Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1867-01-15
FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

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can be adduced to prove the right of men to
the elective franchise which cannot with
equal force be applied to women. The idea
that woman is the 8 weaker vessel" born in
dependence upon man, and should therefore
be deprived Of the right Of self,government
and selfprotection, is so manifes,ly absurd.
so inconsistent and 50 clearly An offshoot OF
Paganish barbarism. that its advocacy By
any American Of this day should be the occa-
sion of profound astonishment. The admis-
sion Of her weakness is an argument ~hv
she should be placed in position to protect
her own rights. The law is no. so much for
the protection of those who could easily
gnard themselves, as for the security Of the
weak against the strong. 1t is the very glory
Of democracy tha, the weak and humble
citizen has as potent voice in the govern>
ment IS the strong and proud. If physical
weakness is an argument agains; the exer
else Of natural rights. j, must, to be con-
eissent, be applied as between man and man
- well rs between man and woman. If ply
steal strength affects mans ina!ienable
rights, than some men, being stronger than
other men, should rule them, and some
women being stronger than some men.
should rule them,-which latter is per.
haps offener practically true than the FORM
e.. This argument carries rs back to
the system Of utter barbarism where the
strongest rules the whole. 1t is the most
degrading to its advocates and the most in
ssliing to women Of all the arguments ad-
duced By the opponents Of female suffrage.
1t is said that the exercise of the elective
franchise would degrade woman. The asgu-
ment might with equal potency be applied to
certain classes Of men. Some women are
less refined than some men. therefore they
are more entitled to vote. Very refined men
ough. no. to be allowed to vote on accoun.
Of its degrading tendency. clergymen, for
instance. ought not to be permitted to splly
the purity Of their sacerdotal robes by con-
tact with the dirty rabble At the polls.
Garry out the argument to its legitimate &C.
quence, and only the lowest. dirtiest. mean.
est and most degraded scoundrel in the land
should be permitted to control the destinies
Of the republic. Could any idea be mole
Transparency ridicnlous, and especially when
We consider that so far from being degrading
in its influence, the castiug Of ballot by an
American, is one Of the proudess, most i'm
portant and most dignifying acts which be
performs. 1t is symbolical of the inalienable
political rights and Of that political equality
snunciated in the Declaration of Indepen>
dence. Do ne ever stop to consider WY We
vote At all !? Government is simply IN Or
gnnized protection Of persons and property
In its true form it is established and main
tanned by the consen, Of the governed.
Among the governed there can properly be
no distinction Of pcrsons-all are equally
bound to maintain and obey the rulers and
laws fairly established BY . maiori,y-every
human soul affected can justly claim the
right to an equal voice with every other.
No Que can say to another, !" I am better
than thou, have rights which you do no,
possess The great Creator has given 10
crown Of authority to d chosen race or sex,
bat the world is heritage 70 which every
soul possesses an equal title with every other
Neither laws nor rulers are born-they are
established-and it is the expression Of each
souls kingly will in thus establishing them
which constitutes the franchise. And shall
II be said that this exercise Of the highest
function Of human society is degrading, or
that it would sully the purity Of woman's
character, dstraet from her surprising charms
and lower her to . level with those who de-
sire 70 tyrannize over her? A more spe-
cious and dishonest argument could not I've
made. 1t is the plea Of the tyrant who en-.
dsavors to conceal his oppression by smooth
tongued fattery.
We have not the space to consider this
question at greater length this week; but we
shall find upon further examination that
nearly every argument brought forward in
opposition 10 female suffrage Is ~ ground.
less as those already considered.