Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-07-15
from the Montpelier Freeman.
The Woman Suffrage Question.

Press are voters. They are part OF the
government of Vermont As such can
they Justify themselves for rejecting the
petition of any woman for the ballot by
the excuse that her neighbors do not ask
for it ? Would such an excuse be any
Just answer to such petition? II the
publishers of the Free Press should send
a bill for arrears for subscription to a
subscriber, would they consider it fair
answer to their request for payment, that
the subscriber had been dunned by no
other newspaper. And would it not
rather add 10 the GOODNESS of such reply,
if the subscriber should advise the Free
Press to get other publishers to join in the
dun
And the editors and publishers oil the
Free Press are not only bound to do JUS
tice, as voters, by this application for the
ballot, but they are to deal fairly with II
in their newspaper. The responsibilities
Of journalism arc upon them. They are
not dealing with matter that effects on
ly South America or England or Africa,
but the question that IL addressed to YER
monters, their readers, and readers Of all
our newspapers. II newspapers are what
they ought to b., they are the leaders,
teachers and Instructors OF the people,
and not merely news-gatherers and indIt-
fercnt critics Of passing events. When
Justice il demanded they ought to hear
the voice, whether it comes from one or
from many. That many men are content
10 be slaves, il no reason why any man
should be kept as u slave against his will :;
and that many woman are content to be
ciphers in public affairs, Is no reason why
any woman should be compelled - re-
main so.
It is no doubt true that such 'sugges-
tions" as this of the Free Press are now
the most effactual weapon against woman
suffrage. They delay justice, and yet
seem to throw the blame OF that delay
upon those who ask for justice. No mat
ter if Mrs Smith wants II vote, and there
is no sound reason why she shouldn't
vote Mr.. Smiths conscience Is set at
rest on the question by the reflection that
Mrs. Brown and Mrs Jones don't want to
vote, or at least are not agitating for the
ballot, and therefore Mrs. Smith must
wait. This Is not quite fair and
square way Of meeting the question. but
it Is the way all reforms havA bon :
.ie.eI.
The Free Press replies:
We are sorry TO see the freeman weak
ening its hitherto earnest and able advo-
cacy of Woman Suffrage BY such incon-
sequential reasoning and beggings ut the
question as the above. The Freeman APP
parently considers it no reason why the
privilege of the ballot should not be eX-
tended to woman, that a majority OF the
sex do not desire and would not exercise
the franchise. Its position j., in itef,
that the laws should permit AL women 10
vote as soon as our women desires 10.
We confess ourselves too dull to perceive
the application of the instance ot Il sub
scriber i'll arrears of this matter. The
other case put is at least Ineligible. Il
is not right to hold any man slave
though thousands should be - We much
doubt ii any ever were content Il remain
in bondage, because personal liberty Is n
natural right, inherent in humanity l."
assert that suffrage i. such a right i q
simple begging Of the question. The
Freeman's argument, if II can b. called
such, goes too far. It is just sap4 for
extending suffrage - all minors, bec,lsse
some young men would b. Glad - vote
before they are twenty
We desire to do ju.tly, siti not only
Justly but goueran-ly, wit tblr question,
both IL !, voter aud i snap %. paDilr
opinion. But We do mot see d, " the
question Of Ped'euey cen he Discarded
III the matter. Ii the III i--,t ~ cit5tlvat-
ed and wornauLy women do Ia. desire
and Will not exercise the riIht to ,o'. r.
if the exercises Of the -uifrt.sr when
granted t. women l. ikrlT 10 ne confined
mainly to the bold, the ignorant, the
eosi1v briI.l III, who'll, tFrriut1inr1 Dt