movernos de prisa y anticiparnos a las horas vagas aspiraciones de las masas femeninas
+para ahorrarnos de ese modo agitaciones que al fin habr&iacute;an de sobrevenir y cuya justicia se ha de reconocer m&aacute;s tarde.
+
+</p>
+<p>Cuando se dice que nuestro estado social no est&aacute; preparado para el sufragismo, que la mujer no est&aacute; suficientemente educada
+para ejercer sus derechos pol&iacute;ticos, quiero preguntar si es que hemos necesitado decir lo mismo cuando importamos e implantamos
+en &eacute;ste pa&iacute;s las instituciones democr&aacute;ticas que son la base y el fundamento de nuestra sociedad actual. Nuestra educaci&oacute;n
+tradicional era enteramente contraria al sistema popular de gobierno y hemos adoptado &eacute;ste por considerarlo mejor que el otro,
+m&aacute;s adecuado a nuestros intereses y a los ideales del siglo, sin preguntarnos si est&aacute;bamos preparados y educados suficientemente
+para ello.
+
+</p>
+<p>Hace m&aacute;s de veinte a&ntilde;os que la escuela libre ha abierto sus puertas a la mujer del pueblo, la educaci&oacute;n se ha extendido entre
+ellas en la misma proporci&oacute;n que entre los hombres, muchas de las mujeres que han producido nuestras escuelas son ya ahora
+esposas o madres y todav&iacute;a estamos pregunt&aacute;ndonos si la mujer filipina ha llegado o no a la madurez necesaria para poder ser
+investida de sus privilegios pol&iacute;ticos. No creo que se pretenda exigir que todas ellas sean doctoras y bachilleres antes de
+concederlas el sufragio.
+
+</p>
+<p>La educaci&oacute;n pol&iacute;tica no se adquiere m&aacute;s que educ&aacute;ndose como no se llega a saber nadar m&aacute;s que nadando. El argumento <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e647" href="#xd0e647">51</a>]</span>de la falta de preparaci&oacute;n suficiente de la mujer filipina favorece y justifica la posici&oacute;n intelectual de los imperialistas
+de una metr&oacute;poli que no encuentran a una colonia jam&aacute;s preparada o educada suficientemente para recibir sus derechos sober&aacute;nicos.
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Cuando el otro d&iacute;a sub&iacute; a un hidroplano para experimentar la sensaci&oacute;n de un viaje por las <span class="corr" id="xd0e651" title="Source: altura">alturas</span>, ten&iacute;a&#8212;&iquest;como no decirlo?&#8212;cierta aprensi&oacute;n, algo as&iacute; como un vago temor a lo desconocido, a lo nuevo, pero pasados los primeros
+momentos con felicidad me sent&iacute; perfectamente confortado y dichoso de sondear los espacios y escudri&ntilde;ar los magn&iacute;ficos paisajes
+que se presentan a los ojos desde la altura. &iexcl;Oh, que hermosura nadar en la luz, cabalgar sobre las nubes y el viento, divisar
+el panorama de las ciudades, de las viviendas humanas como un mapa de relieve sobre el fondo de cristal de las aguas, cruzar
+distancias enormes en minutos, en instantes de un modo imperceptible, emular en todo al p&aacute;jaro y como el p&aacute;jaro aterrizar
+de repente sin fatiga y sin sufrimiento! Una vez terminado el viaje es cuando comprend&iacute; que mi aprensi&oacute;n y mi temor carec&iacute;an
+de fundamento, que no envolv&iacute;a m&aacute;s riesgos el volar por los aires en un aeroplano como el correr a campo traviesa en un automovil
+y me hice cargo de las innumerables ventajas que se pueden sacar de este aparato, producto tambi&eacute;n de nuestros tiempos, destinado
+a revolucionar no s&oacute;lo los medios de guerra sino tambi&eacute;n las artes de la paz.
+
+</p>
+<p>Lo mismo pasa con las nuevas f&oacute;rmulas, con las innovaciones en el orden moral y pol&iacute;tico. No se las adopta sin ese instintivo
+temor, esa vaga aprensi&oacute;n que produce lo nuevo y lo desconocido. Se oye hablar mucho de sus peligros e inconvenientes para
+el orden establecido. Se cree poco menos que se desquiciar&iacute;an las esferas del firmamento y que el eje del mundo se romper&iacute;a
+en pedazos. Luego, despu&eacute;s que la innovaci&oacute;n se ha admitido, se encuentra que parece lo m&aacute;s natural y l&oacute;gico porque las cosas
+siguen su curso normal, las estrellas ruedan y brillan lo mismo que antes en el azul y las monta&ntilde;as altas no se vienen abajo.
+Se sienten renacer el &aacute;nimo y la esperanza, las muchedumbres se avienen con el nuevo estado de cosas y los m&aacute;s recalcitrantes
+se lastimar&iacute;an si se les propusiera que se <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e656" href="#xd0e656">52</a>]</span>volviese el antiguo estado. As&iacute; ha ocurrido en nuestro pa&iacute;s. As&iacute; se ha hecho siempre el progreso y as&iacute; marchar&aacute; siempre par
+nuevos caminos.
+
+</p>
+<p>Es preciso que tomemos la resoluci&oacute;n de vencer nuestros temores y escr&uacute;pulos. Si habl&aacute;ramos del aeroplano solamente por el
+n&uacute;mero de aviadores que han perecido, no admitiriamos nunca esa invenci&oacute;n. Es preciso que nos embarquemos en &eacute;l para probarnos
+a nosotros mismos que nuestros temores y preocupaciones carecen de fundamento. No hay que perder de vista que el sufragismo
+no es una cosa nueva en el mundo, ya no es un experimento sino un hecho y ha tomado carta de naturaleza en algunos paises.
+Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Del mismo modo que para conocer las ventajas de este aparato no vamos a preguntar a
+los que nunca han viajado con &eacute;l sino a los que han hecho experiencias con el mismo, as&iacute; tambi&eacute;n para conocer las ventajas
+del sufragismo no debemos dar cr&eacute;dito a los que lo combaten por principios y teor&iacute;as sino a los paises que han hecho experimentos
+con &eacute;l y han probado ya sus resultados. El hecho que debemos anotar es que el sufragismo cunde con mayor fuerza cada d&iacute;a y
+se va generalizando en los paises en que se ha admitido. Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Por consiguiente, as&iacute; como
+ser&iacute;a perfectamente rid&iacute;culo en estos momentos declamar contra el aeroplano, por los riesgos y accidentes que pueden ocurrir
+y ser&iacute;a est&uacute;pido no seguir los pasos de otros gobiernos que utilizan sus ventajas, para la defensa o la agresi&oacute;n en caso de
+guerra o para abreviar las comunicaciones interiores en tiempos de paz, asimismo me parece rid&iacute;culo, sino insensato, combatir
+el sufragismo en el terreno especulativo o m&aacute;s bien hipot&eacute;tico y no tomar la experiencia de otros paises como gu&iacute;a de nuestra
+conducta haciendo que el sufragismo forme parte de nuestras modernas costumbres e instituciones.
+
+</p>
+<p>Quisiera, para terminar, citar algunos extractos, pertinentes a este asunto, de un discurso que pronunci&eacute; en una velada celebrada
+en el Opera House y dedicado a Rizal por varios colegios de se&ntilde;oritas en 1913:
+
+
+</p>
+<div class="blockquote">
+<p>Se ha cre&iacute;do que la mujer debe reducir toda su esfera de acci&oacute;n al hogar a la vida dom&eacute;stica, ser absolutamente la gloria
+y el encanto <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e665" href="#xd0e665">53</a>]</span>de su esposo y de sus hijos; y no es as&iacute;, pues que la mujer tanto como el hombre, nace en la sociedad y vive dentro de ella,
+y no puede, no debe ser indiferente a las miser&iacute;as y las desgracias sociales. Pensar de otro modo ser&iacute;a ego&iacute;smo y aberraci&oacute;n,
+y dejar&iacute;a a la sociedad abandonada a muchos sufrimientos que solo la mano bendita de la mujer puede curar o acallar al menos.
+Bien haya que la mujer sea en su casa amor y ensue&ntilde;o, gloria y felicidad; pero tambi&eacute;n m&aacute;s all&aacute; de los muros de su hogar debe
+cumplir su misi&oacute;n divina y hacer llegar a todos el secreto tesoro de bondad y dulzura de que la ha provisto la buena providencia.
+As&iacute; como en el hogar comparte con el hombre los deberes de la vida, as&iacute; fuera de &eacute;l, en la vida p&uacute;blica, debe compartir con
+el hombre la responsabilidad de remediar y de aliviar las desdichas p&uacute;blicas.
+
+</p>
+<hr class="tb"><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>La beneficiencia, la caridad, la moral, por algo, tienen nombres femeninos: y es a la mujer a quien corresponde el ejercicio
+de todas esas virtudes en el seno de la sociedad. Ella debe tomar parte, si es que no debe iniciar en todos los casos, toda
+propaganda y toda acci&oacute;n que tienda a amparar la orfandad, a socorrer la indigencia, a elevar la idea de la moralidad p&uacute;blica.
+Ella debe luchar y sufrir, en medio de la sociedad en que vive por cuanto hay de femenino en la vida para calmar con un bello
+gesto de piedad la furiosa contienda que se libra por la existencia, y durar con el m&aacute;gico esplendor de su cari&ntilde;osa mirada
+la noche eterna del humano dolor. La patria necesita no s&oacute;lo la fuerza de los hombres, sino tambi&eacute;n la piedad, la caridad
+de las mujeres; no s&oacute;lo requiere h&eacute;roes, sino tambi&eacute;n hero&iacute;nas. Y las hay, y las ha habido siempre en la historia de la humanidad:
+y las hay y las ha habido en esta nuestra tierra, cuyo especial privilegio consiste, en sentir de graves autores extranjeros,
+en que sus mujeres son superiores a los hombres.
+
+</p>
+<hr class="tb"><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>Y estas ni&ntilde;as de hoy que adoran en Rizal y que le dedican sus cantos y oraciones, ma&ntilde;ana se convertir&aacute;n en las ciudadanas,
+que no ser&aacute;n, como la infeliz Maria Clara, v&iacute;ctimas de las injusticias sociales, sino reparadoras de ellas, y sublimes propagadoras
+del bien, de la virtud de la gloria y grandeza de su patria.
+</p>
+</div><p>
+
+
+</p>
+<p>S&iacute;; abrigo esa esperanza, tengo f&eacute; en la libertad de la mujer. No puede permanecer una mitad de la humanidad en la parte superior
+y otra mitad en la parte inferior de la escala sin producirse desequilibrios, l&aacute;grimas y sufrimientos. Todos tienden a nivelarse
+en la vida como todos se nivelan en la muerte. La humanidad ha descubierto una nueva luz y su antorcha iluminar&aacute; aunque los
+errores y preocupaciones de los hombres se empe&ntilde;en en cubrirla de tinieblas. &iexcl;Ay de los que resistan la luz! El mundo marcha,
+<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd0e678" href="#xd0e678">54</a>]</span>no se detiene en su progreso. Los que quieran quedar atr&aacute;s se quedar&aacute;n porque es dado a los seres humanos ese albedr&iacute;o, pero
+ser&aacute; para lamentar m&aacute;s tarde su culpa y su retraso.
+
+</p>
+<p>No me es dado vaticinar la suerte que cabr&aacute; a los esfuerzos presentes que hacen las mujeres filipinas para obtener el sufragio;
+s&eacute; sin embargo que sus esfuerzos deben ser para ellas y para nosotros un motivo de orgullo y de honor porque indican que ninguna
+parte de nuestro pueblo es insensible a los grandes movimientos del siglo. Hay algunos que se mofar&aacute;n de ellas, muchos que
+se encoger&aacute;n de hombros, pero las mujeres no deben desalentarse por eso, porque ni la mofa ni el encogimiento de hombros son
+razones de peso. Alg&uacute;n d&iacute;a les dar&aacute;n la raz&oacute;n esos mismos que ahora se r&iacute;en y se encogen de hombros ignorando probablemente
+la marcha del mundo y la de su propia sociedad, como aquellos que se burlaron de Rizal en su tiempo han lamentado su error
+muy tarde y le han completamente justificado y vindicado.
+
+</p>
+<p>Lo que necesitamos es hacer la luz y propagar las nuevas doctrinas para que las acepten las conciencias que no se niegan voluntariamente
+a reconocer la justicia y la verdad, &uacute;nicos e inconmovibles fundamentos sobre los que descansan la estabilidad y el bienestar
+de las sociedades civilizadas.
+
+
+
+
+<div class="back">
+<div class="transcribernote">
+<h2>Colophon</h2>
+<h3>Availability</h3>
+<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give
+it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/">www.gutenberg.org</a>.
+
+</p>
+<p>This eBook is produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a href="https://www.pgdp.net/">www.pgdp.net</a>.
+
+</p>
+<h3>Encoding</h3>
+<p></p>
+<h3>Revision History</h3>
+<ol class="lsoff">
+<li>2008-02-20 Started.
