The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-04-23
For the Jeffersonian
W0MANS RIGHTS AND W0MANS
-. WRONGS.

the great unthinking masses,
like subterranean fire. The earth is
growing hot under the tread of our
reformers, and now is the time of
danger. We may go too fast and
too lar, if in our hurry TO reform an
abuse, we do not weigh every word
we utter, and calculate In advance
every step we take.
If all government is derived from
the consent of the governed, as they
tell us, with what face can a part
undertake to govern the whole, with
out the consent of the whole How
dare the msjority take single step,
without the cooperation of the mi
nority, signified by their suffrages ?
If there be such thing as a natural
right--any right even "to life, liber-
ty, and the pursuit of happiness"-
independent of human concessions
then the right of self-government is
clear and conclusive; for what is the
right of self. government but the right
of suffrage? When a portion of the
people have no other rights thar
such as are conceded to them by
their lawgivers and rulers, how pre-
posterous to talk abOutnmurai rights
They are slaves and though theirs
may be a qualified bondage, and
somewhat more than other forms o.
human bondage-being dependent fol
all the rights they enjoy upon the
will of their masters, like the women
of Turkey or of Hindoostan-they
are slaves. And if men were dealt
with in the same way, it would soor
be understood as a truth not to be
questioned and the debate of the
Senate Chamber would be transfer.
red to the battlefield, and there
argued with the shouting of the
captains, and "with garments rolled
in blood" / would here remark in
reference to ''Objector's'' arguments
in reference to female suffrage, that
he is long stride ahead of his class.
He knows, and admits, that woman
is mans superior, morally; that she
possesses finer aud purer qualities OF
head and heart. But, then, 10 ! and
behold comes "Better-half," and
argues that women do not wish to
vote. Because there were q number
of slaves that preferred their condi-
ton as slaves, in preference to free
dom, 1t did not signify that slavery
was right and freedom wrong. But
could women vote, they would forget
their duties to their husbands and
children, they argue. We would ask
why a knowledge of public affairs
should unfit them for the discharge
of their household duties, any more
than it would unfit men for their
business Men are not obliged to
become law givers, judges, and SOL
diers but when they do, it is count
ed to them for righteousness. Who
ever thinks of objectiDg to candi
date for office, that he had a family
to take care of, that he is of feeble
or that the people who
choose him are beside themselves z
Why not deal with woman as with
man? "Here maids, women, wives,
men and husbands promiscuously
assemble to vindicate the rights of
human nature.' And why not p
They do all that in our churches,
and prayer meetings. The
lime was when they were not allowed
% 60 upon the stage, to sing in pub
ic, to ride in a circus, to make
speeches, to write books, to preach,
20 practice medicine, to save men,
ike Florence Nightingale or Grace
Darling, or to fight either On horseback
,r on foot with the weapons of men.
But how is it now2 They do all
hese things, and often as well as
nen-or better-though they are not
lalf through with their apprentice
hip, and are obliged to make their
way through a host of prejudices-I
like unmanly and obtrusive-clad
'in golden panoply complete Why
lot throw open all the resources of
he country and allow all to Judge
or themselves Are you afraid to
rust them, or afraid to trust your
elves You and they are one-I
What you are, they are. If they are
lnfitted to judge, SO are you. 9th
'rwise, your pretensions are a ridlc-
llous farce, and self-government-l
representative governments sheer
OBSERVER. .
Hon. III, +. SANFORD, of Connect