The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-02
WOMAN SUEERAGE.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The most imposing demonstration yet made
in the country in favor of female suffrage is
the movement which has eliminated in the
minority report of the House Judiciary Com
mittee, advocating the broad doctrine that
women have right to vote by the common
law of England, and furthermore that 'this
right is included in the privileges of citizens
of the United States, which are guaranteed
by section l of article II of the amendments
to the Constitution of the United States, and
that female citizens, who are otherwise clas-
sifed by the laws of the States where they
reside, are competent voters for representa-
tives in Congress-" 1t is true that ma ority
of the House Judiciary Committee unequivo-
cally condemned this doctrine, but the fact
that minority, consisting of burly Ben
Butler and Representative Loughridge, have
favored it, is no small feather in the cap of
the female suffragists. They have tricked
out their hobby in a semi official dress at
last, and they will now ride it harder than
ever. We do not know that General Butler
has been a special favorite with the ladies
heretofore, as it is quite certain that Secesh
damsels have not admired him overmuch, but
he has now established such an irresist-
ible claim to the gratitude of the strong
minded portion of the weaker sex, that if they
do acquire the right to vote ne will be enti-
tied above all other men to their suffrages
when he runs as a candidate for President.
Ben always did keep sharp eye open for the
main chance, and controlling influence over
half the votes of America is we'll worth look
ing after. Even the colored vote will be cast
into the shade by the proposed new oonsti-
tuency; and the only thing left now as a
novelty is scheme for making voters out of
the school children and the babes in arms
THE virtuous Josephs was severe on the
newspapers yesterday in a reference he made
to the steamship company BILL With lofty
dignity he declared that the newspapers were
wrong in censuring members for refusing to
pass the bill under a suspension of the rules,
and that if the newspapers wished business to
be done in this hasty manner, he could not
agree with them. 1t is astonishing how alb
solutely Spartan the virtue of Josephs is,
considering that his reformation is so recent
At the last session he was somewhat noted
for doing large amount of business in just
lofty scorn. Circumstances alter cases. and
it just SO happened that the particular bill
under consideration was likely to be made the
object of "tricks that are vain" by the
Josephs of the Legislature in case it was re-
ferred to committee, and as there was no
good and sufficient reason why it ought not
to pass without controversy, the newspapers
of Philadelphia advocated it as a great
public measure in which every citizen of
Pennsylvania had an interest. If it had been
some little matter about sailing the tracks,
there would have been no great effort made
to refer it; and if the virtue of Josephs
would not permit him to vote for it, he pro-
badly would just step out for moment "to
see man." and thus avoid the necessity of
opposing it. The virtue of our friend Josephs
can hardly be considered a first-class article;
but then it is necessary to remember that he
is beginner, and it is scarcely possible for
us to expect him to reach perfection until he
has had more practice in playing the role of
an immaculate legislator.