+
+</li>
+</ol>
+<h3>External References</h3>
+<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These links may not work for you.</p>
+<h3>Corrections</h3>
+<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p>
+<table width="75%">
+<tr>
+<th>Location</th>
+<th>Source</th>
+<th>Correction</th>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e138">Page 4</a></td>
+<td width="40%">mathemathics</td>
+<td width="40%">mathematics</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e141">Page 4</a></td>
+<td width="40%">beatiful</td>
+<td width="40%">beautiful</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e146">Page 4</a></td>
+<td width="40%">woman</td>
+<td width="40%">women</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e169">Page 6</a></td>
+<td width="40%">patrotic</td>
+<td width="40%">patriotic</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e203">Page 10</a></td>
+<td width="40%">even</td>
+<td width="40%">ever</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e228">Page 13</a></td>
+<td width="40%">and</td>
+<td width="40%">an</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e241">Page 14</a></td>
+<td width="40%">woman</td>
+<td width="40%">women</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e244">Page 14</a></td>
+<td width="40%">.</td>
+<td width="40%">,</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e255">Page 15</a></td>
+<td width="40%">woman</td>
+<td width="40%">women</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e258">Page 15</a></td>
+<td width="40%">of</td>
+<td width="40%">on</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e261">Page 15</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&#8221;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e268">Page 16</a></td>
+<td width="40%">possess</td>
+<td width="40%">possesses</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e273">Page 16</a></td>
+<td width="40%">archtype</td>
+<td width="40%">archetype</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e304">Page 20</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">,</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e348">Page 25</a></td>
+<td width="40%">government</td>
+<td width="40%">governments</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e369">Page 26</a></td>
+<td width="40%">desequilibrium</td>
+<td width="40%">disequilibrium</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e455">Page 33</a></td>
+<td width="40%">debe</td>
+<td width="40%">deben</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e460">Page 33</a></td>
+<td width="40%">socidades</td>
+<td width="40%">sociedades</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e471">Page 34</a></td>
+<td width="40%">fe</td>
+<td width="40%">f&eacute;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e477">Page 34</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iexcl;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e484">Page 35</a></td>
+<td width="40%">cong&eacute;n&iacute;ta</td>
+<td width="40%">cong&eacute;nita</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e491">Page 35</a></td>
+<td width="40%">,</td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Deleted</i>]
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e499">Page 36</a></td>
+<td width="40%">s&eacute;r</td>
+<td width="40%">ser</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e504">Page 36</a></td>
+<td width="40%">los</td>
+<td width="40%">las</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e512">Page 37</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e515">Page 37</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e518">Page 37</a></td>
+<td width="40%">religiosas</td>
+<td width="40%">religiosos</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e521">Page 37</a></td>
+<td width="40%">&Eacute;llas</td>
+<td width="40%">Ellas</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e544">Page 40</a></td>
+<td width="40%">t&aacute;reas</td>
+<td width="40%">tareas</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e564">Page 42</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e567">Page 42</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e570">Page 42</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e574">Page 42</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e579">Page 43</a></td>
+<td width="40%">
+[<i>Not in source</i>]
+
+</td>
+<td width="40%">&iquest;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e587">Page 43</a></td>
+<td width="40%">condicci&oacute;n</td>
+<td width="40%">condici&oacute;n</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td width="20%"><a href="#xd0e651">Page 51</a></td>
+<td width="40%">altura</td>
+<td width="40%">alturas</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+***** This file should be named 26699-h.htm or 26699-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/9/26699/
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/26699-page-images/f0001.png b/26699-page-images/f0001.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6381acf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/f0001.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0003.png b/26699-page-images/p0003.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..635b4e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0003.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0004.png b/26699-page-images/p0004.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b400700
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0004.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0005.png b/26699-page-images/p0005.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea78929
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0005.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0006.png b/26699-page-images/p0006.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08ec0cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0006.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0007.png b/26699-page-images/p0007.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b569660
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0007.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0008.png b/26699-page-images/p0008.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d02a74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0008.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0009.png b/26699-page-images/p0009.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aed49e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0009.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0010.png b/26699-page-images/p0010.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc7447b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0010.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0011.png b/26699-page-images/p0011.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ed04d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0011.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0012.png b/26699-page-images/p0012.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bc067b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0012.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0013.png b/26699-page-images/p0013.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3ec212
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0013.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0014.png b/26699-page-images/p0014.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb6ffe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0014.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0015.png b/26699-page-images/p0015.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f90bef8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0015.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0016.png b/26699-page-images/p0016.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae572fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0016.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0017.png b/26699-page-images/p0017.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5003eff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0017.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0018.png b/26699-page-images/p0018.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..724ce03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0018.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0019.png b/26699-page-images/p0019.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c27fa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0019.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0020.png b/26699-page-images/p0020.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..001f008
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0020.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0021.png b/26699-page-images/p0021.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78a887b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0021.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0022.png b/26699-page-images/p0022.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39464b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0022.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0023.png b/26699-page-images/p0023.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f5d4a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0023.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0024.png b/26699-page-images/p0024.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ddc5806
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0024.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0025.png b/26699-page-images/p0025.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e74fece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0025.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0026.png b/26699-page-images/p0026.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85ada11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0026.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0027.png b/26699-page-images/p0027.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13b6e8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0027.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0028.png b/26699-page-images/p0028.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c77975f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0028.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0029.png b/26699-page-images/p0029.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7feeb8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0029.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0031.png b/26699-page-images/p0031.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb29edb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0031.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0032.png b/26699-page-images/p0032.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..349fb30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0032.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0033.png b/26699-page-images/p0033.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b42493d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0033.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0034.png b/26699-page-images/p0034.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55ea666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0034.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0035.png b/26699-page-images/p0035.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e950ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0035.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0036.png b/26699-page-images/p0036.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6468b4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0036.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0037.png b/26699-page-images/p0037.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd249e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0037.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0038.png b/26699-page-images/p0038.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0bc38f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0038.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0039.png b/26699-page-images/p0039.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9935dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0039.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0040.png b/26699-page-images/p0040.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a502023
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0040.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0041.png b/26699-page-images/p0041.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfde1fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0041.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0042.png b/26699-page-images/p0042.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a51f70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0042.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0043.png b/26699-page-images/p0043.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5febc4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0043.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0044.png b/26699-page-images/p0044.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3653899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0044.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0045.png b/26699-page-images/p0045.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cddb56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0045.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0046.png b/26699-page-images/p0046.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5ff9e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0046.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0047.png b/26699-page-images/p0047.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70b1274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0047.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0048.png b/26699-page-images/p0048.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03967b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0048.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0049.png b/26699-page-images/p0049.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d19802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0049.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0050.png b/26699-page-images/p0050.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8f7f63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0050.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0051.png b/26699-page-images/p0051.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64522c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0051.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0052.png b/26699-page-images/p0052.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..775db84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0052.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0053.png b/26699-page-images/p0053.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa65c65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0053.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0054.png b/26699-page-images/p0054.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..084f47f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0054.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0055.png b/26699-page-images/p0055.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0f0363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0055.png
diff --git a/26699-page-images/p0056.png b/26699-page-images/p0056.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcc2085
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699-page-images/p0056.png
diff --git a/26699.txt b/26699.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dea0ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2328 @@
+Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Woman and the Right to Vote
+
+Author: Rafael Palma
+
+Release Date: September 24, 2008 [EBook #26699]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                           Philippine Senate
+                      Fifth Philippine Legislature
+                             First Session
+                    The Woman and the Right to Vote
+
+
+                          Address Delivered By
+
+                           Hon. Rafael Palma
+                    Senator for the Fourth District
+
+  In support of Bill No. 23 of the Senate in the sessions held by said
+               body on the 22d and 25th of November, 1919
+
+
+
+                                 Manila
+                           Bureau of Printing
+                                  1919
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE
+
+
+Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate:
+
+I have seldom felt so proud of being a representative of the people
+as now, when it gives me an opportunity to advocate a cause which can
+not be represented or defended in this chamber by those directly and
+particularly affected by it, owing to the leven of prejudice that the
+beliefs and ideas of the past have left in the mind of modern man. The
+cause of female suffrage is one sure to strike a sympathetic chord
+in every unprejudiced man, because it represents the cause of the
+weak who, deprived of the means to defend themselves, are compelled
+to throw themselves upon the mercy of the strong.
+
+But it is not on this account alone that this cause has my sympathy and
+appeals to me. It has, besides, the irresistible attraction of truth
+and justice, which no open and liberal mind can deny. If our action
+as legislators must be inspired by the eternal sources of right,
+if the laws passed here must comply with the divine precept to give
+everybody his due, then we can not deny woman the right to vote,
+because to do otherwise would be to prove false to all the precepts
+and achievements of democracy and liberty which have made this century
+what may be properly called the century of vindication.
+
+Female suffrage is a reform demanded by the social conditions of our
+times, by the high culture of woman, and by the aspiration of all
+classes of society to organize and work for the interests they have
+in common. We can not detain the celestial bodies in their course;
+neither can we check any of those moral movements that gravitate with
+irresistible force towards their center of attraction: Justice. The
+moral world is governed by the same laws as the physical world, and
+all the power of man being impotent to suppress a single molecule of
+the spaces required for the gravitation of the universe, it is still
+less able to prevent the generation of the ideas that take shape in the
+mind and strive to attain to fruition in the field of life and reality.
+
+It is an interesting phenomenon that whenever an attempt is made
+to introduce a social reform, in accordance with modern ideas and
+tendencies and in contradiction with old beliefs and prejudices,
+there is never a lack of opposition, based on the maintenance of the
+_statu quo_, which it is desired to preserve at any cost. As was to be
+expected, the eternal calamity howlers and false prophets of evil raise
+their fatidical voices on this present occasion, in protest against
+female suffrage, invoking the sanctity of the home and the necessity
+of perpetuating customs that have been observed for many years.
+
+Frankly speaking, I have no patience with people who voice such
+objections. If this country had not been one of the few privileged
+places on our planet where the experiment of a sudden change of
+institutions and ideals has been carried on most successfully,
+without paralyzation or retrogression, disorganization or destruction,
+I would say that the apprehension and fears of those who oppose this
+innovation might be justified.
+
+However, in less than a generation our country, shaken to its very
+foundations by the great social upheavals known as revolutions,
+has seen its old institutions crumble to pieces and other, entirely
+new institutions rise in their place; it has seen theories, beliefs,
+and codes of ethics, theretofore looked upon as immovable, give way
+to different principles and methods based upon democracy and liberty,
+and despite all those upheavals and changes which have brought about a
+radical modification in its social and political structure, or rather
+in consequence of the same, our people has become a people with modern
+thoughts and modern ideals, with a constitution sufficiently robust
+and strong to withstand the ravages of the struggle for existence,
+instead of remaining a sickly and atrophied organism, afraid of
+everything new and opposed to material struggles from fear of the
+wrath of Heaven and from a passive desire to live in an ideal state
+of peace and well-being.
+
+In view of the fruitful results which those institutions of liberty
+and democracy have brought to our country; and considering the
+marked progress made by us, thanks to these same institutions, in
+all the orders of national life, in spite of a few reactionists and
+ultra-conservatives, who hold opinions to the contrary and regret the
+past, I do not and can not, understand how there still are serious
+people who seriously object to the granting of female suffrage,
+one of the most vivid aspirations now agitating modern society.
+
+I remember very well that in the past, not so very long ago, the same
+apprehension and fears were felt with regard to higher education for
+our women. How ridiculous--the same people argued--is it for woman
+to study history, mathematics, philosophy, and chemistry, which are
+not only superior to the assimilating power of her deficient brain,
+but will make her presumptuous and arrogant and convert her into
+a hybrid being without grace or strength, intolerable and fatuous,
+with a beautiful, but empty head and a big, but dry heart! However,
+we admitted the women to our high schools and universities and made
+it possible for them to attain to the degree of bachelor of arts
+and graduate in law, medicine, and other professions. Can it be said
+that those women have perverted the homes of their parents or that,
+when they married, they were a source of disgrace or scandal to their
+husbands? We are now able to observe the results, and if these results
+are found to be detrimental to the social and political welfare of
+the country, it is our duty to undo what we have done and to return
+to where we were before.
+
+Fortunately, nobody would think of such a thing. From the most
+cultured centers of population to the remotest villages, public opinion
+fervently approves and applauds the education of women, and even the
+most backward peasants send their daughters to the cities and go to the
+greatest sacrifices imaginable in order to make it possible for them to
+ascend to the highest pinnacles of knowledge. Though ignorant rustics,
+they reason in their own rude way that woman and man are made of the
+same clay, and refuse to believe that because it has been their fate
+to have daughters instead of sons, they must condemn them to bear the
+chains of ignorance, incapacitating them from being useful to their
+families, society, and their country.
+
+Education has not atrophied or impaired any of the fundamental
+faculties of woman; on the contrary, it has enhanced and enriched
+them. Far from being a constant charge to the family, the educated
+woman has often been its sustain and support in times of great
+need. The educated woman has not become a blue-stocking, that fatuous
+creature imagined by certain elements, nor has she lost any of her
+feminine charms by being able to argue and discuss on every subject
+with the men. On the contrary, it seems to lend her an additional
+grace and charm, because she understands us better and can make
+herself better understood. Thank God, people are no longer ready to
+cast ridicule upon what some used to consider the foolish presumption
+of women to know as much as the men, and this is doubtless due to the
+fact that the disastrous results predicted by the calamity howlers,
+the terrible prophets of failure, have not materialized.
+
+Very well; if you allow the instruction and education of woman
+in all the branches of science, you must allow woman to take on
+her place not only in domestic life, but also in social and public
+life. Instruction and education have a twofold purpose; individually,
+they redeem the human intellect from the perils of ignorance, and
+socially they prepare man and woman for the proper performance of
+their duties of citizenship. A person is not educated exclusively for
+his or her own good, but principally to be useful and of service to
+the others. Nothing is more dangerous to society than the educated
+man who thinks only of himself, because his education enables him to
+do more harm and to sacrifice everybody else to his convenience or
+personal ambition. The real object of education is public service,
+that is, to utilize the knowledge one has acquired for the benefit
+and improvement of the society in which one is living.
+
+In societies, therefore, where woman is admitted to all the
+professions and where no source of knowledge is barred to her,
+woman must necessarily and logically be allowed to take a part in
+the public life, otherwise, her education would be incomplete or
+society would commit an injustice towards her, giving her the means
+to educate herself and then depriving her of the necessary power to
+use that education for the benefit of society and collective progress.
+
+I can not resist this conclusion. If woman is given equal opportunities
+with man for educating herself; if she is encouraged to learn and
+study the knowledge of the world and of life, it is but just that the
+doors of public life should be thrown open to her in order to allow
+her to play in it the part to which she is entitled.
+
+In backward societies, woman is taught only such knowledge as she
+requires for the home; that is, she is unconsciously prepared for that
+gentle, that charming slavery so pleasing to the masculine sex. The
+question now before us is what system we shall adopt for our women:
+whether slavery and ignorance, or liberty and education.
+
+Female suffrage is the consequence of the education of woman; it is
+also the consequence of her liberty of conscience. The vote is the
+expression of political faith, just as worship is the expression of
+religious faith. There is no more reason for keeping woman from the
+ballot box than there is for preventing her from going to church.
+
+There is no reason why suffrage should be a privilege of sex,
+considering that the duties of citizenship rest as heavily upon woman
+as upon man. Is woman under less obligation to strive for the welfare
+and future of her country because she is a woman? To attempt to curtail
+the activity of woman in public life is tantamount to declaring that a
+woman must not love her country and must not dedicate any of her time
+to her duties of citizenship; that she must not feel the affection
+and devotion which the idea of native land and community awaken in
+every well-born creature.
+
+Physical barrenness is combated and looked upon as a misfortune in
+woman; but we condemn her to a perpetual political barrenness, to
+patriotic barrenness, if we keep her away from exercising the right of
+suffrage which affords the citizen the most effective means to make
+his influence felt in social questions and in the improvement of the
+public affairs. How are we to inculcate in our children, that sacred
+pledge of the future of the nation, the cult and worship of native land
+and liberty if we do not give their mothers that practical education
+involved in the exercise of the right of suffrage; if they are taught
+that government and politics are strange gods at whose shrines they
+are forbidden to worship; if they feel upon themselves the stigma of
+inferiority, of being incapacitated from speaking to their children
+about the public affairs and the interests of the nation and the State?
+
+All social classes are entitled to representation in the legislative
+houses and are thus enabled to work for legislation favoring their
+interests: the merchants, the laborers, the manufacturers, all can
+choose one of their own number; but the women, who are not merely one
+group or class, but a collection of groups or classes, who represent
+one-half of the country and have interests of their own to defend,
+not only with relation to their sex, but also with relation to their
+position in the family, are not allowed to vote and are therefore
+not permitted to have representatives to promote and defend laws
+and measures necessary for their protection and betterment. Is this
+just? Is this even moral? Female labor can be exploited in shop and
+factory; feminine virtue can be made the object of commerce, and yet
+woman is not allowed to defend directly the interests of her sex,
+owing to one of those aberrations of the moral sense that spring from
+the crass egoism and brutal tyranny of man.
+
+If woman were at least exempt from complying with the laws! But no;
+the law binds the woman as well as the man; the Penal Code menaces man
+and woman alike with the sword of justice, and the burden of taxation
+rests upon both the masculine and the feminine wealth. Consequently,
+before the law, their duties are the same, but their rights are not.
+
+Is it not strange that our laws should contain so much social injustice
+towards woman, so much exasperating discrimination, all based upon the
+theory of the servile dependency of woman upon man, resulting from her
+congenital mental and physical inferiority? Moebius is incarnated in
+our Codes, governs our policy, and influences all the customs  and
+usages of our social and political life, to such a point that we
+ought to be ashamed that in the midst of this era of vindication,
+when all classes have secured their right to liberty and equality,
+woman has been kept indefinitely upon the same level as in the
+centuries of subjection and slavery.
