The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-11

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the seven Judges Of the Court Of APP
peaIs--the highest Court in that State
Wesay deliberately and thoughtfnlly
that If the Constitutional Convention
about to meet in Illinois shall adjourn
without relieving the State Of the Vi
cious, corrupt, crude aal tyranoas sys-
tenn which now obtains. by which the
voice of the people is stiAed; and the
State is mis-grverned by political
tricksters, it viii besa burning shame
to the members and to their constitu-
entG We hope and believe that the
principle of Proportionate Representa-
ton will not only be- RECOGNIZED; but
will be practically applied in our new
Constitution.
WoMATs PLACE I'M THE STATE
We are in favor OF wOmsn's rights. We
recognize the right Of women to b repre-
sented IN the State, and We al>O recognize
the fact that they are nov represented. We
recognize the family not the individual -
the politieaI ssit. We recognise the fact
that both women snd children arc repre-
sented in the Goverument-for the law pro
vides that not only each head Of family
shall be IN slector or voter nc the polls. but
BY comforting the right Of suffrage upon
every young man upon bis attaining the age
Of II years, IL assumes that every such
young man Is the head Of family--its pro-
tector aud PrOvider-aDd therefore makes
him its political representative in the S,ate-
1t assumes that he 10 the head Of family
in passe, if not IN esse. as it also assumes
that every young woman who has arrived
ut the same age is a wife and mother iIs
pt.s,e If not in eSse
1t will be observed that the question Of
woman suffrage turns upon this point
Shall the State continue to consider the
husband and father the proper representa-
tive Of the family, or shall il provide that
there he an election held from time to time
in each family TO choose its elector and rep
resentativs in the State.
If the representatives Of families are to
be elected, they must be elected in every
family BY al the members Of each family,
including infants We must confess that
We prefer the old way. 1t should sl~a- 8
be borne in mind that the right Of being
represented and the right Of being q repre-
sentative or holding an Office in any
way is not. identical. Women and miners
are now represented through the heads of
families. To be represented is a matter OF
right; the question as to who shall be eligi-
bic TO the Office Of elector, is one of erpe-
deney, and should be discussed as such.
We ouee met captain Of q large ship in
one Of our seaports, an american BY
birth, and in all respects but one, eligi-
BILE as an elector. He offered his vete; it
vas challenged and rejected, on the ground
that be was twenty years and eleven mOaths
Of age. instead Of twenty-One.
Most Of the graduates Of our colleges,
aud even Of our professional SCHOOLS are in
eligible 10 the Office Of elector for the same
FeAUs-because they are mioors yet from
the minors We hear no complaints
The Office Of government 10 TO protect
socieay-of which the family is the basis.
In the great majority of cases the State has
Justly aasamed the unanimous assent Of the
members Of the family that the father and
husband should represent it in the body Of
electors. The State has, perhaps. rightly
assu mel that the wife and mother is fully
occupi& 10 more important duties than
th0st mere protective legislation, and that
wbei Be young woman gives her heart and
mana 10 tuc muu VI uct cuUCo- eu0, w tue
same solemn act matrimonial, appoints him
Der lelector and political representative.
As the family comes before the State
"a order Of time; rs the 6ringtag up the
cAiLiy~n is possible b,.fOre the State exists,
Dr when il has ceased to be, whereas The
State 70 rendered possible only By the
bringing up OF children. il follows that the
luties Of the parent demand closer attention
han those Of the citizen; or. to use a fur
her Argument, since the goodness of society
depends on the nature Of its
;itiseus and, since the nature Of its citizens
q more mO.lif.bIs BY early 'rsaiininy than
By anything eke, We must cOpcluae that the
Welfare Of the Family underIies the welfare
" Society." r