Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-04-21
.atertowa 8epnbIicaa,
Ne@Des9Qy, 2fgag2 81, 1859.
The W0uAg SUFFRAGE QUESTION

= With liz eNitCI OF tue Berlin CONFG5t
upon the woman suffrage question, for in
endeavoring TO state his argument more
strongly even, IS We supposed, than he
had stated It himself, and then trying to
answer it, our generous attempt is not
only unappreciated by him, bat he turns
upon US and belabors us more vigorously
for our manner Of arguing. his case than
for the way in which We defend our own.
The prsctieal argument that unmarried
! women who pay taxes and are not al
lowed to vote are greatly wrongel," we
offered as being perhaps the strongest
one upon that side of the question and
then proceeded to give our reasons why
We do not regard it Of sufficient account
to warrant change to the system of We
man suffrage, We shall be careful here
after to keep upon our side Of the fence.
In discussing this question we consid-
er that the fundamental error in the
CoUraats argument is the assumption
that It ls an act of usurpation and tyran-
ny that women are deprived of the right
| to vote. For our part we regard the
exercise Of the elective franchise as
duty and privilege in which the hus-
band and wife are equally and jointly in
terested. The simple act of casting the
ballot naturally devolves upon the hus-
band for the same reason that milit9ry
duty Is assigned to Aim-beeause it is
more appropriate to his masculine
nature. Other duties are naturally left
for the wife to discharge, for the reason
that she IS better fitted by her nature to
perform them. But the husband, while,
i toliing in the field, or:while bearing arms
in time Of war, or while in attendance at
the noisy and crowded polls, is acting for
his wife as much as for himself, and in
each case for their joint interests. And
the wife, while discharging her multitu
dinous household duties, is aboring for
the husband as well as for herself So,
with diversity Of tasks but unity Of pur-,
pose and interests, each one acts in his
or her own sphere for the common well
fare. Their interests are one, and what
could be more appropriate or BETTING CT
harmoniZing than that one ballot should
represent those interests? Separate bal
lots indicate separate interests, which do
not exist in this case. Their use would
do violence to the principle Of unity mp
On which the marriage relation IS foan-
ded, and, as We sincerely believe,
would be injurious beyond estima ton,
net only to individuals, but also to So
ciety at large. We therefore consider it
no tyranny that the right of casting the
ballot is restricted to the. husband, but
simply a most sensible and appropriat tie
arrangement.
The Conraat's protest against the, fact
that general rules cannot include all
cases" does not change the existence of
the fact. The present case is an instanc
of general regulation under which
small minority are deprived of It's privi-
leges, and subjected to a theoretical hard
ship which can only be remedied by
measure which would lead to real evils
incomparably greater than the one which
it sought to cure.
The Conraat denies that the leaders
Of the Woman Suffrage movement be-
lieve that It's success would result in the
destruction Of the present legal marriage
system, This is a question of fact which
must be settled by evidences but 50 far +.
as We know the weight of evidence is
certainly contrary to the Coufant's state
ment Ha @ H 5
It also says: "we consider the success
of right principles always desirable, re-
gardless of the effect on existing institu.
tons" We think the Courunt has made
mistake, quite common, by the way, Of
-eonfounding theories with principles.
Persons often have a theory which they
call a principle" but we know Of no bet
ter test of its value than is shown by It's
effect upon existing institutions" and if |
that effect is destructive upon instr utions
which the experience. of ages has shown
10 be good and aluable, as the marriage
relation, for instance, the inevitable con
clusion must be that such "principle" or
theory" is not only worthless bur /
dangerous one. ssa h'sa oda q
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS treaty
Il n 7 I ~