+
+True democracy can not exist with one-half of the people free and
+the other half in a stage of slavery, with one-half of the people
+with representation in the public affairs and the other half without
+it. The people does not consist of men alone, but of women as well,
+and conditions being equal, woman should have the same political
+rights as man. She should, at least, have those fundamental rights the
+exercise of which, like that of the right to vote, requires nothing
+but intelligence and capacity, in order that she may have some voice
+in the decision of her own destiny and may herself fight the battles
+for her honor, her liberty, and other rights neglected or ignored by
+man on account of the undisputed monopoly exercised by him over the
+public affairs.
+
+The injustices and social and juridical discriminations contained in
+our codes will not be eliminated in a radical manner and the condition
+of woman will not improve while man alone legislates and controls
+all the spheres of public life, dictating to woman what she must do
+and what she must not do; and woman will be incompetent to take care
+of her own interests and shape her own life so long as she does not
+look higher, so long as she consents to the superiority of man and
+believes that her lot is simply that of serving and pleasing man
+in bed and home, instead of being his true helpmate and companion,
+for the progress and felicity of the human race.
+
+All arguments that are or may be adduced against female suffrage
+tend invariably towards these two objects: the confinement of woman
+to the home and the perpetuation of her civil and political slavery.
+
+Woman must busy herself with nothing but her household duties and
+must live only for her husband and her children; she has her hands
+full from the rising to the setting sun if she manages the cook,
+cleans the house, and mends the clothes: this is the great argument
+of the partisans of the old regime. Another is, that it is not in the
+nature of things that woman should struggle with man in the battle
+of public life; that if she enters that struggle, man will cease to
+look upon her as a being to be worshipped, as a sacred idol at whose
+feet he must kneel, and will see in her a rival to be combated and
+overcome, for his own preservation, and woman will not only drag the
+pure flower of her virtue into the mire of political life, but will
+lose the esteem, respect, and consideration now tributed to her.
+
+I have the most profound respect for all men and women who honestly
+believe this to be the case. It is not their fault that they believe
+that what has always been so is the best. They do not realize that
+life is motion and that the new elements of life and character which
+are being imperceptibly introduced into society demand changes and
+innovations. Society can not become stagnant, otherwise it runs the
+risk of becoming like stagnant water, which generates pestilential
+miasma. The theory that woman exists for the home alone has been a
+dead issue for some time past. Woman has quietly taken her place in
+public life and aids and directs man, even though he may not notice
+it and may not recognize her right to do so. In modern society, woman
+participates in the direction of public charity and in the education of
+the children, she practises law and medicine, engages in literary and
+journalistic pursuits, occupies many public offices, and takes interest
+and cooperates in the suppression of social vice and suffering.
+
+Who does not admit that woman has duties towards her home and her
+husband and children to which she must ordinarily give the preference
+over all other duties? However, does this exclude the performance of
+other duties towards God, her neighbor, and the State? Like man, woman
+has many duties to perform, and the true merit lies in the orderly and
+complete performance of these duties. Does not the Filipina dedicate
+part of her time, sometimes a very considerable part, to the church
+and to her so-called social duties, receiving and making calls and
+attending celebrations, theaters, and balls?
+
+Has anybody ever complained against this? Has woman ever been
+criticised for her assiduous attendance of the religious services and
+the public performance of her religious duties in crowded churches,
+in the public streets, filled with tumultuous throngs of people,
+marching in a procession behind some saint, jostled about and
+exposed to disagreeable incidents, which she bears with resignation
+because she suffers them for the cause of the public confession of
+her faith? Our women go not only to church, but to the theater and to
+popular entertainments and celebrations, where they may show off their
+elegant dresses and satisfy their feminine curiosity. In all this we
+see no pitfalls or dangers to their virtue, though we know that the
+women who go to those places and exhibit themselves in this manner
+are mothers, wives or daughters who have duties to attend at home.
+
+Now, what is the difference if woman leaves her home to attend or take
+part in a political meeting where the public needs or the election
+of candidates for public office are discussed? In what way is the
+virtue or purity of woman imperilled by her taking an interest in
+public questions affecting the welfare of the families, considering
+that whatever her status may be in life, woman always occupies some
+position in the family? Why should we fear that woman will leave the
+flower of her charms on the brambles of politics if she listens to
+a political speaker, after having listened to sermons all her life,
+or if she herself makes a speech giving her opinions on some subject
+of interest to the family, on the necessity of remedying some social
+evil or of providing a home for abandoned and indigent children?
+
+Let us take the case of one of the most vital questions of the
+present time, the subject of gambling. Do you not believe that this
+question has a direct bearing upon the welfare of the families,
+especially of the feminine part of them? Who suffers the most if the
+father or husband spends the money of the family in order to satisfy
+his craving for gambling? The women, of course, the daughters who
+are often condemned to undergo unnecessary privations and suffering
+because of the conduct of the head of the family. And you try to deny
+to woman the right to take a part in political affairs, to enlighten
+the electorate with regard to the fatal results of gambling or cast
+her vote for the candidate who promises to secure the passage of
+measures against it? And why should the opinion of woman on issues
+like this not have as much weight as that of man? Should it not be
+given greater weight, it being she who suffers the consequences and
+results of the evil? There are many questions like this which vitally
+affect the welfare and happiness of woman.
+
+I fail to see anything pernicious in the activity of woman in the
+field of politics: I even believe that her activity in this respect
+will be highly salutary and beneficent not only for womankind, but
+for society in general. It will serve to instruct woman and give her
+a more extensive knowledge of the world and of life. She will not be
+considered as an outsider where society and government are concerned
+and will therefore not remain indifferent to their short-comings and
+progress. Nothing could possibly be more harmful to society than the
+presence in it of foreign bodies absolutely indifferent to its weal
+or woe, of useless parts in the machinery of progress.
+
+We are terrified by the idea that the impulsiveness of woman and her
+fanaticism and narrow-mindedness, according to some, her weakness and
+lack of character, according to others, and her unpreparedness and
+deficient culture, according to still others, will make female suffrage
+a mere farce and will convert it into a tool for certain elements
+and interests. My opinion is that all these impulses, sentiments,
+weaknesses, and imperfections of woman are due to nothing but to
+the seclusion in which she has been kept. They are the effects of an
+educational and social system tottering to decay, of a system that does
+not give the natural faculties of woman that room for expansion and
+development which is as necessary to life as steam is to electricity
+and electricity to light. And those defects and imperfections can
+not be cured by continuing the system  under which they have formed
+and developed, but there must be a radical reform, a regeneration,
+in order that, as a bird on its first flight stretches its wings and
+soars forth into space, where there is an abundance of air and light,
+woman may have an opportunity to develop to their fullest extent her
+faculties and instincts and to show the graceful essence of her being.
+
+We must give woman new objectives in life and lofty occupations in
+which she can test her aptitude, in order that everything defective
+and ill-developed in her character and education may be eliminated
+in the atmosphere of liberty and publicity, where all defects can
+be brought to light without fear or pity and all vices crushed with
+iron heel. This is why I desire and demand political rights for our
+women. I am convinced that one of the results of this concession
+will be to enrich, improve, and develop her aptitude and aspiration
+to serve the high ideals of life and society. Woman will devote less
+time to dress, fashions, gossip and all the other petty and trifling
+things that are generally the subject of their conversation and will
+endeavor to study and discuss the more serious questions of social
+betterment and welfare.
+
+Politics is not a permanent occupation that absorbs all the time of
+a person who has other regular business to attend to. As a matter
+of fact, not speaking of political officers and a few professional
+politicians, most of the citizens devote to politics only the time
+strictly necessary and which they can spare. Any man or woman depending
+for his or her living or future upon politics will soon come to the
+conviction that politics bring starvation instead of bread.
+
+Politics are perfectly compatible with the domestic duties and
+occupations of woman, whether she be mother, wife, or daughter. An
+educated woman realizes her responsibilities; she knows how to divide
+her time and will give her domestic duties the preference over any
+other duties outside of the home. A woman is not liable to engage
+in political activity if she is very busy at home, and when confined
+to her bed by the labors and cares of maternity, she will be unable
+to engage in politics, even if she were willing. Therefore, when I
+hear the argument that woman will be remiss in her household duties
+on account of politics and that she will neglect to take care of her
+husband and children if she is given the right to vote, I frankly
+confess that I am, perhaps, too dull to see the truth of it.
+
+You insist that by divine precept the place of woman is in the home
+and that of man in society, and that this is the true and proper
+division of labor between the two halves of the human species. If this
+is really the plan of God, will you tell me then why all religions
+and all schools of ethics coincide in prescribing duties towards the
+neighbor and teach us to love our fellow-beings? Did the Lord speak to
+man alone, and not also to woman when amidst fire and smoke, on the
+quaking mountain, he gave to the world the tables of the Decalogue
+and said: "Love thy neighbor as thyself?" And the universal precept
+contained in every code of morals and in every religion, "Whatsoever
+ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,"--does
+it refer to man alone, or does it include woman also? To me, these
+precepts indicate that man and woman have duties towards others,
+that they have duties towards their fellow-beings, and that they must
+not confine their efforts towards happiness to the home, but extend
+them beyond it, to society. Will you tell me whether there can be
+happiness in the homes if society is not happy, seeing that society
+is nothing but the extension and sum of all the homes, and that all
+the suffering and evils that afflict society find their echo in the
+home, just as the happiness of the home exercises an influence upon
+the happiness of society?
+
+You attempt to do something impossible: You try to divide the human
+being into halves: one-half that is happy in the home and the other
+that is happy in society, or vice versa. You can do it if you wish,
+but then you will either have to consign all your codes which confer
+upon man the government and administration of the home to the waste
+basket and make others vesting these powers in woman, or if you do not
+wish to do that, you will have to give woman a share in the public
+affairs in order that she may, the same as in the home, assist man
+in building up and strengthening the happiness of that other big home
+which we call society.
+
+You say that woman, upon appearing on the stage of politics, will
+lose the respect and admiration of man; that instead of gaining
+any advantages, she will lose all those inherent in her present
+position, in which she is removed from any direct struggle with man,
+is adorable and adored everywhere, and reigns supreme in her home with
+the undisputed authority of the wife or mother, clad in the purple
+of the grace and majesty with which Nature has endowed her, pure and
+undefiled by the mire with which political strife and intrigue always
+bespatter the reputation and dignity of those who engage in them.
+
+I believe I have stated the position of our adversaries in terms both
+poetical and precise, and when I speak of our adversaries, I include
+that numerous legion of women who still hesitate to ask for the right
+of suffrage, for reasons which, perhaps, deserve being called selfish.
+
+However, the idealistic woman I have depicted will not disappear if
+our women are educated in politics the same as they are educated in
+the arts and sciences. A political education, far from being harmful
+to the natural charms of woman, will in my opinion enhance these,
+for the same reason that our modern education has given woman charms
+which the woman of the past did not possess. Unless you argue that
+education is in itself an evil rather than a blessing, and that it
+vitiates the character instead of improving it, you can not escape the
+conclusion that by increasing the knowledge and experience of woman,
+you give her more vigor, more energy, and a greater personal charm.
+
+Nothing commands greater respect than education. Education elevates a
+person. From the moment that you show that you possess education, the
+consideration and respect of the others are yours. Education does not
+know the bar of race prejudice; through it an individual of a colored
+race can win the respect and often the admiration of the white man.
+
+Does woman ever inspire man with greater respect than when she
+is instructed, when a college education has brought her to his
+own level? Was woman more respected in the past, when she remained
+ignorant, than she is now? I am willing to concede that she may have
+been courted more assiduously, but that does not mean that she was more
+respected. Do you understand by respect and consideration those empty
+forms of etiquette which make a man bow down to the ground to a woman
+and regale her with a few hollow compliments, designed to tickle the
+vanity or turn the head of a credulous and frivolous being? Do you
+call respect the singular habit of certain men to always find the
+eyes of the woman to whom they are speaking divine, to compare her
+mouth to a rosebud, her teeth to a string of beautiful pearls, and
+her form to the slender willow, and other stupidities of that kind? If
+that is the sort of respect and consideration that woman will lose if
+she goes into politics, she ought to be very glad to get rid of it,
+because all these empty phrases of gallantry are like the crowing of
+the rooster who wishes to dazzle a silly hen on which he has designs.
+
+And, tell me, how is it possible for weakness and ignorance to inspire
+respect? As a matter of fact, when a little cooking, embroidering, and
+music, and the knowledge of the catechism were deemed sufficient to
+prepare a girl for married life, which was then the only career open
+to woman, she was the recipient of great consideration and courtesy
+from man. These, however, were not inspired by real respect, but
+rather by a sentiment of chivalry, because man thought woman so weak
+and ignorant that he deemed it his duty to show her that protection,
+consideration, and courtesy which are due to weakness and ignorance. Is
+this the opinion that our women want us to have of them? Respect is
+a sentiment engendered by the idea of equality, and unless woman is
+placed on the same level with man in the field of politics, we shall
+continue to hear ignominious phrases such as "But, woman, what do
+you know about these things! You go and mind your own business!"
+
+Our women need not worry that if they are allowed to vote, they will
+necessarily forfeit the consideration and courtesy accorded to them
+at present, when they do not come into direct collision with man on
+the field of politics, and that the men will then consider themselves
+free to attack them as a rival whom they must overcome and destroy
+for their own preservation. In the first place it is a mistake to
+conclude that the participation of woman in public life will result
+in rivalry between the sexes. The attraction and sympathy between man
+and woman springs precisely from the difference in sex. If there were
+only men or only women, there might be such a thing as our mutually
+destroying each other, because there would be no purpose in life and
+the human race would not reproduce itself. It is in the interest of
+one sex not to destroy the other. On the other hand, politics is not
+always a personal struggle. In its proper and loftiest sense it is a
+struggle of ideas and principles, of theories and methods. Therefore,
+if a man is pitted against a woman in the arena of politics, they
+are certainly not compelled to engage in fisticuffs and kill each
+other, but each will present his own views on the points at issue,
+with more or less sound arguments in support of them. I do not believe
+any man has the right to insult a woman because she is his opponent,
+seeing that he has no such a right where a man is concerned. And
+if in the heat of political strife such an insult should be passed,
+has not woman the right to reply or to pay the offender back in his
+own coin? This is a case where woman will be given an opportunity to
+learn to be independent in judgment and action, seeing that certain
+persons do not want woman to vote unless she possesses independence
+of thought and action. I do not want, either, to give voice to the
+suspicion that many men are against female suffrage because they fear
+they might be worsted in a public debate, and what would then become
+of the prestige of the strong sex?
+
+In the second place, if woman wants man to adore and idolize her,
+she can get him to do it whether she votes or not. Man does not
+adore woman because she has less rights than he has; but he worships
+her because woman is woman, the archetype of grace and beauty of
+creation, and man will forever burn incense at the shrine of that
+divinity. Remember that it has always been said that christianity
+elevated the condition of woman and gave her greater rights, and yet
+it is the Christian countries where woman is accorded the greatest
+consideration and respect.
