Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1869-02-05
ADVANCING.

~
I'm 10 the commencement OF the
var of the rebellion. the American peo-
pls made even less progress in the
art Of government then the nations Ct
Europe Suffrage was no new thing at
tho period Of the RevolusisM- All or
nearly all the Colonial governments
were guaranteed the vght ef suffrage,
in eo,nc form in the chaEssss granted
them from he throne ef England.
No,wi,h.tandin , The gloricss princi-
ple of democracy enunciatcd in the
Declaration Of Independence, the
practical application ofthas principle
vas bu, Ii,,lc ncMer realization after
,h.n before the Revolution. for the
coloniy. would have made king OF
Geo. Washington, had he not nob!y
forbad, i, and the isalienable right
Of suffrage was still con6nsd to favor.
ed classes, As it has ever been to the
prsseut day. 1t was only now and
thea in cur earlier history - . ma
tion that bold, far seeing champion
cf human rights dared fsce the preju-
dice born of the ceuturics o6 barbsr-
ism, and boldly proclaim for the
rights Of man. Even the opPosenss
Of that wort of expressions, Aansa
slavery, for scores Of yean met only
opproLrium, while those noble hearted
men and women who publicly protest.
ed acains, the heathenish discrimisa-
tiou Of cur laws against women, we're
subjected TO every conceivable species
of ridicule.
The cause for this remarkable con-
di,ion of the American mind may be
found in the deeply rooted prejud'ces
inherited from the monarchial gov.
.rnmeu,s Of Europe, in that utili,ari-
m passion which inclined it to
IN, Of the discussion Of theories and
the application OF progressive ideas
Cor the acquisition ot material wealth,
and in the natural fears Of the ruling
classes ,ha, their supremacy would be
endangered by innovations. 1t was
q gigantic work for the reformers OF
she pas, twenty years to attempt to
overcome ,ha, prejudicc, 10 induce
the people to give serious thought to
the questions agi,a,ed aud to break
down the opposition Of that slave OH
cLarchy which had always domin-
eered in our political life; but the &C.
cession Of the Republican party 10
power accomplished the latter result,
in 10 far Is to hurl the slave keepers
from power and to stay the advance
Of aris,orcra.ic principles This led
to the great rebellion which 50 quick
" lifted the veil from the hideousness
Of slavery and opened the eyes Of the
people to the results invariably ssteed-
ing the coun.enance Of oppression
and wrong by the natioa- From the
absorbing persuis Of national sealth
the active brains Of the people we're
turned TO m earnes, consideration of
the principles Of their government and
of human rights
The logic Of events ard the persua-
sive power of Justice soon recoac'ied
them to tie emancipation OF the slave,
while no power on earth could no"
reconcile them to bis restoration to
bondage. But the emancipation OF
The slave NJ ece.si,atei The. placing In his
hands Of that only weapon which can
sscure him against injus,ice-ihe BAL
lot; and the people will not now see
him deprived off In our own gio-
r,ous Iowa. We have honestly, consis-
tsntly and cheerfully adopted the prin-
ciple Of equal aigh,s 10 all, 50 far As 1t
apple. to men and We oil feel proud
er Tor il.
Bu, here We stop-and the work Is
but half completed! Reader, did you
ever stop and think sehy your wife, or
your mother is placed On level with
children, idiots and criminals, in her
exclu ,n from the exercise Of her
natural right to voice in the ma
kisg Of the laws she il compelled TO
obey. Can you assign single rea-
son for il, not founded in prejudice or
which gill not apply With equal force
70 classes Of men. Hyoo believe in
the principle Of political equality at
oil, By no contor,ion oflogic can you
consistently oppose its application TO
woman, unless you deny her humani-
~ and individuality entirly.
The battle is but half fought The
legious arc mai shaling for another
contest. The battlements Of peju-
dice have bccn battered half down
and while the contest may be fierce,
the walls will 5e all the more easi-
ly scaled because OF the work already
done. Americans are at last study
ing themselves and learning tue mean
ing Of their Declaration Of Indepen
dcoce. They are learning that liberty
is no sounding name for favored
classes, Lu, that il means the same
rights for every mature individuality
thst no condition of color, national
ity or sex. can impair that right Of th'
individual to self protection which
6nds exercise in the ballot
And Of all the American States
shall not Iowa be in the van?
rmR NEW COAsTITuTlOSAL
A0gN ONEATS.