The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29

accept the services OF q class daily growing more
and more ng for political action.
We do not intend, In this memorial to discuss
whether women have or have not been deprived OF
any natural or inalicnabe right by tnis persstent
refusal TO gram tnen the rlght OF sulifage. We
E0id that the progress OF events, to winch we have
adyerled, answers that question: All The ameliora-
lions OF our statute law favorable To women, and
especially the fac that wonlen are now, without
objection and with legislative consent, elected
ana appointed 10 Office nave tended 10 overthrow
the notion on which the restriction OF the suffrage
Is based, mat women are inferior TO In natural
right Inc men OF 1910 were consistent IN denying
10 woman the right 10 vote for they also Kept her
from holding ONCE, and tney subjected her. in re-
spect 10 ier property anu her children, 10 tine ryors
OF tho common law, under which women have few,
any rights, except those which humanity conceded.
silently, IN respect 10 customs ana statutes, tho
theory OF subsection ana inequality mas given
Way. Few mon, II ANY, VIA argue tao proposition
"a favor oil ancient theories. Oar request, there
lore, ID based upon The ae.ual condition OF pubic
right, whether the right be styled natural
Or conventional. liz Is based upon the mani
nave made i'll spite Of all obstacles In
knowledge OF public anatrs and III capacity for par
iicpating IN then. Tne change We ASK Tor is some-
times sad 10 10 revolution aud a dangerous one;
but Nj the point OF view we have just tried TO
illustrate, the revolution mas been progressing FOR
many years, AS Tar as regards Statutes aad Tor cea
turies AS fur as regards customs; aud Is gradual
that IL can Hardly, w posi- nity, be dangerous liz
is in q Inc with ihe progress VI legislation ami 80.
ciety. IL Il what almost all people are expecting
eventually 10 take place. IL Is peaceful and when it
comes " VIII hnd institutions anu laws beforehand
tne ieas Of the und or Tie shuddefing dread VI the
ultra Conservative.
We ask leave 20 remind the Legislature OF the
general fact that the restrictions imposed upon the
sulraGe In lscO and maintained up 10 1920 nave
nearly all been done away with rs regards men.
When joan Adams asd his Fellow laoor5rS placed In
the constitution the provision that every male per-
son having lieelioa estate OF the annual
income OF g. ANY estate Vi the value Of &J shall
have right TO vote Ill the choice VI representa-
lives, they doubtless, supposed hat the words de.
scrlD.ns the properly qualifications would last as
"A
sea- Yet The property qualification iOr voters lasted
only forty years, ana twenty years later the freehold
qualification Tor the general court was abolished.
uling the pcIlod from 1920 TO 1860 what Is known
rs The Two years amendment was adopted, being
u RESTRICTION ON the sotng OF paturaled men; but
this was ai.nued IN 1868, ana There ID now before
your 00aie5 proposition 10 annul the educat onal
changes, which are IN one direction as evidence
not specially that tie strong are .raspng power Tor
tAenSei,es ut the expense OF the weak; out, taken
III connection with tno enlargement VI the suffrage
over the whole country, bears evidence OF the spread
OF Tie DOCTRINE based, as We believe on experience
and justified W eyeat3, thai under q government
Theoretically democratic the widest extension OF
the suffrage is tile safest policy No man nor class
mas mere stake III tie country" more than another
man or another ciASs ana consequently no man or
Class should nave greater poAtieai power imam
another man or class. The superior influence whic h
nteecCua capacity, social POSITION or wealth gives
aaorda sufficient advantage without framing laws
Tor the exclusion oil persons OIL Inferior edIcatlou
Weaitn Vr position. ine country mas st0od ana wii
stand all tue strains " nicn We're prOphesied from
Inc lntax Of foreigners or the admission OF
negroes 10 ctizenshl9 Inexperence has hot wrecked
tnc snip VI state, nor nas competition scuttled
IL anu made way Win It's cargo. Ine counSry ana
the institutions OF democracy and the popular
theory OF Cove nmcnt have usen soi.cd 10y the men
WAC hayo been trusted under yiem; largely, TOO,
by rle men VINO nave been trusted with tue riRht
Oh suffrage since the original constitutional restrc-
lions Oh The SulfaSs We're removed,
What reason Is there for supp0siny tnat the ex.
pefinent OF intrustins women Win the suffrage
VIA have any disastrous ei1ecGs II IL please3 the
Legislature 10 undertake TO remove what seems to
us The oovIons enaency Oh the times, or 10 restore
some oi Tie restrictions upon tAe SUFFRAGE, our argu-
Inens i Dy means impaired. IL you return 10
the property ana freehold qualifications, we ask
that women vino have properly and freehold and
pay taxes shall vote with Tie men or property and
the men VINO pay taxes. II you rclain the educa.
tlonal test tho teachers OF yoar cniitfen nave no
Objection, provided adult them on equal terms.
