diff options
Diffstat (limited to '26699-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 26699-8.txt | 2328 |
1 files changed, 2328 insertions, 0 deletions
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 añejas 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 añoran 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. ¡Que 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. ¿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 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 lugareños 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 niñas en vez de +niños 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 daño 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 desempeñar en ella el +papel que le corresponde. + +En las sociedades retrógradas se enseña 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. ¿Es 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 cariño 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. ¿Cómo inculcar en los niños, 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 enseña que el +gobierno y la política son divinidades extrañas, 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. ¿Es esto justo? ¿Es 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. + +¡Si 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. + +¿Qué extraño 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 compañía 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 niños; 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. + +¿Quién 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 prójimo y para con el Estado? El +hombre como la mujer está lleno de deberes: en cumplirlos ordenada +y totalmente está el verdadero mérito. ¿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 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. + +¿Cuál 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? ¿Qué 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? ¿Por 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 niños 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. ¿Creeis +que esta cuestión no es de aquéllas que tienen relación inmediata +con el bienestar de las familias especialmente de las mujeres dentro +de ellas? ¿Quiénes 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 ¿quereis 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? ¿Y 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 +extraño a la sociedad y al gobierno y no se mostrará por tanto ajena +e indiferente a sus miserias y progresos. Nada puede hacer mayor +daño a una sociedad como el encontrar en su seno cuerpos extraños, +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 señala 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 pequeñeces, +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 atañen 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. ¿Me 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? ¿Se ha dirigido el Señor 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"? ¿Se 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. ¿Me 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. + +¿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 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. ¿Llamais 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? ¿Llamais 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. + +¿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 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. ¿Es 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. ¡Pero, 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, +¿no 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 pequeña +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 niños 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--¿qué 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. ¿No 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; muñeca 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 compañera, 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. + +¿Qué duda cabe que la mujer tiene facultades, sentimientos, puntos +de vista y métodos propios para hacer las cosas, diferentes del +hombre? ¡Cuántas 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. ¿Por +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? ¡Quién 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 desempeñar +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. + +¡No! 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 +pequeño 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 compañeros; 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 daño, 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 años 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--¿como 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 escudriñar los +magníficos paisajes que se presentan a los ojos desde la altura. ¡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 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 montañas 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 señoritas +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 ensueño, 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 cariñosa 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 niñas de hoy que adoran en Rizal y que le dedican sus + cantos y oraciones, mañana 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 empeñen en cubrirla de tinieblas. ¡Ay 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. |