The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-08-02
FEMALE SUFFRAGE.


Elsewhere in Io-day's paper will be
found the proceedings of the Lyon cOun-
ty Impartial Suffrage League; also petit
ton to the voters signed by seventy four
ladies Of this town and vicinity, asking
the privilege of voting. Seven influential
names have been stricken from this petit
ton since it came into our possession.
One lady said she signed it lust to be
doing" aud others Say they signed it be-
cause somebody else did. Taking into
consideration all these circums ;ances, and
that it is an easy matter to get names TO
petition, yet there is good showing OF
ladies who are asking the privilege Of
votiug-better THAI we expected could
be obtained in this community. Dat of
the number on this petition, 6fty-two
live in the village and the balance are
scattered over the surrounding country
--ons living at least ten miles distant.
We have in our Office list Of sixtynine
names in the village who did not sign
this petition majority of seventeen.
Whether this is au exactly correct show
ing Of the strength of the friends and OPP
ponents Of the Female Suffrage movement
among the ladies in Emporis, We do not
pretend to saw. At all events, the show
ing is pretty strong.
Our position has been that if MAORI
ty Of the women OF the State want the
ballot, and would say so by some fair
expression, We were willing for them TO
bavsit. We have had no sympathy with
the efforts Of politicians to get up an
excitmsLt over the matter, when the wo-
men themselves did not ask it.
We have had but little TO say about
this matter edilorially. We have opeaed
our columns to its discussion, aud com.
municatioDs on both sides have been ad.
mitted, good bad and Indifferent. We have
been accused of holding back until We
could see which was the popular side of the
question. Whoever have made these
charges, whether friend or enemy, We car
assurethem they are mistaken. There is
ho'Teason in the world why we should try
20 get on the popular side Of this or any
other political issue; we have no favors of
political nature to ask of anybody-mau
or woman. Those who are best acquaint-
ed with US will We think, do us the justice
to say that we have generally, if moi
always, taken our positions on political
questions from conviction of right rather
than from desire for that soap bubble,
popularity. We admit that those who
differ with US as to how this paper should
be run, might have some reason to fud
fault with our course. This is a mere
matter Of opinion. Like many other men.
We have felt but little interest in the mat
Ter. While we have bsen opposed to the
measure in feeling. we have not felt call
ed upon 10 take up the cudgel against it.
We admit there sre strong arguments in
its favor, but are conscientiously of the
opinion that, all thingo considered, it
would not be the best thing for the coun-
try now. We are largely endowed with
caution, and approach all great changes.
as this would be, with slow pace, in
stead of going for it without due thought.
We might write column of reasons for
this position but will not do SO now. There
are many who say there are no sound
seasons against it. Those kind of asser-
tons amount to nothing. and never carry
conviction with them. There are a great
May so-called arguments against the
measure which we do not endorse. If
this is, as its friends claim. just reform.
it will triumph. Il has been before the
country for about quarter of a century.
and has made but feeble progress in the
Eastern homes of its champions. II
may come, but with the present lights be-
fore US, we are not 10 favor Of it. When
We are convinced that it is right and the
best thing for the country. we shall sup
port it with all our might.
We have said this much because there
seemed to be strong desire to have US
do so en- the part of both friends and op-
ponents of the measure. We could have
said it long ago, had we considered it
important TO give our position.
Our columns will be open, as hereto
fore, for the discussion of The question on
both sides. Make your COMMUNICATIONS
short and 10 the point.