Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-27

Woodruff & CLAFLlN's WEEKLY-We
have received the first number of new pa
per with the above title, just started in New
York, under the editorial and general con.
troll of Victoria c. Woodruff and Teunie c.
Clafin, the ladies composing the noted firm
of stock brokers in New York. The new
paper will according to its prospectus be
principally devoted to the "vila interests
OF the people," and to the discussion of re-.
forms, social, financial and governmental
1t will advocate Suffrage without distinction
Of sex, and-,he only thing sensational in
its proeramme-tbe elevation of its senior
editor, Mrs. Woodruff, to the Presidency.
1t marks out for itself an admirable code OF
newspaper ethics. 1t assumes at once an
independent and courteous attitude toward
contemporaries, inviting candid and fair crit
ism, and discaiming all the privileges of
sex. The articles i'll the number before US
are well written, logical in argument and
unexceptionable in manner. They are de.
void of rant or extravaganza of any kind.
and in heir grasp Of the subjects discussed
are anything but feminine, as femininty is
usually interpreted. We predict that if
Woodruff & Clatlin's Weekly continues to
fulfill the promises of its first number, i,
will deserve success if it does not achieve it.
We give a taste Of its quality in the follow
ing extracts from an article upon woman
suffrage:
Suffrage is simply civil right, predicted
on the principles of the American Constitu
ton and form Of government. If all cit-
zens are equal before the law, it taxation
without representation be tyranny, then the
American woman, is rot equal to the
American man before the law; so long as
the practical expression of opinion Ge de-
MED her ia the right to vote; the only final
arbitrament known to Americans. III the
American woman's income, her properly,
or her consumable commodities, be taxable
and she can neither give her assent, nor
enter her protest, she is treated UNANIMOUSLY.
she is in bonds. The native born Amer
can man, the emigrant or alien OF any ma
ton, the native or imported colored man,
black, brown. or yellow, all are, or all may
be voters. They may vote upon the rights,
duties. obligations and liabilities Of woman
Immediately in charter and constitutional
a amendments remotely in the election Of
The women on the other
hand have no means OF recording one single
opinion. eli her in respect to the men or IN
justification Of themselves. This then is
an enormous inequality. The inequality
may in its application be more or less oner-
Gus (; or its existence may be more or less
keenly felt, according to individual senti-
But there it is; an undeniable, and
an nggrievng fact, a broadly marked fla
grant contradiction of the fundamental
princi' les of American government
What good will woman's suffrage do for
the women? is the frequent inquiry Mt men.
Not the least in life perhaps. Which ans
wer. if true, demolshes male suffrage at a |
blow. Suffrage is either valuable or value |
less. If vslueless, why cling so pertlna-
ciously to its exercise? If a precious priv
lege vital to the saving health ofthe nation,
wherefore withhold it from onehalf the |
people. Utility, however is not the main
issue in the adjustment of rights. 1t is for
you to give me my own; for NE to do as
will with my own.
We are not of those whose wit cutruhs
their discretion, and who profess to believe
that the most cherished right of American
freemen is snare and delusion, which has
chiefly been employed to work wickedness,
or to set folly and stupidity in high places.
Human nature is ft.liible. but its instincts
are not altogether upregenerate. We do
rot recklessly or cynicaly rail at the men
voters. We claim that women shall vote
IS of equal right. So claiming, We decline
% discuss whether the new citizens can or
will do their work more or less wisely. dis
'reetly, and virtuously, than their predeces
'ors under our present system.