We ask ONLY .or equality ol Fight. We OBJECT 10 the
restriction Oh account vi sex because IL Is the most
unreasonable or all Imaginable restrictions. Tno
properly qualification may Do justified by the
capao.c OF earning and saving money are ADLER ad-
nnbtasors vi pu3lic ailarS tnaa those Wno iali TO
obtain competence Ino educational test may be
luStled on the ground tnat is stimulates q desire
Tor knowledge anu Is IN some DEGREES an indication
OF ntness Tor government. Color mad something III
comparison WITH THIS to recommend It, Tor color was
the pause IN one secl.oh VI sefUt'iuc huu III INC
other oi lner0rtY oi opportunity AMI position. BAG
the women vi the county are born ana Dtei in the
same condition o. lie as men; they have equal
natural capacities; are taught IN the same schools.
worship IN tic same cnurcnes. attend Tao same pub
lie meetings, rejoice In the same victories and de-
piore the same defeats the Every year wit
nesses their advance TO higher EDUCATIONAL ana bust
ness positions; every year sees them more anu more
Oh an equality with men IN all the anars Of
apology or jusCincation for excluding then from
equal political rights. We would treat with ali due
respect che arguments on which the opposition TO
this claim on benaif Of woman Is based But we arc
stating the case lrnatye,y, and are not now AL
sWeripg obC Tons. We so iar depart from this pur
pose however, rs to notice the objections made In
l7lo aud 1889, for they are substantially the ground
WORK OF all this long continued denial; ana II we
are ahie 10 snow that The ground taken by the
trainers OF the constitution always Was unteuable,
and IN the lapse oi years mas become almost UNI
worthy Ut consideration reply. we shall have full
nned our purpose In thi5 respect. Perhaps the
ground on Which the suffrage was based III alassa-
onpsclts by tne original constitution Is nowhere
better stated tnan' " Theophlu5 Parsons, alter
wards Ch,ci Justice III Tie famous pamphlet caiel
"lhe Essex Result"
said Parsons, SHOULD nave voice in the election
OF his legislators 10 speak with precision, In every
Tree state where the power OF legislation Is lodged
In the Rana3 OF one or more bodies OF representa-
tyes elected for tnat purpose the person of every
meuDer ol the state, an an the properly II il, ought
to he represented, because Lhey are objects OF
agitation" Here is the general principle. NOW, let
US see what are the Ntut.ltiolJ. Al tho luemDsr5
OF the sac are quaLicd 10 make the election unes
they ha Se tsunlceitAiscret0n, or situated
as not To nave no w!l Oh her own; persons not
twenty years Old are deemed o. the former class,
municipal law OF his country Will not trust
them with the disposition Of their lands,
a Or saariaas Women. what age sosv ever
they OF are also considered as not having sanl.
cienty acquired discIewon; not from II deficiency In
Their mental powers but ir0m the natural tender
ness aua dehcacy OF tncir MINDS their retgel mode
OF lie AID VARIOUS domestic duties. These con.
cur ing ple, ent that proliscuous intercourse with
the wuIi4 WHOA IL necessary TO aualjy them Tor
electors paye. are of tie latter Class ana nave no
Wis., Tie genera prncIpe Is mat persons and
property Dcng 0Decla OF legislation, ali persons
ana all properly should be represented. but here
comes Ia cersaln ARBITRARY rules AS TO discretion"
TO limit aud modify the principle. What .discrc
ton meant lii lIs, wnen the ESSEX Hesult' was
written, and IN no. when the constitution was
made we have already seen. IL meant IAN estate
OF TIE value OF sixty rounls.n In 1870 II meaRt
SIMPLY enough propert. 10 pay state vi county tax
w.,nin Two ears OF the Tune Of volng, or snfewa.
ness enough to get the tax paid by Others,
and ig means the sano IN 1871, Minors
nov, as III 1850, are excluded by common consent,
because 4 Il acceSsa 10 tx some period rs the age
vi discretion, ad coniiuJa consent has arbitrarily
liked inc aye OF tweuty-one years. Women came
nexI, all were eAcluici, net lIom deficiency OF
mental pvoWess-a Aaanly mere Was conecded--hllt
Tor a reason WHICH satisfied the VINO Invented
IL una wMcn however wen grounded under the
statule5 aud customs vi ninety years ago, has bur
Iryln Il llrYa W. Woman a n mn