+
+Suffrage will not detract from the beauty of the long tresses
+of woman, nor will it make her cheeks and lips less rosy and the
+curves of her body less graceful. On the contrary, it will lend her
+an additional grace, that of being able to write a ballot in her
+diminutive handwriting, and man will always feel for her that love,
+tenderness, and adoration which grace and beauty will always inspire
+all the world over. Hercules will always bow to Venus because she is
+Venus, though Venus be a suffragist.
+
+A political education will provide woman with new means for gaining the
+respect and admiration of man. Woman will realize that her duty does
+not merely consist in giving sons and daughters to the fatherland,
+but in educating and training them in such a manner that from their
+childhood on they will take interest in everything tending to improve
+social conditions, and in inspiring them with the desire to devote
+their efforts to a certain cause or party, for the best of their
+people. Public opinion will become much broader and stronger when
+it shall reflect the sentiments of our women, who are at present
+a passive element where the duties of citizenship are concerned;
+and when in her dark hours the nation shall need assistance, she will
+receive it not only from her citizens, but also from her citizenesses,
+who will not be ignorant and inexperienced in the tasks and duties
+confronting the people, but will be accustomed to the discipline of
+organization and to the calls of the public service.
+
+There is no doubt, of course, that it is greatly to the advantage of
+man to maintain woman in ignorance, not only with regard to politics,
+but also where other matters are concerned. For one thing, it renders
+it easier for man to satisfy his whims and make of woman a toy which he
+can use or drop according to his fancy. She is obedient, submissive,
+and resigned; she never discusses or argues; she obeys and serves
+in silence, like a beautiful piece of furniture, differing from the
+rest only in that she is animate; she is a delightful doll because
+she can speak and has a little sense. I know that this is the ideal
+of many men, for the only reason that it suits their convenience.
+
+But that is not woman as she should be; the woman that our century has
+redeemed from ignorance and slavery; the woman whom God has endowed
+with an intellect, a will and a heart, hers to cultivate and perfect
+in order that she may be not the servant of man, but his companion,
+not the subject of the king, but the queen enthroned by his side,
+to be his faithful and constant ally from the cradle to the grave,
+in prosperity and adversity, not only in the intimacy of the home,
+but also in the wide arena of public life. Man and woman were created
+to mate and to understand and love each other, to work, suffer, and
+struggle side by side for all that is good and beautiful in life,
+to perpetuate the sovereignty of human couple on earth, and to make
+it a place of happiness, free from tyranny and suffering and fit to
+be inhabited by peaceful and intelligent beings and not by vultures
+and wild beasts.
+
+This is the mission of woman and man on earth as I understand and
+conceive it. Until man and woman are placed on exactly the same
+footing, until they stand on the same plane, so that there can be
+an intimate communion of thoughts, ideas, and interests, life will
+always be ominous and unhappy for one or for the other, and humanity
+will never overcome the evils with which it is now struggling. God
+made woman as perfect as man, and it is unjust to deprive her of any
+of the benefits and advantages which man derives from science, arts,
+and politics. Politics is a noble occupation, as it is the art or
+science of making nations happy, and it is but just that woman should
+contribute her share to the attainment of that happiness.
+
+Is there any doubt that woman has faculties, sentiments, views,
+and methods of doing things of her own, different from those of
+man? How often has man, when he did not dare to do a thing, left it
+to woman to do! She has a personality of her own and should, like
+man, be given an opportunity to develop it; she should be given a
+voice where her own interests are concerned, and should on her own
+account face the risks incidental to life, venturing, experimenting,
+and discovering things for herself instead of having man establish an
+invariable rule of conduct for her and imposing upon her the methods
+which she must follow.
+
+Politics is no longer what it should be; it has become too masculine
+and is brutal, selfish, and altogether too personal, because it
+lacks the kindness, the self-denial, the altruism, and the spirit of
+sacrifice which are characteristic qualities of the feminine sex. Why
+should we not benefit by the energy of woman, by her impulses and
+her views of things, in order to improve our practices and methods in
+public life? Perhaps, politics will be chastened and purified to some
+extent by the intervention and presence of woman, just as her presence
+at any gathering makes man more careful in language and actions!
+
+Like a number of other institutions that are now a thing of the past,
+the monopoly exercised by man over the public functions is based on
+force and violence, and in order to perpetuate this monopoly, its
+supporters take shelter behind the wall of prejudice erected in the
+course of the times under the protection of the established order of
+things, and from there they hurl the shafts of satire and ridicule
+upon all who demand that this violent condition cease. Ridicule is
+the most powerful weapon now used against the woman who attempts to
+obtain justice and the vindication of the rights of her sex, some of
+which rights, such as that of governing the peoples, were not even
+withheld from them in many of the primitive states.
+
+The result is that many persons have a very queer idea of the
+suffragist. She is represented as a woman who dislikes home work and
+is absent from her home at all hours of the day and night. The most
+common picture is that in which the wife addresses a gathering of
+other women, while the husband is busy at home, sweeping the floor
+and attempting to pacify the squalling baby. This is the idea which
+has been spread by cinematographs and reviews and which has impressed
+itself upon the minds of the unthinking  masses, who are incapable
+of rising above a superficial view of things.
+
+Nothing, however, is farther from representing her as she really
+is. The suffragist is a true product of our era of liberty. Having
+received the same education as man, she knows and does not shirk her
+responsibilities towards her family; but at the same time she is free
+from prejudice and deems it her duty to cooeperate with man in all work
+concerning social reform and the public welfare of the community in
+which she lives. She believes that for the very reason that there are
+duties in the home which are assigned to woman, she has also duties to
+perform in public life. The distribution of the work between man and
+woman causes no conflict between them in their home and family life,
+and there is no reason why there should be any conflict in public
+life if each sex is assigned the duties adapted to it.
+
+Being a suffragist does not mean being antagonistic to the family
+duties. On the contrary, the suffragist realizes that the happiness
+of the family is the foundation of the happiness of society, and she
+knows that social distress and vices affect the family and that she
+can and should cooeperate with man in the relief of that distress and
+the suppression of those vices.
+
+No, the general idea people have of the suffragist is altogether
+a wrong one and it is high time that at least the educated and
+intelligent correct their views where they are based on prejudices and
+ideas belonging to the past. We can not prevent the uneducated masses
+from thinking as they did half a century ago; but the fact that many
+serious and otherwise progressive persons content themselves with
+the opinion of the uneducated shows that here we do not go deep into
+subjects and allow ourselves to be carried away by the impressions
+of the moment.
+
+Suffragism is a legitimate aspiration, an ideal of our century. It
+springs from the philosophy and institutions of the modern world and
+from the growing difficulty of the position of woman in the struggle
+for existence. It is necessary for her to protect herself and organize,
+not to create rivalry and make war upon man, but to become an asset
+in the social progress and protect herself from the exploitation and
+iniquity of the other social groups, whose victim she would become
+if she remained indifferent and took no part in the public life.
+
+As a man of the law and a legislator, I would not think of opposing
+this aspiration. I consider it as natural as the right to live
+and the right of self-defence. I do not consider it premature for
+the Filipino woman to demand this right, as her sisters have done,
+successfully in some cases, in other parts of the world. To me it
+makes no difference that the number of those now demanding it is
+small and insignificant. It would even make no difference to me if the
+women of our country did not demand or want it at all. Where rights
+fundamentally in accordance with the spirit of our institutions and
+with the ideals of our times are to be granted, I would not consult
+those who are entitled to demand them, but would give them without the
+asking, because it would be just and God wants justice to prevail at
+all times and everywhere. I am not a judge, but a legislator, and
+it is my first duty to provide for justice, not to administer it,
+nor wait for some one to ask for it and some one to object to it.
+
+It is a source of gratification to me that there is a group of women
+who, voicing the aspirations of their sex, have dared to approach
+our Legislature and call attention to a void in our statutes. This
+indicates to me that the consciousness of that right has been born and
+has revealed its existence in the Filipino woman, and more than that
+I need not know. I do not have to count and classify the women who
+think that way. When Rizal espoused the cause of the political rights
+of our race, his companions were very few, because in the majority of
+his compatriots that consciousness was lying dormant. But it would
+be a falsehood and an error to affirm that even at that time Rizal
+did not voice the cause of his entire race, and that no attention
+should be paid to his demands because he and those with him were
+few in number. He knew that his country was oppressed, that he was
+defending a just cause, and that he was fighting for the rights of
+his fellow-citizens, and he did not stop to reflect whether or not
+those fellow-citizens had the consciousness of their rights.
+
+We must conclude, therefore, that the few women who now speak to
+us of the rights of their sex and for suffrage, represent all the
+Filipino women, unless we wish to insult our women by saying that
+they have so little common sense as to oppose the concession to
+them of rights that will broaden the scope of their lives and of
+their activity in society. It matters but little that the desire
+for suffrage appears in its initial stage, in the vague form of an
+indefinite proposition: the fact is that there has been an indication
+of that desire, and in my judgment the plant has germinated and it is
+useless to endeavor to smother it, as it will grow again. The more
+we delay female suffrage, the more shall we suffer by it, because
+why should we stifle a budding plant instead of allowing it to grow
+and in due season produce delicious fruit?
+
+We need not imitate the older nations who have been so slow in
+recognizing women's rights. We have neither their traditions nor their
+prejudices and our progress need not come by slow revolutions. We
+must foster all those peaceful revolutions of ideas that will
+result in social justice. Just as we accept the latest inventions
+in mechanics, industry, and art, such as the automobile, the dynamo,
+and the aeroplane, so must we accept the latest improvements in the
+social and political institutions of the most advanced countries.
+
+Female suffrage spells justice and vindication for the modern
+woman and we must adopt it forthwith, without unnecessary delay and
+formalities. The liberty of worship which gave us religious tolerance;
+the popular suffrage which strengthened our collective conscience; the
+free public school which emancipated our masses from the tutelage of
+the _cacique_: in short, all the achievements of democracy of which we
+are so justly proud would not yet be beautiful realities and we would
+not be able to enjoy their mature fruits as we now do, if we had been
+compelled to feel our way and make many tentative steps instead of at
+once entering fully upon our social and political life. We have to move
+quickly and anticipate the aspirations of the feminine masses, which
+are as yet vague, in order to save us the agitation which otherwise
+is sure to come and the justice of which will have to be recognized.
+
+When we are told that our social condition is such that we are not
+ready for female suffrage, and that our women are not sufficiently
+educated to exercise political rights, I feel like asking whether
+we said the same thing when we imported and implanted in our country
+the democratic institutions that are the base and foundation of our
+present society. Our traditional education was diametrically opposed to
+a popular system of government, yet we adopted that form of government,
+because we considered it better than the other, more suited to our
+interests and to the ideals of the century, and did not worry about
+whether or not we were sufficiently educated and prepared for it.
+
+It is more than twenty years now that the free public school has opened
+its doors to the women, and education has extended its benefits to them
+in the same proportion as to the men. Many of the women educated in
+these schools are now wives or mothers, and yet you still ask whether
+the Filipina has attained to the maturity necessary for her investment
+with political rights. I am sure there is no idea of requiring them
+all to be doctors or bachelors of art before we grant them the right
+of suffrage.
+
+A political education can not be acquired except by education, just
+as you can not learn how to swim except by swimming. The argument
+that the Filipina is not sufficiently prepared is a justification of
+the attitude of a country which never finds its colonies sufficiently
+prepared or educated to exercise the right of sovereignty themselves.
+
+The other day, when I made a flight in a seaplane for the sake of the
+experience, I felt--I frankly admit it--some apprehension, a certain
+fear of the unknown, but after the first few moments were happily
+past, I felt perfectly comfortable and enjoyed the flight through
+space and the view of the magnificent landscape far below me. Ah,
+it is beautiful to cleave the air like a swallow and to ride upon
+the clouds and the winds of heaven, looking down upon the cities and
+human dwellings spread like a relief map upon the crystal sheet of the
+waters, to traverse enormous distances in a few minutes almost without
+noticing it, and to emulate in everything the bird and like the bird
+to alight suddenly, without fatigue and physical hardships. When
+the voyage was over, I realized that my apprehension and fear had
+been unfounded; that it was not more risky to fly through space on
+an aeroplane than to speed across country on an automobile, and I
+then realized the numerous advantages to be derived from the flying
+machine, that product of our time which is destined to revolutionize
+not only warfare, but also the pursuits of peace.
+
+The same thing occurs with all new ideas and reforms of a moral and
+political order. They are adopted with the instinctive fear, the
+vague apprehension inspired by the new and unknown. There is much
+talk of their objectional features and dangers for the established
+order of things. You might think the firmament was going to crumble
+to pieces or the world was threatening to go out of joint. However,
+after the innovation has been made, it is found to be quite natural and
+logical, because things go on in their natural course, the heavenly
+bodies continue in their orbits as before and the mountain peaks do
+not slide down into the valleys. Courage and hope are born again in
+the human breast, the masses get used to the new state of affairs,
+and soon even the most recalcitrant would be furious if any one should
+propose to return to the old order of things. This has happened in
+our country before, and has always been and always will be the way
+in which progress is worked out.
+
+We must make up our minds to overcome our scruples and fears. If
+in discussing the aeroplane, we were to speak of nothing but of the
+number of aviators who have been killed, we would never accept that
+invention. We must embark in one in order to prove to ourselves that
+our fears and apprehensions are unfounded. Sight must not be lost of
+the fact that suffragism is not a new thing in the world, that it is
+far from being an experiment and is already an established fact in some
+countries. Exactly the same as the aeroplane: if we desire to become
+acquainted with the advantages of that apparatus, we do not ask those
+who have never traveled in it, but those who have experimented with it,
+and if we wish to know the advantages of suffragism, we must not listen
+to those who oppose it as a matter of principle and theory, but must
+consult countries that have made experiments with it and have already
+had a chance to see its results. We must take note of the fact that
+suffragism is gaining in strength every day and is becoming a general
+movement in the countries where it has found acceptance. Exactly like
+the aeroplane. Would it not be perfectly ridiculous to declaim against
+the aeroplane on account of the accidents that are liable to occur,
+and would we not be stupid to refuse to follow the lead of other
+governments who utilize its advantages for defence or aggression in
+war and for rapid communication in time of peace? And is it not just
+as stupid and even senseless to oppose suffragism on speculative or
+rather hypothetical grounds, instead of being guided by the experience
+of other countries in this respect and accepting suffragism as part
+and parcel of our modern customs and institutions?
+
+In conclusion, permit me to quote a few passages on this subject from
+an address which I made at an entertainment given at the Opera House
+in honor of Rizal by various schools for young ladies in 1913:
+
+
+    According to the old idea, woman's sphere of action should
+    not extend beyond the home, beyond her domestic occupations,
+    and she should be nothing but the glory and delight of
+    her husband and her children. This is not right. Like man,
+    woman is born and lives in society, and she can not and must
+    not remain indifferent to social distress and suffering. To
+    think otherwise would be selfishness and aberration and would
+    leave society a prey to much suffering which only the blessed
+    hand of woman can cure or relieve. Let woman be the glory and
+    happiness of the home; but do not forget that she must extend
+    her beneficent action beyond the confines of the household,
+    that she must make the world outside the participant of the
+    wealth of kindness and charity that bountiful Providence has
+    lavished upon her. Just as she shares the duties of life with
+    man within the home, so should she without it, in public life,
+    share with man the responsibility of remedying and alleviating
+    public distress and misfortune.
