Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-06-02
WaterlOWn Republican.
1fedneS9uY, lime 2, 1869.
TIE SUFFRAGE QUESTION ONCE

TIE SUFFRAGE QUESTION ONCE
MORE.
The Berlin Couro,et very truly re :
marks that the discussion between that
paper and the REPUBLICAN, loses much
of its interest to the general readers Of
the two papers for the reason that the
most of them never see but one of The
papers and so get but an imperfect idea
of the argument on the. other side.
We have also felt the great difReulty of
doing justice to our own or our oppc-
nent's arguments in the narrow lin is
of a newspaper article, but, as the sub
ject is prominently before the public,
we have devoted as much space to it
as we could conveniently spare. We
believe We are entirely open to convio-
ton in this matter, but whatever
may be the result of an abstract argu-
ment upon the question, we do not be-
ieve the time will ever come when the
policy of bestowing the elective fran
without distinction of sex will ever be
the general policy of the Government.
This policy has had its advocates in
this country from the first but it has
made slow progress, and we do not be-
lieve that there IS a county or even a
town in the United States which, on a
square issue, would give majority in
favor of Woman Suffrage.
True reform always finds response
with the masses, and in time is sure to
succeed; but we think the most neces-
sary..requisite of all real reform-an aG-
equate cause-is wanting in this move
ment and hence the Ill favor with
which it has been received The OBJ
iects of reform are to correct abuses,
prevent injustice and redress wrongs.
But the women of the country appar-
emily donot think that they are the vic
tins of any political oppression, seem
to be we'll satisfied with the manner in
whic their polticali terests are cared
FOR by their husbands, fathers and
brothers, and, as general rule, are
even more opposed to any change than
are the oppos tie SEX:
A person possessing no other inform.
alton in regard the matter than he
might obtain from the arguments Of
those fayoring female suffrage, would
inevitably conclude that a state Of en-
nifty exists between the sexes and that
it is necessary that the. women should
have the ballot in order to protect
themselves against the other sex. How
ever this may be elsewhere we have
never observed any such antag6nism
wherever our limited experience has
taken US, and we have considered that
it required no very profound obserya-
ton to see that any persons welfare or
interests are as safe wien at the dispo-
sal Of the opposite sex as if intrusted
to his or her own sex.
The Cotpants theory is that the bal
lot is individual ours that it is rep
rescntatige as we'll as individual The
Corant may ask our authority fol
this view-we have only to say that il
is justified by the general practice OF
the country and, we believe, it was re-
| garded as the true view by those o
| the signers of the Declaration of hide
| pendence who were afterwards mem
bers of the Constitutional Convention
otherwise they would have objected tc
the qualifications required by the Con
f
stitution for electors, as not necessaril,
securing the consent of the governed.
The Couraat would have all persons
without regard to sex, stand upol
the same political footing, and, conse
quently, be equally liable to perform al
political duties and assume all pol itica
responsibilities; we would place thes
burdens upon the male citizens only
as being better suited to their tastes
temperaments aud capacities. Our theo
~ has been in practice ever since repub
lican governments were first Instituted
and under it nations have prospered
the rights Of person and property have
| been secured and all the blessings Of al
enlightened civilization attained by til
people. The other theory has neve
been brought to the test of aotual'pra
tice upon an extended scale-at th
best what better results can we hop
from it than the other has shown? |
it wise TO change certainty for an I'm
certainty?
In A BAD WAY.-The jefferson
Banner of last week has pathetic arti
Gle on the evils of Internal Revenue
onl - c.rn.,4I,. ll,rtrorrnl -. IL -