Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-12-23
FEMALE

FEMALE SUFFRAGE.
Without a. all attsnpting to debate
the question, it must b. conceded that
the cause Of female suffrage IL gradu-
ally gaining ground. The right or pro-
pristy Of granting to the gentler gender
the privilege Of going to the polls and
depositing a ballot along with the mem
bsrs Of the other sex is agitated not
emily here but also on the other side OF
the water. The late elections in this
country and in England have brought
the matter prominently forward. Be-
fore the elections began this question
was mooted only in women's Rights
Conventions, and claimed the notice Of
but few journals ; but now, since actual
instances have occurred whore demands
for the right of suffrage were made at
the polls by females in preprid psrsona,
it has gained the consideration Of the
most eminent men, and is championed
or opposed by the most influential
papers. This ascending from compare
tive disregard into open discussion can
not fail to carry the proof that the cause
Of woman suffrage is active with a more
vigorous life.
In September last, it will be remem-
bered, . meeting Of women was held in
the ONCE of the Rspolution newspaper,
in New York city, for the purpose Of
considering the best means Of amslio-
rating the condition of the laboring
ones Of their sex, at which 1t was
asserted that the ballot-box was necss-
sary as the entering wedge Of all the
reforms needed. This meeting had
something more in it than mere blue
stocking respeetability. OF course, the
famous Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
and Miss Susan B. Anthony were pres
slt. The latter was elected . delegate
to the National Labor Union, which
convened but . few days subsequently
in the same city, and she not only at
tended the meeting of the Union in vir-
tue Of her election as a delegate, but
also took an active part in the proceed
ings, as its journal shows. Following
hard upon these symptoms of the in
tsntiou Of our strong-mindsd sisters,
the actual test was made on election
day.
Hardly had the polls opened on the
morning Of the third Of November, in
the village Of Rossvills, New jersey,
when . certain Mrs. Hannah Blackwell,
a highly esteemed elderly lady, long
resident ia the place, and the well
known Mrs. Lucy Stone, who bore her
some relationship, both Of them proper
ty holders in the county and tai payers,
appeared at the hastings and offered
their votes. The judges were taken all
aback. Ono Of them, however, with
ready gallantry, said that he was in
favor Of accepting their votes ) the
others objected, on the ground Of ille-
gality. The ladies, prepared for tho
emergency, did not tamely yield, but at
once argued tho points Of law upon
which they based their claim to the
privilege Of the ballot, and did il with
such clearness and precision that the
judges barely escaped conviction. In
the upshot the ladies were compelled 10
leave the polls, thwartsd, certainly,
but no. defeated" SO much for the
| effort on this side Of the Atlantic.
In Britain, during the new rsgistrs.
ton Of voters preceding the Parliament
airy elections, recently, numerous appli-
cations were made BY women to be reg
istered-in the city of Manchester alone
over six thousand Of them claiming the
right-and urged their demand in an
able speech by q Miss Lydia Becker as
their spokeswoman. As in jersey, 80
also in England, the application wal
overruled, the judges at Westminster,
in the latter case, proceeding upon the
ground that an amendment to the Re-
form Bill, which was proposed in the
House Of Commons by Mr.. Mill, substi'
tuting the word persons" for " man.
was rejected, and that BY this action
the House clearly indicated the intent
and purpose Of the bill in this respect
Here, again, we sec the privilege wal
denied, but other received thu
verdict with q full bent determination
TO try the thing again and what viii
not feminine importantly accomplish
Very recently, in addition, q Woman
Suffrage Convention wa held in Bos
ton-a convention in which the speech
es, to be sure, were able, clear, eogsn
and interesting, but in which no fact
or agumsnts not heretofore advanced
were presented, no new illustration
adducsd, and NO imper alive nsesssit.
shown for at once granting the right o
women to vote. The principle 10 sim
pie, and the statement Of it can occup.
but very few minutes. The advocates
Of the cause are waiting for the listen
ing public ear, and a favorable rsspons'
from the sober, Intelligent, thoughtful
men and women Of the community .
large. But the convention was still
sign that tho question has acquired
rscognition-high recognition. It wa
as remarkable for the presence Of som'
as for the absence Of others. or eours
the old few Of the sgitators were there
There were Garrison, and Fred. Doug
lass, and the Rev. 8. T. May, Jr., ant
tho Fosters, Abbey Kelley, T. W. Hig
ginson, James Freeman Clarke, John T
Sargent, Lucy Stone Blackwell, Wen
dell Phillips, Julia Ward Howe, Davi'
A. WATSON, and the Hon. Henry Wilson
Mrs. E. G. Stanton was not present