+
+    It is very significant that beneficence, charity, and morality
+    are feminine virtues, it being woman's mission to exercise all
+    these virtues in society. She must take a part, and should,
+    in my opinion, always take the initiative, in all work for
+    the protection of the orphans, the relief of distress, and
+    the elevation of the standard of public morality. She must
+    strive and suffer, in the society in which she is living,
+    for all that is feminine in life, must with a wave of her
+    hand attenuate the fierceness of the struggle for existence,
+    and must brighten the gloomy night of human suffering with
+    her gentle presence. Our country needs not only the strength
+    of her men, but the kindness and charity of her women;
+    she needs not only heroes, but also heroines. And heroines
+    exist and always have existed in the history of humankind;
+    and there are and always have been heroines in our country,
+    the special privilege of which, according to serious foreign
+    authors, consists in its women being superior to its men.
+
+    And the girls who to-day pay homage to Rizal and dedicate their
+    songs and prayers to him, will to-morrow be citizenesses who
+    will not, like unhappy Maria Clara, be made the victims of
+    social injustice, but will help to banish social injustice
+    and strive for justice, virtue, and the glory and greatness
+    of their native land.
+
+
+Yes; I cherish that hope and have faith in the liberty of woman. It
+is not possible to keep one-half of humanity in the upper part and
+the other half in the lower part of the balance without producing
+disequilibrium, tears, and suffering. Everything tends to reach the
+same level in life, the same as in death, the great leveller. Humanity
+has seen a new light which will shine brightly, though error and
+prejudice may endeavor to shroud it with darkness. Woe to those who
+refuse to see the light! The world continues to progress and stops
+for no one. He who wishes to lag behind is free to do so, but he will
+surely deplore it afterwards.
+
+I can not prophesy what will be the outcome of the efforts which the
+Filipino women are now making to obtain suffrage; but I know that
+these efforts must be to them, and are to us, a source of pride and
+glory, because they show that there is no part of our people which
+has remained indifferent to the great movements of the century. There
+are persons who scoff at them and many shrug their shoulders; but
+this must not discourage our women, because neither scoffing nor
+shrugging the shoulders are very weighty arguments. The same persons
+who now laugh at them and shrug their shoulders, probably because they
+do not know that the world and society are moving and progressing,
+will some day recognize that these women were in the right, just as
+the men who scoffed at Rizal lived to deplore their mistake and have
+since made amends.
+
+What we must do is to diffuse the light and spread the new doctrines,
+in order to convince those who unwittingly refuse to see justice and
+truth, the only firm foundations of the stability and prosperity of
+civilized society.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          Senado de Filipinas
+                      Quinta Legislatura Filipina,
+                       Primer periodo de sesiones
+
+                     La mujer y el derecho de votar
+
+
+
+                      Discurso pronunciado por el
+
+                           Hon. Rafael Palma
+                     Senador por el Cuarto Distrito
+
+     En favor del proyecto de Ley No. 23 del Senado en las sesiones
+  celebradas por dicho cuerpo en los dias 22 y 25 de noviembre de 1919
+
+
+
+
+                                 Manila
+                           Bureau of Printing
+                                  1919
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LA MUJER Y EL DERECHO DE VOTAR
+
+
+Sr. Presidente y Caballeros del Senado:
+
+Pocas veces me he sentido tan orgulloso de ostentar la representacion
+popular como esta vez que me permite abogar por una causa que no
+puede ser representada ni defendida en este sitio por la parte a
+quien directa y particularmente interesa, merced a esa levadura de
+prejuicios que han dejado en la mente del hombre moderno las creencias
+e ideas del antiguo. La causa del sufragio femenino es una causa que
+despierta la simpatia de todo hombre desapasionado, porque representa
+la causa del debil que, privado del medio de defenderse por si mismo,
+pone toda su razon y derecho al arbitrio del fuerte.
+
+Pero no es solamente por esto que atrae mi simpatia y apela a mi
+defensa. Es ademas que dicha causa tiene en si un fondo irresistible de
+verdad y justicia al cual no puede negarse ninguna inteligencia abierta
+y libre. Si nuestra conciencia como legisladores debe inspirarse en
+las eternas fuentes del derecho, si las leyes que aqui formulamos
+deben llevar el sello divino de dar a cada uno lo suyo, no podemos
+rehusar a la mujer el derecho del voto como no pretendamos renegar
+de todas las formulas y conquistas de la democracia y de la libertad
+que han hecho de este siglo el ser llamado con propiedad el siglo de
+las reivindicaciones.
+
+El sufragio femenino es una reforma exigida por las condiciones
+sociales de nuestro tiempo, por la elevacion de la cultura de
+la mujer y las aspiraciones de todas las clases o grupos de la
+sociedad a organizarse para trabajar por los intereses que tienen
+de comun. No podemos parar el movimiento de los astros y no podemos
+parar igualmente ninguno de esos movimientos morales que gravitan con
+incontrastable fuerza hacia su centro de atraccion: la Justicia. Pues
+el mundo moral esta regido por las mismas leyes que el fisico y si
+el poder del hombre es impotente para suprimir una molecula de los
+espacios necesaria a la gravitacion universal, menos podra contener
+la generacion de las ideas elaboradas en la conciencia y ansiosas de
+encarnar en los fecundos senos de la vida y de la realidad.
+
+Es interesante el fenomeno de que cada vez que se trata de realizar
+una reforma social en consonancia con las ideas y actividades del
+siglo y en contradiccion con anejas creencias y preocupaciones, no
+faltan nunca las objeciones fundadas en el mantenimiento del _statu
+quo_ que se quiere a toda costa preservar. Los eternos agoreros del
+desastre, los falsos profetas de la destruccion, como no puede menos
+de suceder, alzan sus fatidicas voces en esta ocasion protestando
+contra el sufragio femenino en nombre de la santidad del hogar y
+de la insustituibilidad de costumbres que han sido por largo tiempo
+admitidas.
+
+Francamente, no tengo ninguna paciencia para escuchar semejantes
+objeciones. Si este pais no hubiera sido precisamente uno de los
+pocos lugares privilegiados del planeta en donde se ha realizado con
+fortuna el experimento de una brusca transicion de sistemas e ideales,
+sin producir paradas ni retrocesos, sin desarticulaciones ni roturas,
+yo diria que los sobresaltos y temores de aquellos que se oponen a
+esta innovacion se hallan justificados.
+
+Pero en menos de una generacion, este pais, sacudido en sus cuatro
+costados por esos grandes terremotos sociales que por otro nombre se
+llaman revoluciones, ha visto desmoronarse sus antiguas instituciones
+para levantarse en su lugar otras enteramente nuevas; ha visto
+desaparecer teorias, creencias y valores morales que se tenian por
+inconmovibles y eternos para ser sustituidos por diferentes principios
+y metodos, fundados en la democracia y libertad; y a despecho de esos
+cambios y trastornos que han modificado radicalmente su estructura
+social y politica y gracias precisamente a ellos, nuestro pueblo se
+ha convertido en un pueblo con pensamientos e ideales modernos, con
+una constitucion robusta y capaz de afrontar los estragos de la lucha
+por la existencia, en vez de aquel enfermizo y atrofiado organismo que
+tenia miedo a todas las novedades y repudiaba las luchas materiales
+por temor a las iras del cielo y por un pasivo deseo de vivir en paz
+y bienestar ideales.
+
+En frente de los provechosos resultados que esas instituciones de
+libertad y democracia han dado a este pais, a la vista de los marcados
+progresos alcanzados en todos los ordenes de la vida nacional merced
+a esas mismas instituciones, pese a algunos cuantos reaccionarios y
+ultraconservadores que opinan lo contrario y anoran el pasado, yo no
+veo, no puedo ver, como haya gente seria que seriamente sostenga que
+no debe concederse el sufragio femenino, una de las mas vivisimas
+aspiraciones que agitan actualmente la conciencia del mundo moderno.
+
+Recuerdo muy bien que en otros tiempos, y no muy lejanos, los mismos
+temores y sobresaltos se habian abrigado contra la instruccion
+superior de la mujer. iQue ridiculo, se decia, que ridiculo que la
+mujer aprenda Historia, Matematicas, Filosofia y Quimica que no solo
+no puede digerir su escaso cerebro sino que la llenaria de presuncion y
+soberbia convirtiendola en una especie de criatura hibrida, sin gracia
+y sin fuerza, intolerable y fatua, con mollera hermosa pero vacia
+y corazon grande pero seco! Y, sin embargo, hemos dado entrada a la
+mujer en las escuelas superiores y en las universidades y, al igual
+que el hombre, hemos permitido que sus cabezas ostenten las borlas
+de bachiller en Artes, Leyes, Medicina y otras profesiones. ?Podemos,
+ahora, decir que esas mujeres han pervertido el hogar de sus mayores
+o cuando se han casado han sido para sus maridos motivo de deshonor
+o escandalo? Es tiempo de observar los resultados porque si estos
+resultados han sido perjudiciales al cuerpo social y politico del pais,
+nuestro deber es deshacer lo hecho y desandar lo andado.
+
+Nadie piensa afortunadamente en esto. Desde los mas cultos centros de
+poblacion hasta las aldeas mas desconocidas se arrastra silenciosa
+y majestuosa una ola de opinion popular que aprueba y aplaude la
+educacion femenina, al punto de que los mas rudos sementereros
+envian a sus hijas a las ciudades a costa de los mas imaginables
+sacrificios para que puedan escalar las cumbres mas altas del saber,
+si a eso pudieran. Esos lugarenos ignorantes saben confusamente que la
+mujer como el hombre esta hecha de la misma arcilla y no se avienen
+a creer que por haberles cabido la suerte de tener ninas en vez de
+ninos necesitan condenarlas a llevar las cadenas de la ignorancia
+incapacitandolas para ser utiles a sus familias, a su sociedad y a
+su patria.
+
+La instruccion no ha atrofiado ni desmejorado ninguna de las facultades
+fundamentales de la mujer, sino, por el contrario, las ha elevado
+y enriquecido. Lejos de ser una carga constante para la familia, la
+mujer instruida ha sido muchas veces su sosten y apoyo en apurados
+trances. La mujer instruida no se ha transformado en la marisabidilla,
+la fatua criatura forjada por la imaginacion de algunos, ni siquiera ha
+perdido ninguno de sus encantos femeninos porque razone y discuta con
+el hombre sobre toda clase de materias; antes bien, a causa de ello,
+parece que encontramos en ella mayor gracia y encanto, porque nos
+comprende mejor y sabe hacerse comprender mejor. Hoy, gracias a Dios,
+ha desaparecido ya aquella comezon de ridiculo que acometia a muchos
+al observar lo que consideraban necia presuncion de las mujeres de
+saber tanto como los hombres, y esto se debe, indudablemente, a que
+los desastrosos resultados que pronosticaron los agoreros de las malas
+nuevas, las terribles profetas de la destruccion, no se han cumplido.
+
+Pues bien, si admitis la instruccion y educacion de la mujer, en
+todos los terrenos de la ciencia, debeis admitir la intervencion
+de la mujer no solo en la vida domestica sino tambien en la vida
+social o publica. La instruccion y la educacion tienen un doble fin:
+el individual, que redime la inteligencia humana de los peligros de la
+ignorancia, y el social, que prepara al hombre y a la mujer a cumplir
+los deberes de una buena ciudadania. No se educa uno exclusivamente
+para su propio bien sino principalmente para ser util y servir a
+los demas. El mayor peligro que existe para la sociedad es el hombre
+instruido que solo piensa en si mismo, porque su instruccion misma le
+da mayor poder para hacer dano y sacrificar a todos a su conveniencia,
+o su ambicion personal. El verdadero objeto de la educacion es el
+servicio al publico, el de aplicar los conocimientos que no adquiere,
+al bien y mejoramiento de la sociedad en que vive.
+
+Por tanto, en las sociedades donde se admite a la mujer a todas
+las carreras y profesiones de la vida, donde no se escatima a la
+mujer ninguna fuente de conocimiento debe admitirse necesaria y
+logicamente la intervencion de la mujer en la vida publica. De otro
+modo, su educacion seria incompleta o la sociedad seria injusta con
+ella pues despues de suministrarla los medios para su educacion la
+privaria de los poderes necesarios para emplear esa educacion en pro
+del bien social y el progreso colectivo.
+
+No puedo resistirme a esta conclusion. Si se ofrece a la mujer igual
+oportunidad de educacion que al hombre, si se la estimula para aprender
+y estudiar los conocimientos del mundo y de la vida, deben abrirsela
+las puertas de la vida publica para que pueda desempenar en ella el
+papel que le corresponde.
+
+En las sociedades retrogradas se ensena a la mujer solamente
+aquella parte de conocimientos que necesita para la vida del hogar,
+preparandola asi inconscientemente para sufrir aquella dulce, aquella
+encantadora esclavitud que tanto agrada al ser masculino. Es cuestion
+solamente de escoger nuestro sistema: o esclavitud e ignorancia o
+libertad y educacion para la mujer.
+
+El sufragio femenino es consecuencia de la educacion de la mujer;
+es consecuencia, tambien, de su libertad de conciencia. Por el voto
+se expresa la fe politica, como por el culto la fe religiosa. No hay
+razon para impedirle a la mujer el acceso a las urnas como no la hay
+para privarla de ir al templo.
+
+No hay razon para que el sufragio sea un privilegio de sexo, puesto
+que los deberes de ciudadania pesan tanto sobre el hombre como sobre
+la mujer. ?Es que la mujer, por serlo, esta menos obligada a velar
+por los intereses de la Patria, por la felicidad y el porvenir de
+su pais? Querer restringir la actividad de la mujer para las cosas
+publicas es como decir que la mujer no debe amar a su pais ni debe
+consagrar tiempo a las obligaciones que la corresponden como ciudadana,
+ni debe sentir el carino y la devocion que en toda criatura bien
+nacida despierta la idea de la Patria y de la colectividad.
+
+La esterilidad fisica es combatida y se considera como una desgracia
+en la mujer; pero queremos condenarla a una perpetua esterilidad
+politica--que es lo mismo decir esterilidad patriotica--al impedirla
+que tome parte en el sufragio que da a los ciudadanos el medio mas
+efectivo para influir en los destinos sociales y en el mejoramiento
+de los negocios publicos. ?Como inculcar en los ninos, esa prenda
+sagrada del porvenir de una nacion, el culto y la fe en la Patria
+y en la libertad si no se les da a las madres la educacion practica
+que envuelve en si el privilegio del voto, si se les ensena que el
+gobierno y la politica son divinidades extranas, en cuyos templos
+les esta vedado penetrar, si sobre si mismas sienten el estigma de
+inferioridad e incapacidad para hablar a sus hijos de los negocios
+publicos y de los intereses de la nacion y del Estado?
+
+Todas las clases o grupos sociales tienen derecho a ser representados
+en las legislaturas para trabajar por las leyes que afectan a sus
+intereses; los comerciantes pueden eligir a uno de ellos, lo mismo los
+agricultores, los obreros y los industriales; pero a las mujeres, que
+no son meramente un grupo sino un compuesto de grupos, con representar
+la mitad de un pais, con propios intereses que sostener no solo en
+relacion a su sexo sino tambien en relacion a su situacion dentro de la
+familia, no se les permite votar y por tanto no se les permite tener
+una representacion que sostenga aquellas leyes o medidas necesarias
+para su proteccion y mejoramiento. ?Es esto justo? ?Es siquiera
+moral? El trabajo de las mujeres puede ser explotado en fabricas y
+talleres, la virtud de las mujeres puede ser objeto de trafico en el
+mercado, y, sin embargo, la mujer no puede defender directamente los
+intereses de su sexo por una de esas aberraciones del sentido moral
+proveniente del grosero egoismo, de la brutal tirania del hombre.
