Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1869-02-12


The editor o., the Buchanan County Bal
feti',, who was born with the glorious idea OF
veisal suffrage the leading tenet Of his
political faith, has written an article reccnt>
ly in which he corrccts some statements rel.
a,ive TO The men and papers in this State ,ha;
FIRST led OF in favor Of woman suffrage. We
ars SURF no man OF no journal in loWa will
dispute the Balletia's claim to this honor.
IL editor has lesn 6ghting in this fight ever
since We have known him. AZ tho Republi>
can State Convention Of 1867 he presented a
resolution declaring ia favor Of woman suf,
fragc, and demanded that it should 60 into
the platform. 1t was met very coldly, and
did not receive mere than dozen votes.
As Mr.. Loomis has endeavored TO exr,ain
the position Of THs REG,s-Ea on this mat
ter, We viii extend this article far enough TO
exrlaia !, ourself This Journal never was
opposed to woman suffrage, but said four
years ago, says now, and will continue to
say, that i, is in favor Of aud will fight for
the measure whenever the women OF the land
or the women ofthis State show that thev
want the franchise. The trouble standing
between woman and the hallo, comes no,
from nan. A majority Of the men Of the
land are willing TO grant their mothers and
wires and all other females tha, right when
they even hint that they want il. No good
argument can be urged agains, the measure.
1t has oil the elements of righ, on its side,
and victory will come to il Just SO soon as il
Is invited BY those il will benefit. This 10
where we stand. We do not propose 10 force
the franchise upon the women OF Iowa, bu,
when they do move or show that they are
II r. al l. L -
we viii promptly aud gladly aid them al
that in our power lies. In The meantime on:
columns shall continue the friend and helper
Of the movement, aud be at oil times suen
to the opinions Of any Of our l.dy tcaiers
who may desire to say word for or AGAINST
it.-Des Noines Register.
In another place We have referred 10 the
very position occupied BY the Register on
this question, although that article was writ,
ten before the copy Of the Register con tain,
ing the above came to hand In addition
We would say, that II . grea. political priu>
Gple be right, no party viii do righ. until i,
adopts it. The Republican party of Iowa
glories in i,s advanced ideas and in its al,
vocacy Of justice upon priaeipls. Praeti>
cally the question Of negro suffrage in this
State was Of comparatively little importance;
it ~as the great principle Of justice and equal
rights to I'll men, for which the party bat,led
asd which made its warfare glorious. Bu,
the question Of woman suffrage is pu.c,ieAl.
y, 9. well As theoretically, Of r's. inpor>
lance to the interests Of Iowa. The Re. is.
fr acknowledges the princi.le to Re unaeni-
Ably right. Then Why orgh, no, the party
70 battle for il just - it did for negro suf>
rage. only thowand times harder. Did
he Register vi. for tie negroes Of the State
o ask for To-. franchise7 Would it not hare
'esissed s.s absurd the argument that the ne
gro h'd not asked for is? And now will il
so.lly demand ,ha: q majority Of the women |
Of Iowa must 6rst ask for il? As the Du-
buque Herald says, "Nhat evidence mus,
the Register have that the women want to |
vote?" We know Of scores OF the most in. |
selligeni women Of Buchanan County who |
want their right to vote accorded them. |
We're it not for their peculiar position with |
reference to the men who oppose their vo>
ting, thousands and tens Of thousa nds Of the |
women Of Iowa who actually keep closed
mouths on this subject or even more repre-
hensibly stultify their own souls BY open op.
position, would boldly declare their desire
for the franchise to-dar, were the opportuni.
ty offered them. The very position in which |
woman is placed relative to this question is
most embarrassing and humiIlAiing. We
would have expected the gallant editor Of
the Register to have delicate perception Of
this fact.
Il it not strange that the opponents Of NO
mrn sufrage tanoag whom the Register 10
nc;) use the sane arguments that were EN-.
p'oyed score ef yeas since asianst the
emancipation Of the slave?
20, the slaves are happier and better of |
as they are-,hey don't ask 70 Be iioeras.d-
What middle aged man has not in his day
heard this argsment? And Who does not
nov know that the whole assertion is lie |
We are assonished that the Register should
talk about forcing the franchise upon the
women of Iowa. Perhaps Bro. Clarkson |
Of the Register is forced to deposi. Lis ballot;
The rest Of Us are rot in that predicamens;
but We have the pleased opportunity accord,
ed US Of exercising our right TO vote, when>
ever We sse 6s to embrace il. All We ask is |
that women shall have the same opportunity.