The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-10-04
LETTBR FRoM RBV. D. ?. NIFoHBLI
LEAvENwoRTH. sent. 81. 1857

71 LEAFkNS ORTIZ sept. q, 1907.
Hon, J: H. WATsoE-Deqr Friend:
Yours of The lib inst. has been received,
and IN reply viii say thai am in favor
of all sane persons over twenty one years
of age, not disqualified by crime, exerc:s-
ing the tight Of hanchise; because. Isl.
All subjects of law. who are capable,
should aid iG making The laws by which
they are governed. Toargus that women
and negroes do possess this intelligence
would be waste of paper while We have
before US such examples as Mrs. Stanton
and frederick Douglas. And it seems to
me that those who argue tbe opposite give
the clearest possible evidence of want
Of qualification to vote intelligi51y them
selves. Yet in my charity would even
allow such to vote.
Cd. II is argued that the slightest at
tentiOn TO political matters would unwo
man the sex. We have not forgotten that
this same plea was made. by certain
class. against all ministers who plead or
even prayed for the liberty of the slave.
Yet think such ministers stand as fair
before the church and the world as those
who complained of their Conduct. All
classes of men have their standard of the
social development ofwoman. Doubtless
the Kaw chief thinks his squaw sits upon
the arex of social life, so does every petty
chief Of Africa, and the lord of every
harem in Asia Then, if there be SO
many standards for the social position Of
woman, may we not differ with the oppo-
seFs Of impartial suffrage without being
called hard names? Undoubtedly, if YOU
were to ask the master Of one oftbe largest
harems in Turkey why he does not uuvaiF
his wives and bring them out Into social
life, to dine at his table aud to miugle with
the opposite sex in social life as We do in
America, he would reply. alt would blast
their regulations forever They would
become prostitutes" Would not every
school boy in America laugh ii his folly?|
So we think the historian OI the next cen
Jury will laugh at the arguments urged
sgaiust female suffrage in this.
But It's argued that the country women
are physically disqualified 10 attend the
polls. Iobserye that the female youth
have about equal powers with the male to
attend the country school or the dances;
and their mothers, in all weatbers, are in
fully equal numbers at the church aud The
funeral. They are also as frequent in Wis
ling the drunkard's widow and warming
and feeding his orphan children. know
not why they might not be permitted to
visit the polls aud deposit their votes
against Law that makes druukards.
But it is urged that the domestic re-
sponsibilites of women sometimes will not
allow their attendanee.at thepolts. Is not
this sometimes the case with every of (
I feer of the army aBd navy? 1t is very
frequently the case that the duties of the
| minister and the physician disallOW of
their attending thezeleclions, and this may
a saidsOf almost every profession in life.
," hO. would think of prohibiting man
from voting because be may not be al
ways physically qualified to attend the
polls21.eB once thoughtiutelligsnee should
be the standard Of voting. but on further
Protection Hound it would be very diff
cult to fix a standard aud to secure COM
petent judges of that standard. Then,
such an appeal made to those who are
not fully able toappreciate it. and hence
conld exert but little influence in ihcreas..
! ing the aggregate intelligence of the
country; while, on the other hand, if you
allow all to vote and lay the necessity on
those who are intelligent and wealthy.
| TO educate the masses as a matter Of ne
cessity for the general safety of the coun
try, we will soon have a great Incl ease Of
! aggregate intelligence 10 the communily.
A moments reflection on the past history
of our country in contrasting albe ag
gTegate intelligence of the north with that
tOE the south viii satisfy any one of this
fact.
There are many other considerations to
my mind why shall .hus vote, but these
are enough for this letter. You are at
liberty to print this if you choose. I
have no time to make speeches. my whole
time being occupied with other response.
biliriea 10 which have previously enga
ged. hope my friends will accept this
in reply to the many letters Ibavs receive
ed on this subject. I feei7that . failure at
this time to carry negro suffrage in Kan
sas would be a national, calamity &
Yours truly, D. p. MITCHELL
1 - Gc--zsso7q r.
The GRAIN Market ABRoGD.-The
/ late foreign news indicates that there will
be an uOusually large market abroad for
lie new American wheat crop. In Eng