+
+iSi al menos las mujeres estuvieran exentas de cumplir las leyes! Pero
+la ley obliga tanto a la mujer como al hombre; el Codigo Penal alcanza
+con su espada las infracciones  cometidas por uno y otro sexo, y
+el impuesto y la contribucion gravan lo mismo la riqueza masculina
+que la femenina. Es decir, ante la ley, los deberes son los mismos,
+pero los derechos, no.
+
+?Que extrano que nuestras leyes contengan tantas injusticias sociales
+para la mujer, tantas irritantes desigualdades, basadas todas ellas
+en la teoria de la dependencia servil de la mujer al hombre causada
+por su congenita inferioridad mental y fisiologica? Moebius esta
+encarnado en nuestros codigos, rige nuestra politica y preside todas
+las modalidades de nuestro vivir social y politico, en forma tal que
+hay motivos para avergonzarse que en plena epoca de reivindicaciones,
+cuando todas las clases han obtenido sus derechos a la libertad y a
+la igualdad, la mujer ha permanecido indefinidamente sujeta al mismo
+nivel como en los siglos de sujecion y esclavitud.
+
+Una democracia verdadera no puede existir mitad libre y mitad esclava,
+mitad con representacion y mitad sin representacion en las funciones
+publicas. El pueblo no es solamente hombre sino tambien mujer, y,
+en igualdad de condiciones, la mujer debe tener los mismos derechos
+politicos que el hombre. Pero lo menos debe tener aquellos derechos
+fundamentales que, como el voto, requieren nada mas que inteligencia
+y capacidad para ejercerlo, a fin de que pueda tener alguna voz en la
+decision de sus propios destinos y librar por si misma las batallas que
+exigen su honor, su libertad y otros tantos intereses que descuidan
+o ignoran los hombres en virtud del indisputado monopolio ejercido
+por ellos sobre los negocios publicos.
+
+No desapareceran radicalmente las injusticias, las desigualdades
+sociales y juridicas contenidas en nuestros codigos ni mejoraran las
+condiciones de la existencia para la mujer mientras sean los hombres
+los unicos que legislen y dominen todas las esferas de la vida publica,
+mientras dicten a la mujer lo que debe hacer y lo que no debe hacer;
+y, a su vez, la mujer sera incompetente de cuidar de sus propios
+intereses y de dirigir sus propios destinos mientras no mire mas alto,
+mientras preste su asentimiento a la superioridad del hombre y crea
+que su destino es simplemente servir y complacer al hombre para el
+lecho y el hogar, en vez de ser su verdadera ayuda y compania para
+el progreso y felicidad del genero humano.
+
+Todas las objeciones que se aducen o pueden aducirse en contra del
+sufragio femenino tienden invariablemente a estos dos objetos: a la
+seclusion domestica de la mujer y a perpetuar su esclavitud civil
+y politica.
+
+Que la mujer no debe atender mas que las ocupaciones del hogar,
+que no debe vivir mas que para su esposo e hijos; que tiene bastante
+trabajo para todo el dia con dirigir al cocinero, limpiar la casa y
+remendar los vestidos; es la formula que sostienen los partidarios
+del antiguo regimen. O si no, esta otra: que la mujer no esta por
+naturaleza llamada a luchar con el hombre en la vida publica; que
+el hombre por razon de esa lucha dejara de considerarla como un ser
+digno de adoracion, un sagrado idolo ante cuyos pies se arrodilla,
+sino que vera en ella a una rival a quien hay que combatir y anular
+para la propia conservacion, y con ello la mujer no solo arrastraria
+la nitida sampaguita de su virtud en el lodo de la vida politica, sino
+perderia, ademas, la estimacion, el respeto y las consideraciones,
+de los cuales se ve rodeada en la actualidad.
+
+No tengo sino el mas profundo respeto para todos aquellos, hombres y
+mujeres, que piensan honradamente asi. No tienen la culpa de creer que
+aquello que ha existido siempre de un modo tal, no sea lo mejor. No
+comprenden que la vida es movimiento e insensiblemente se adhieren a
+las capas sociales nuevos elementos de vida y caracter que requieren
+necesariamente el cambio y la renovacion. No es posible a la sociedad
+estancarse en un sitio, porque ocurrira lo que ocurre a las aguas
+estancadas, que despiden pestilentes miasmas. La teoria de que la mujer
+solo existe para el hogar y por el hogar ha dejado de existir hace
+tiempo. Ella ha tomado insensiblemente su puesto en la vida publica
+y ayuda y dirige al hombre aun cuando este no se percate de ello,
+y aun cuando no se la reconozca derechos para ello. En las sociedades
+modernas, la mujer participa en la direccion de la caridad publica y
+en la educacion de los ninos; ejerce como medica, abogada, literata;
+forma parte de la legion de la prensa, de muchos empleos publicos y se
+interesa y coopera en la supresion de los vicios y miserias sociales.
+
+?Quien no admite que la mujer tiene deberes para su hogar, su esposo e
+hijos que debe cumplir ordinariamente con preferencia a cualesquiera
+otros deberes? Pero, ?excluye eso, acaso, el cumplimiento de otros
+deberes para con Dios, para con el projimo y para con el Estado? El
+hombre como la mujer esta lleno de deberes: en cumplirlos ordenada
+y totalmente esta el verdadero merito. ?No dedica la mujer filipina
+una parte a veces considerable de su tiempo a la iglesia y a otros
+deberes llamados de sociedad, a ir de visitas o recibirlas, a concurrir
+a fiestas, teatros y bailes?
+
+?Se ha quejado alguien de esto? ?Se ha criticado al menos a las
+mujeres porque asistan asiduamente y cumplan publicamente sus deberes
+religiosos en los templos llenos de bote en bote; en las calles
+publicas, ahitas de muchedumbres tumultuosas, formando cola a lo
+largo de las procesiones de los santos, entre empellones y sofocones
+desagradables que toleran mansamente a causa de la confesion publica de
+su fe? Ellas no van solamente a las iglesias sino a los espectaculos
+publicos, a las fiestas populares, alli donde pueden ostentar la
+elegancia de sus trajes o satisfacer su curiosidad femenina. Y no
+vemos en todo ello ninguna asechanza o peligro para su virtud, sabiendo
+que esas mujeres que van a esos puntos y se exhiben de esa manera son
+madres, esposas, o hijas que tienen deberes que atender en sus casas.
+
+?Cual es la diferencia, digo ahora, de que la mujer salga tambien de su
+casa para asistir o tomar parte en un miting politico donde se trata
+de las necesidades publicas o de la conveniencia de eligir a este o a
+aquel funcionario? ?Que peligros puede haber para la virtud o pureza de
+la mujer en que ella se interese en los asuntos publicos que afectan
+al bienestar de las familias, puesto que la mujer en cualquier estado
+de su vida ocupa siempre una posicion dentro de la familia? ?Por que
+ha de considerarse que la mujer dejara en las zarzas de la politica
+la flor de sus encantos si oye a un orador politico--ella que esta
+acostumbrada a oir sermones--o, si el caso se presenta, pronuncia ella
+misma un discurso expresando su opinion sobre algun asunto de interes
+para la familia, sobre la necesidad de remediar ciertos males sociales
+o sobre la conveniencia de recoger a ninos abandonados o desvalidos?
+
+Tomemos el caso de una de las cuestiones de mas palpitante interes
+en este tiempo, la cuestion del incremento de los juegos. ?Creeis
+que esta cuestion no es de aquellas que tienen relacion inmediata
+con el bienestar de las familias especialmente de las mujeres dentro
+de ellas? ?Quienes son los que mas sufren de los abusos del padre o
+del esposo al dedicar gran parte de los ingresos de la familia a los
+azares e incertidumbres de su pasion? Son las mujeres y las hijas a
+quienes se condenan a sufrir muchas veces privaciones y sufrimientos
+innecesarios por causa del vicio y de la falta del hombre en la
+familia. Y ?quereis negar a la mujer el derecho de inmiscuirse en
+la vida politica para que pueda ilustrar con su opinion al cuerpo
+electoral sobre los resultados funestos del juego o para influir con
+su voto en la eleccion de funcionarios que se comprometan a llevar
+a cabo las deseables medidas? ?Y por que no ha de ser la opinion de
+la mujer en un asunto de esta naturaleza de tanto o mejor peso que la
+del hombre pues que a ella le alcanzan las consecuencias y resultados
+del mal? Como este asunto se pueden encontrar otros muchos en que
+el bien y la felicidad de la mujer se halla de un modo o de otro
+vitalmente interesados.
+
+No veo en todo cuanto pueda hacer la mujer en politica ninguna
+actividad perniciosa, y si me apurais mas, digo que semejante actividad
+es altamente saludable y beneficiosa para la mujer y para la sociedad
+entera. En todos esos casos la mujer se instruye y obtiene mejor
+conocimiento del mundo y de la vida. No se considera como un ser
+extrano a la sociedad y al gobierno y no se mostrara por tanto ajena
+e indiferente a sus miserias y progresos. Nada puede hacer mayor
+dano a una sociedad como el encontrar en su seno cuerpos extranos,
+absolutamente indiferentes al bien o al mal, piezas inutiles de una
+maquinaria que esta en funcion.
+
+Nos aterrorizamos ante la idea de que los impulsos de la mujer,
+su fanatismo, su criterio cerrado, segun unos, su debilidad o falta
+de caracter, segun otros, su poca preparacion o poca cultura, segun
+otros mas, hagan del derecho de sufragio una mera farsa o una comedia
+ridicula por la que han de entrar a tener predominio elementos o
+intereses privilegiados. Lo que yo digo es que todos esos impulsos,
+sentimientos, debilidades e imperfecciones de la mujer se deben
+precisamente a su estado de seclusion domestica, efectos de una
+educacion o de un sistema tocado de senil debilidad, que no permite
+a las facultades naturales de la mujer aquella expansion que es tan
+necesaria a la vida como el vapor a la electricidad y la electricidad
+a la luz. Y que para corregir esos defectos e imperfecciones, no es lo
+mas cuerdo mantener el sistema bajo el cual han crecido y prosperado,
+sino producir un cambio violento, un vuelco regenerador para que ella
+pudiera, como el ave que ensaya sus alas, volar a los altos espacios,
+abundantes de aire y luz, libre para derramar alli la graciosa esencia
+de su ser y ensayar los limites de sus facultades e instintos.
+
+Tenemos que procurar a la mujer nuevos objetivos en la vida, otras
+ocupaciones elevadas para que pruebe su aptitud y de esta manera
+todo eso que se senala como defectuoso y deforme en su caracter
+y educacion se eliminara en un ambiente de libertad y publicidad,
+donde sin miedo ni piedad se puedan sacar a colacion los defectos y
+expurgar al individuo de sus vicios. Y por esto quiero y pretendo
+para la mujer derechos politicos, porque entiendo que uno de sus
+resultados sera enriquecer, mejorar y favorecer sus aptitudes y
+aspiraciones para servir a los altos ideales de la vida y de la
+sociedad. La mujer se ocupara menos de fruslerias y pequeneces,
+de cortes de vestidos y modas, de chismes y otros topicos comunes,
+que constituyen por lo general, el asunto de sus conversaciones y
+se esmerara en aprender y tratar de las cosas serias que atanen al
+mejoramiento y bienestar sociales.
+
+La politica no es una ocupacion permanente que pueda absorber
+el tiempo de una persona que tiene otros negocios regulares que
+atender. De hecho, con excepcion de los funcionarios politicos y
+ciertos profesionales, la mayoria de los ciudadanos no emplea en
+politica mas que el tiempo puramente preciso que le permiten sus
+ocupaciones ordinarias.  El hombre o la mujer que haga depender su
+suerte o sus medios de vida de la politica tiene que convencerse de
+que la politica no da para comer pero si para tener hambre.
+
+Es perfectamente compatible la politica con las ocupaciones y tareas
+domesticas de la mujer, sea ella madre esposa o hija. La mujer educada
+sabe sus responsabilidades y conoce la manera de dividir su tiempo
+y anteponer sus obligaciones domesticas a cualesquiera otras fuera
+del hogar. Y cuando la mujer esta muy atareada en casa, no hara
+politica; o cuando se ve atada al lecho por los dolores y cuidados
+de la maternidad no podra hacer politica, aunque quiera. Y, por eso,
+cuando se dice que la mujer va a descuidar el hogar por la politica o
+va a desatender el cuidado del esposo y de los hijos por el mero hecho
+de obtener el sufragio, realmente confieso que, por mi torpeza quiza,
+no puedo entenderlo.
+
+Insistis en que la mujer, segun el plan divino, es para el hogar y el
+hombre para la sociedad y en eso consiste la verdadera division del
+trabajo entre las dos mitades del genero humano. ?Me quereis decir
+por que, si eso fuera el plan de Dios, todas las religiones y todas
+las escuelas de moral coinciden en prescribir el deber al projimo,
+el amor a los semejantes? ?Se ha dirigido el Senor solo al hombre
+y no a la mujer tambien cuando entre temblores de tierra y llamas
+resplandecientes entrego el mundo las tablas del Decalogo y dijo:
+"Ama a tu projimo como a ti mismo"? ?Se refiere al hombre y no a la
+mujer inclusive aquel precepto universal, contenido de toda moral y de
+toda religion, que dice: "Haz a tu projimo lo que quieras que hagan
+contigo"? Estos preceptos me indican que el hombre y la mujer tienen
+deberes para con los demas, tienen deberes para con sus semejantes
+y que no deben concentrar su felicidad en el hogar sino tambien,
+fuera de el, en la sociedad. ?Me quereis decir si el hogar puede ser
+feliz entretanto que la sociedad no lo sea, puesto que la sociedad es
+nada mas que la ampliacion y la suma de todos los hogares, y todas
+las miserias y males de la sociedad repercuten en el hogar de la
+misma manera que la felicidad y el bienestar del hogar influyen en
+el bienestar y felicidad de la sociedad?
+
+Quereis hacer una division imposible, dividir al individuo humano en
+dos mitades: mitad feliz en el hogar y mitad infeliz en la sociedad,
+o viceversa. Podeis hacer, si quereis, esa division; pero una de dos:
+o teneis que barrer por inutiles todos vuestros codigos que dan al
+hombre el gobierno y administracion de la casa para arreglar otros que
+entreguen ambos poderes a la mujer; o teneis que admitir a la mujer,
+si no quereis eso, en la participacion de los negocios publicos para
+que ella pueda, como en el hogar, ayudar al hombre a formar y cimentar
+la felicidad de ese otro hogar grande que se llama sociedad.
+
+Se dice que la mujer al presentarse en el escenario politico se
+enajenara al punto el respeto y la admiracion del hombre y, lejos
+de ganar, perdera las ventajas en que su actual posicion le coloca,
+fuera de toda lucha directa con el hombre, siendo adorable y adorada
+en todas partes y reinando suprema en el hogar con la autoridad
+indiscutible de la madre o de la esposa, envuelta en ese esplendido
+manto de gracia y majestad de que la ha dotado la Naturaleza, pura
+e impoluta de las manchas que las luchas e intrigas politicas dejan
+siempre en la reputacion y en la dignidad humanas.
+
+No creo que haya dejado de expresar deliberadamente en terminos mas
+poeticos y exactos la posicion de nuestros adversarios, y al decir
+"de nuestros adversarios" yo incluyo a la innumerable legion de
+mujeres que titubean aun en pedir el sufragio por consideraciones
+que no se si llamarlas egoistas.
+
+Pero, con todo, digo que ese ideal politico de la mujer no puede
+desaparecer porque ella sea educada en la politica a la manera que
+se educa en las ciencias y en las artes. La educacion politica,
+lejos de perjudicar los encantos naturales de la mujer los realzara,
+a mi juicio, por la misma razon y motivo que la educacion actual de
+la mujer moderna le ha dado otros encantos que no poseia la mujer
+antigua. A menos que sostengais que la educacion es en si misma un
+mal mas que un bien, que desmejora el caracter en vez de mejorarlo,
+no podeis eludir la deduccion de que ampliando los conocimientos y
+las experiencias de la mujer, dariais mas vigor, mas energia y mas
+encanto a la personalidad femenina.
+
+Nada infunde mayor respeto como la educacion; la educacion es lo que
+eleva el nivel de las personas. Desde el momento en que uno muestra
+ser educado, al punto obtiene la consideracion y el respeto de los
+demas. A pesar de los prejuicios de raza, solamente por su educacion
+el hombre amarillo u oscuro puede conquistar el respeto y a veces la
+admiracion del hombre blanco.
+
+?Cuando ha inspirado la mujer mayor respeto al hombre sino cuando
+la ha visto instruida y educada a su altura en los colegios y
+universidades? ?Antes, cuando la mujer permanecia en estado de
+ignorancia era acaso mas respetada que ahora? Estoy dispuesto a
+convenir en que era mas asediada, mas agasajada quizas, pero no
+por eso mas respetada. ?Llamais respeto y consideracion a aquellas
+vanas formulas de etiqueta que hacian doblar el espinazo del hombre
+a la vista de una mujer y le hacian decir cuatro frases vulgares de
+cumplimiento, para hinchar la vanidad o marear la cabeza de una mujer
+credula y fatua? ?Llamais respeto a ese habito singular de algunos
+hombres de calificar siempre de divinos los ojos de la mujer que tiene
+delante, de comparar sus labios a lindos petalos de rosa, sus dientes
+a sarta de diminutas perlas, su cintura a cimbreante tallo de azucena
+y otras tantas necedades de ese jaez? Si es esa la forma de respeto
+y consideracion que perderia la mujer por dedicarse a la politica,
+ella debe celebrarlo, porque todas esas formulas insustanciales de
+galanteria no pasan de ser lo que el cacareo del gallo para sorprender
+y asaltar repentinamente a la descuidada gallina.
+
+?Ni como puede, en verdad, inspirar respeto la debilidad y la
+ignorancia? De hecho cuando la mujer estaba en aquel estado en que se
+tasaban sus conocimientos, porque se creia que un poco de culinaria,
+de bordado y de piano, a mas de saber el catecismo, eran suficientes
+para el matrimonio, unica carrera que se le permitia, el hombre le
+dispensaba toda clase de consideraciones y cortesias, pero estas
+no estaban inspiradas en un verdadero sentimiento de respeto sino
+mas bien en una especie de caballerosidad, hija de la idea de que la
+mujer siendo de suyo debil e ignorante, merecia de parte del hombre,
+aquella proteccion, consideracion y cortesia debidas a la debilidad
+y a la ignorancia. ?Es esta acaso la idea que quieren las mujeres
+que se tenga de si mismas? El respeto es un sentimiento que nace
+de la idea de igualdad y a menos que la mujer se coloque al nivel
+del hombre en las cuestiones politicas, no dejaran de oirse estas o
+semejantes ignominiosas exclamaciones. iPero, mujer, que entiendes
+de estas cosas! No te metas en asuntos que no te importan.
+
+No necesita preocuparse la mujer de que al participar en el sufragio, y
+como resultado de el habra de perder necesariamente las consideraciones
+y cortesias de que se ve rodeada en la actualidad, fuera de toda lucha
+directa con el hombre y libre de ser atacada por el como una rival
+a quien hay que anular y destruir por propia conservacion. En primer
+lugar, es un error el considerar que la intervencion de la mujer en
+la vida publica dara por resultado la rivalidad de los dos sexos. La
+atraccion y simpatia entre el hombre y la mujer nace precisamente
+de la oposicion del sexo: si no hubiera mas que puramente hombres o
+puramente mujeres, acaso seria posible pensar que se destruirian porque
+no tendria objeto la vida ni la especie humana se reproduciria. De
+modo que en el interes de un sexo esta el no destruir al otro sexo. La
+politica, por otro lado, no es siempre una lucha personal; en su
+sentido propio y elevado es lucha de ideas y principios, de teorias
+y procedimientos y suponiendo el caso de que un hombre y una mujer
+se ponen frente a frente en una lucha politica no estan obligados
+seguramente a dar un espectaculo de _boxeo_ y de matarse a brazo
+partido, sino solamente a presentar puntos de vista y opiniones que
+tienen mas o menos fundamento, segun sus propios juicios. No creo que
+ningun hombre tenga derecho a insultar a una mujer por el hecho de
+ser su oponente, cuando no lo tiene tratandose de un hombre. Y en el
+caso de que las pasiones politicas dieran lugar a semejante insulto,
+?no tendria la mujer el mismo derecho para contestar o echar otro
+insulto? He aqui un caso en que la mujer tendra oportunidad para
+aprender a ser independiente en sus juicios y en sus acciones, ya
+que algunos parece que no quieren el sufragio sino a condicion de
+que la mujer tenga independiente manera de pensar y obrar. No quiero
+tampoco suponer que muchos hombres no quieren el sufragio de la mujer
+porque temen que pueden resultar vencidos en una discusion publica
+y el prestigio del sexo quedaria mal parado.
+
+En segundo lugar, si lo que quiere la mujer es encontrar siempre en
+el hombre aquella especie de adoracion que se tributa a un idolo, ella
+puede estar segura de ello con sufragio o sin sufragio. Esa adoracion
+no nace en el hombre por el hecho de que la mujer tenga menos derechos
+o este privada de ellos, nace de que la mujer es mujer, arquetipo
+de gracia y belleza de la creacion y el hombre quemara siempre el
+incienso de su admiracion ante el ara de esas divinidades. Recordad
+que se ha dicho siempre que el Cristianismo elevo la condicion de
+la mujer y la dio mas derechos; y sin embargo los pueblos cristianos
+son los que rodean a la mujer de mayores consideraciones y respetos.
+
+El sufragio no hara menos hermosos los cabellos largos de la mujer,
+ni empalidecera la rosa de sus mejillas y de sus labios ni hara menos
+graciosas las curvas de su talle, por el contrario la imprimira una
+gracia adicional--la de saber escribir una balota con su pequena
+letra--y mientras sea asi, el hombre guardara siempre para ella aquel
+tesoro de amor, de ternura y de adoracion que en todas partes y en
+todos tiempos y por los siglos de los siglos inspirara la idea de la
+gracia y de la belleza. Hercules se rendira siempre a Venus por ser
+Venus, aunque Venus sea sufragista.
+
+La educacion politica dara a la mujer nuevas armas para atraerse
+el respeto y la admiracion del hombre. La mujer entendera que su
+obligacion no consiste solamente en dar hijos a la Patria sino
+en educar y dirigir sus sentimientos, de modo que desde ninos se
+interesen en las cosas que se puedan hacer para mejorar las condiciones
+sociales, inspirandoles de este modo el amor o la aficion a servir
+una causa determinada o un partido determinado en pro del interes
+publico. La conciencia publica se dilatara, se robustecera conteniendo
+y reflejando los sentimientos de la mujer, elemento pasivo, hoy por
+hoy, de nuestra ciudadania, y en horas de crisis, cuando la nacion
+alguna vez se encuentre en peligro, ella se vera servida y ayudada,
+no solo por ciudadanos, sino tambien por ciudadanas, que no van a ser
+improvisadas ni inexpertas en las tareas y deberes colectivos sino
+acostumbradas a la disciplina de la organizacion y a los llamamientos
+del servicio publico.
+
+Tiene--?que duda cabe?--sus infinitas ventajas para el hombre el dejar
+a la mujer en la ignorancia, no solo de la politica sino tambien
+de otras materias. ?No es mas facil asi al hombre satisfacer sus
+caprichos y hacer de ella un juguete que puede dejar o utilizar cuando
+quiera? Ella es obediente, sumisa, resignada; no discute ni razona
+nunca; calla, obedece, sirve, un mueble hermoso que se diferencia
+de los demas de la casa en que tiene vida; muneca deliciosa porque
+habla y tiene un poco de juicio. Yo se que este es el ideal que muchos
+hombres quieren, por la sencilla y unica razon de que asi les conviene.
+
+Pero no es esa la mujer como debe ser; la mujer que nuestro siglo
+ha redimido de la ignorancia y de la esclavitud; la mujer que ha
+recibido de Dios una inteligencia, una voluntad y un corazon para que
+los cultive y perfeccione al objeto de que ella sea, no la sierva del
+hombre sino su companera, no la subdita de un rey sino reina al lado
+del rey, fieles y constantes aliados desde la cuna hasta el sepulcro,
+en la hora feliz o en la adversa, no solo en las intimidades del
+santuario domestico, sino tambien en los abiertos y dilatados espacios
+de la vida publica. El hombre y la mujer han sido hechos para unirse,
+comprenderse y amarse, para estar juntos siempre a trabajar, sufrir
+y luchar por cuanto hay de bueno y de bello en la vida, para afirmar
+el reinado de la pareja humana sobre el planeta y hacer de el una
+habitacion digna y feliz, libre de tiranias y sufrimientos y apta
+para ser vivida por seres pacificos e inteligentes y no por buitres
+y otras fieras voraces.
+
+Esta es la mision de la mujer y del hombre sobre la tierra tal como la
+comprendo y la concibo. Hasta que el hombre y la mujer no se encuentren
+en un perfecto nivel, en un plano completo de igualdad segun sus
+naturalezas respectivas de modo que pueda haber una comunion intima
+de pensamientos, afectos e intereses, la vida sera siempre ominosa y
+miserable para el uno o para la otra, y la Humanidad no triunfara de
+sus presentes desdichas. La criatura femenina ha salido de la mano de
+Dios tan perfecta como el hombre y no es justo privarla de ninguna de
+las satisfacciones y ventajas que al hombre proporcionan las ciencias,
+las artes y la politica. Si la politica es una noble ocupacion de la
+vida, ciencia y arte de hacer la felicidad de los pueblos, justo es
+que la mujer contribuya con cuanto quiera y con cuanto pueda a lograr
+esa felicidad.
+
+?Que duda cabe que la mujer tiene facultades, sentimientos, puntos
+de vista y metodos propios para hacer las cosas, diferentes del
+hombre? iCuantas veces se ha visto que cuando un hombre no se
+ha atrevido a hacer una cosa se ha dejado obrar a la mujer para
+conseguirla! Ella tiene su propia personalidad y debe darsela,
+como al hombre, la libertad necesaria para que pueda desarrollarla,
+tener voz decisiva en sus intereses y destinos, tomar por su cuenta
+los riesgos de la vida, hacer sus propias aventuras, experimentos y
+descubrimientos en vez de que el hombre la fije invariablemente la
+pauta de conducta y le imponga el molde en que debe trabajar.
+
+La politica ha dejado de ser lo que debia, se ha hecho demasiado
+masculina, se ha vuelto brutal, egoista, personalisima, porque le
+ha faltado la bondad, la abnegacion, el altruismo y el espiritu de
+sacrificio, que son cualidades caracteristicas del ser femenino. ?Por
+que no sacar ventajas de las energias de la mujer, de sus impulsos
+y modos de ver las cosas para mejorar nuestras practicas y nuestros
+procedimientos en la vida publica? iQuien sabe si la politica se sanea
+y se purifica un poco con la presencia y la intervencion de la mujer,
+de la misma manera que la presencia de esta en una reunion cohibe en
+cierto modo la licencia de las palabras y de la accion de los hombres!
+
+El monopolio ejercido por el hombre sobre las funciones publicas,
+ha sido, como otras tantas instituciones ahora desaparecidas, basado
+en la fuerza y violencia y con el fin de perpetuarlo se parapeta
+detras de la muralla de prejuicios levantada a costa del tiempo y
+del orden de cosas establecido, lanzando de alli los dardos de la
+satira y del ridiculo contra aquellos que demandan la cesacion de ese
+estado de violencia. Asi, ridiculo es la mas fuerte arma que ahora
+se esgrime contra la mujer que pretende reclamar justicia y obtener
+la reivindicacion de los derechos de su sexo, alguno de los cuales,
+como el gobierno de los pueblos, no ha sido negado ni aun en muchas
+de las sociedades primitivas.
+
+Por esto, la idea que muchos tienen de la sufragista es muy curiosa. Se
+la representa como una mujer que odia los quehaceres de la casa y
+esta constantemente fuera de ella, de dia y de noche. La pintura mas
+comun es aquella en que la mujer arenga en una especie de asamblea a
+algunas de su sexo, mientras su marido se dedica a barrer la casa y
+entretener al bebe que llora. Esa es la idea que ha sido vulgarizada
+por los cines y revistas y la que esta fijada en la mente de las
+muchedumbres que no se paran a reflexionar elevandose por encima de
+la superficie de las cosas.
+
+Nada hay, sin embargo, mas lejos de representar la realidad. La
+sufragista es una mujer, producto de nuestros tiempos de libertad;
+instruida como el hombre, conoce y no rehuye las responsabilidades que
+tiene en la familia; pero a la vez esta libre de preocupaciones y cree
+sencillamente en el deber de compartir con el hombre los trabajos
+concernientes al mejoramiento social, al bienestar publico de la
+comunidad en que vive; cree que por lo mismo que en el hogar hay
+deberes asignados a su sexo, tiene asimismo deberes que desempenar
+en la vida publica. En la vida domestica y familiar no surge ningun
+conflicto entre los dos seres por estar repartido el trabajo entre
+ambos; no hay motivo tampoco para temer ningun conflicto en la vida
+publica si se sabe asignar a cada sexo los deberes que le corresponden
+segun su naturaleza.
+
+La sufragista, por el hecho de serlo, no es antagonica a los deberes
+de la familia, antes bien comprende que el bienestar de la familia
+es el fundamento del bienestar de la sociedad, y tiene conciencia de
+que las miserias y vicios sociales afectan a la familia y ella puede
+y debe acudir a remediar con el hombre esas miserias y esos vicios.
+
+iNo! la idea que se tiene de la sufragista es erronea; y es hora de que
+por lo menos las personas inteligentes y educadas corrijan su propia
+impresion basada en prejuicios y en una mentalidad atrasada. No podemos
+impedir que el vulgo piense a la manera que pensaba hace medio siglo
+atras, pero el que muchas personas serias y por demas progresivas se
+contenten con la opinion del vulgo da idea de que aqui no analizamos
+bien el fondo de las cosas y nos dejamos llevar simplemente de las
+impresiones del momento.
+
+El sufragismo es una aspiracion legitima, un ideal de nuestro
+siglo. Tiene su raiz de vida en la filosofia e instituciones del
+mundo moderno y en las condiciones cada vez mas dificiles en que
+pone a la mujer la lucha por la existencia. Ella necesita protegerse
+y organizarse no para crear la rivalidad y armarse contra el hombre
+sino para ser un activo sumando en el progreso social y evitar ser
+victima de la explotacion y de la iniquidad de los demas grupos
+sociales por su indiferencia y absentismo en la vida publica.
+
+No sere yo, hombre de ley y legislador, quien me oponga a que esta
+aspiracion fuera satisfecha. La considero tan natural como el derecho
+a la vida y el derecho a la propia defensa. Y por ser natural no
+considero prematuro el que la mujer filipina reclame ese derecho,
+como ya lo han reclamado y obtenido sus congeneres en otras partes
+del mundo. Me es indiferente que el grupo que ahora lo reclama sea
+pequeno e insignificante: aun mas, me seria completamente indiferente
+si la mujer de este pais no lo pidiera o deseara. Para otorgar,
+para reconocer derechos fundamentalmente concordes con el espiritu
+de nuestras instituciones y con los ideales de nuestra epoca no
+consultaria con quien tuviera opcion de reclamarlos, los daria,
+los concederia porque es de justicia y es el plan de Dios que se
+realice la justicia en el tiempo y en el espacio. No soy juez sino
+legislador y mi primer deber es dictar la justicia, no administrarla,
+no esperar que haya quien la pida y quien se oponga a ella.
+
+Me satisface que haya un grupo de mujeres que representando la
+aspiracion de todas las de su sexo, se atrevan a acercarse a las
+gradas de nuestra Legislatura para llamar la atencion sobre una falta
+en nuestros estatutos. Esto me indica que ha nacido y se ha revelado
+la conciencia de ese derecho en la mujer filipina y no necesito mas;
+no necesito  contar el numero y la clase de las que estan en esa
+condicion. Rizal en su tiempo al abogar por los derechos politicos de
+nuestra raza, estaba con muy pocos companeros; en la mayoria de sus
+compatriotas, la conciencia de esos derechos estaba dormida. Pero
+mentiria y erraria quien dijera que aun en aquel tiempo la voz de
+Rizal no representaba la causa de toda su raza y porque el y los
+que con el trabajaban eran muy pocos, no debia prestarse atencion a
+sus demandas. El sabia en conciencia que su patria estaba oprimida,
+que defendia una causa justa, que abogaba por los derechos de sus
+conciudadanos y no se paraba a reflexionar si sus conciudadanos tenian
+o no la conciencia de sus derechos.
+
+Estoy satisfecho, por esto, de que las pocas mujeres que ahora hablan
+de los derechos de su sexo y reclaman el sufragio representan a las
+demas mujeres filipinas, a no ser que queramos inferir el insulto de
+decir que las mujeres de este pais estan privadas de sentido comun
+para oponerse o rehusar la concesion de derechos que pueden ensanchar
+sus medios de vida y sus actividades dentro de la sociedad. Importa
+poco que la aspiracion al sufragismo aparezca en su estado inicial
+o tenga la forma vaga de una proposicion no definida y concreta:
+desde el momento en que ha apuntado esa aspiracion, para mi es que
+ha brotado la semilla a flor de tierra y es inutil ahogarla, pues
+volvera a brotar. Cuanto mas retrasemos la concesion del sufragio
+femenino seria tanto mas en nuestro dano, porque es lo mismo que
+impedir que la semilla de ahora se convierta en planta y de a su
+sazon apetitosos frutos.
+
+No, nuestro pais no necesita imitar la lentitud con que han procedido
+las viejas naciones en reconocer los derechos de la mujer. No tenemos
+sus tradiciones, no tenemos sus preocupaciones para ir por lentas
+evoluciones y no por subitas revoluciones. Debemos admitir todas las
+revoluciones pacificas de ideas que condensan, como el vapor la gota
+de lluvia, una formula de justicia social. Lo mismo que admitimos los
+ultimos inventos en mecanica, industria y artes, los automobiles, las
+maquinarias centrales, los aeroplanos, debemos admitir los ultimos
+progresos en instituciones sociales y politicas de las sociedades
+mas avanzadas.
+
+El sufragio femenino encierra un fondo de justicia, de reivindicacion
+para la aptitud de la mujer moderna y debemos enseguida adoptarla
+sin necesidad de pasar por procesos innecesarios. La libertad de
+cultos que engendro la tolerancia religiosa, el sufragio popular que
+vigorizo nuestra conciencia colectiva, la escuela libre que emancipo
+nuestras masas de la tutela de los caciques, todas las conquistas
+de la democracia de que nos enorgullecemos no serian realidades
+hermosas, llenas de sazonados frutos, en estos dias, si hubiesemos
+tenido que hacer tanteos y dar pasos vacilantes antes de incorporarlos
+subitamente a nuestra vida social y politica. Tenemos que movernos
+de prisa y anticiparnos a las horas vagas aspiraciones de las masas
+femeninas para ahorrarnos de ese modo agitaciones que al fin habrian
+de sobrevenir y cuya justicia se ha de reconocer mas tarde.
+
+Cuando se dice que nuestro estado social no esta preparado para
+el sufragismo, que la mujer no esta suficientemente educada para
+ejercer sus derechos politicos, quiero preguntar si es que hemos
+necesitado decir lo mismo cuando importamos e implantamos en este
+pais las instituciones democraticas que son la base y el fundamento de
+nuestra sociedad actual. Nuestra educacion tradicional era enteramente
+contraria al sistema popular de gobierno y hemos adoptado este por
+considerarlo mejor que el otro, mas adecuado a nuestros intereses y
+a los ideales del siglo, sin preguntarnos si estabamos preparados y
+educados suficientemente para ello.
+
+Hace mas de veinte anos que la escuela libre ha abierto sus puertas
+a la mujer del pueblo, la educacion se ha extendido entre ellas en
+la misma proporcion que entre los hombres, muchas de las mujeres
+que han producido nuestras escuelas son ya ahora esposas o madres y
+todavia estamos preguntandonos si la mujer filipina ha llegado o no
+a la madurez necesaria para poder ser investida de sus privilegios
+politicos. No creo que se pretenda exigir que todas ellas sean doctoras
+y bachilleres antes de concederlas el sufragio.
+
+La educacion politica no se adquiere mas que educandose como no se
+llega a saber nadar mas que nadando. El argumento de la falta de
+preparacion suficiente de la mujer filipina favorece y justifica la
+posicion intelectual de los imperialistas de una metropoli que no
+encuentran a una colonia jamas preparada o educada suficientemente
+para recibir sus derechos soberanicos.
+
+Cuando el otro dia subi a un hidroplano para experimentar la sensacion
+de un viaje por las alturas, tenia--?como no decirlo?--cierta
+aprension, algo asi como un vago temor a lo desconocido, a lo nuevo,
+pero pasados los primeros momentos con felicidad me senti perfectamente
+confortado y dichoso de sondear los espacios y escudrinar los
+magnificos paisajes que se presentan a los ojos desde la altura. iOh,
+que hermosura nadar en la luz, cabalgar sobre las nubes y el viento,
+divisar el panorama de las ciudades, de las viviendas humanas como
+un mapa de relieve sobre el fondo de cristal de las aguas, cruzar
+distancias enormes en minutos, en instantes de un modo imperceptible,
+emular en todo al pajaro y como el pajaro aterrizar de repente
+sin fatiga y sin sufrimiento! Una vez terminado el viaje es cuando
+comprendi que mi aprension y mi temor carecian de fundamento, que
+no envolvia mas riesgos el volar por los aires en un aeroplano como
+el correr a campo traviesa en un automovil y me hice cargo de las
+innumerables ventajas que se pueden sacar de este aparato, producto
+tambien de nuestros tiempos, destinado a revolucionar no solo los
+medios de guerra sino tambien las artes de la paz.
+
+Lo mismo pasa con las nuevas formulas, con las innovaciones en el
+orden moral y politico. No se las adopta sin ese instintivo temor, esa
+vaga aprension que produce lo nuevo y lo desconocido. Se oye hablar
+mucho de sus peligros e inconvenientes para el orden establecido. Se
+cree poco menos que se desquiciarian las esferas del firmamento y
+que el eje del mundo se romperia en pedazos. Luego, despues que la
+innovacion se ha admitido, se encuentra que parece lo mas natural
+y logico porque las cosas siguen su curso normal, las estrellas
+ruedan y brillan lo mismo que antes en el azul y las montanas altas
+no se vienen abajo. Se sienten renacer el animo y la esperanza,
+las muchedumbres se avienen con el nuevo estado de cosas y los mas
+recalcitrantes se lastimarian si se les propusiera que se volviese
+el antiguo estado. Asi ha ocurrido en nuestro pais. Asi se ha hecho
+siempre el progreso y asi marchara siempre par nuevos caminos.
+
+Es preciso que tomemos la resolucion de vencer nuestros temores y
+escrupulos. Si hablaramos del aeroplano solamente por el numero de
+aviadores que han perecido, no admitiriamos nunca esa invencion. Es
+preciso que nos embarquemos en el para probarnos a nosotros mismos que
+nuestros temores y preocupaciones carecen de fundamento. No hay que
+perder de vista que el sufragismo no es una cosa nueva en el mundo, ya
+no es un experimento sino un hecho y ha tomado carta de naturaleza en
+algunos paises. Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Del mismo modo
+que para conocer las ventajas de este aparato no vamos a preguntar a
+los que nunca han viajado con el sino a los que han hecho experiencias
+con el mismo, asi tambien para conocer las ventajas del sufragismo
+no debemos dar credito a los que lo combaten por principios y teorias
+sino a los paises que han hecho experimentos con el y han probado ya
+sus resultados. El hecho que debemos anotar es que el sufragismo cunde
+con mayor fuerza cada dia y se va generalizando en los paises en que se
+ha admitido. Lo mismo exactamente que el aeroplano. Por consiguiente,
+asi como seria perfectamente ridiculo en estos momentos declamar
+contra el aeroplano, por los riesgos y accidentes que pueden ocurrir
+y seria estupido no seguir los pasos de otros gobiernos que utilizan
+sus ventajas, para la defensa o la agresion en caso de guerra o para
+abreviar las comunicaciones interiores en tiempos de paz, asimismo me
+parece ridiculo, sino insensato, combatir el sufragismo en el terreno
+especulativo o mas bien hipotetico y no tomar la experiencia de otros
+paises como guia de nuestra conducta haciendo que el sufragismo forme
+parte de nuestras modernas costumbres e instituciones.
+
+Quisiera, para terminar, citar algunos extractos, pertinentes a
+este asunto, de un discurso que pronuncie en una velada celebrada en
+el Opera House y dedicado a Rizal por varios colegios de senoritas
+en 1913:
+
+
+    Se ha creido que la mujer debe reducir toda su esfera de accion
+    al hogar a la vida domestica, ser absolutamente la gloria y el
+    encanto de su esposo y de sus hijos; y no es asi, pues que la
+    mujer tanto como el hombre, nace en la sociedad y vive dentro
+    de ella, y no puede, no debe ser indiferente a las miserias
+    y las desgracias sociales. Pensar de otro modo seria egoismo
+    y aberracion, y dejaria a la sociedad abandonada a muchos
+    sufrimientos que solo la mano bendita de la mujer puede curar
+    o acallar al menos. Bien haya que la mujer sea en su casa amor
+    y ensueno, gloria y felicidad; pero tambien mas alla de los
+    muros de su hogar debe cumplir su mision divina y hacer llegar
+    a todos el secreto tesoro de bondad y dulzura de que la ha
+    provisto la buena providencia. Asi como en el hogar comparte
+    con el hombre los deberes de la vida, asi fuera de el, en la
+    vida publica, debe compartir con el hombre la responsabilidad
+    de remediar y de aliviar las desdichas publicas.
+
+    La beneficiencia, la caridad, la moral, por algo, tienen
+    nombres femeninos: y es a la mujer a quien corresponde
+    el ejercicio de todas esas virtudes en el seno de la
+    sociedad. Ella debe tomar parte, si es que no debe iniciar
+    en todos los casos, toda propaganda y toda accion que tienda
+    a amparar la orfandad, a socorrer la indigencia, a elevar la
+    idea de la moralidad publica. Ella debe luchar y sufrir, en
+    medio de la sociedad en que vive por cuanto hay de femenino en
+    la vida para calmar con un bello gesto de piedad la furiosa
+    contienda que se libra por la existencia, y durar con el
+    magico esplendor de su carinosa mirada la noche eterna del
+    humano dolor. La patria necesita no solo la fuerza de los
+    hombres, sino tambien la piedad, la caridad de las mujeres;
+    no solo requiere heroes, sino tambien heroinas. Y las hay,
+    y las ha habido siempre en la historia de la humanidad: y
+    las hay y las ha habido en esta nuestra tierra, cuyo especial
+    privilegio consiste, en sentir de graves autores extranjeros,
+    en que sus mujeres son superiores a los hombres.
+
+    Y estas ninas de hoy que adoran en Rizal y que le dedican sus
+    cantos y oraciones, manana se convertiran en las ciudadanas,
+    que no seran, como la infeliz Maria Clara, victimas de las
+    injusticias sociales, sino reparadoras de ellas, y sublimes
+    propagadoras del bien, de la virtud de la gloria y grandeza
+    de su patria.
+
+
+Si; abrigo esa esperanza, tengo fe en la libertad de la mujer. No
+puede permanecer una mitad de la humanidad en la parte superior y otra
+mitad en la parte inferior de la escala sin producirse desequilibrios,
+lagrimas y sufrimientos. Todos tienden a nivelarse en la vida como
+todos se nivelan en la muerte. La humanidad ha descubierto una nueva
+luz y su antorcha iluminara aunque los errores y preocupaciones
+de los hombres se empenen en cubrirla de tinieblas. iAy de los que
+resistan la luz! El mundo marcha, no se detiene en su progreso. Los
+que quieran quedar atras se quedaran porque es dado a los seres humanos
+ese albedrio, pero sera para lamentar mas tarde su culpa y su retraso.
+
+No me es dado vaticinar la suerte que cabra a los esfuerzos presentes
+que hacen las mujeres filipinas para obtener el sufragio; se sin
+embargo que sus esfuerzos deben ser para ellas y para nosotros un
+motivo de orgullo y de honor porque indican que ninguna parte de
+nuestro pueblo es insensible a los grandes movimientos del siglo. Hay
+algunos que se mofaran de ellas, muchos que se encogeran de hombros,
+pero las mujeres no deben desalentarse por eso, porque ni la mofa ni
+el encogimiento de hombros son razones de peso. Algun dia les daran la
+razon esos mismos que ahora se rien y se encogen de hombros ignorando
+probablemente la marcha del mundo y la de su propia sociedad, como
+aquellos que se burlaron de Rizal en su tiempo han lamentado su error
+muy tarde y le han completamente justificado y vindicado.
+
+Lo que necesitamos es hacer la luz y propagar las nuevas doctrinas
+para que las acepten las conciencias que no se niegan voluntariamente
+a reconocer la justicia y la verdad, unicos e inconmovibles fundamentos
+sobre los que descansan la estabilidad y el bienestar de las sociedades
+civilizadas.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Woman and the Right to Vote, by Rafael Palma
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOMAN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE ***
+
+***** This file should be named 26699.txt or 26699.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/9/26699/
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/26699.zip b/26699.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e21da36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/26699.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d06560
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #26699 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26699)