Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-06-28


what would that prove against the right OF
woman to a skare IN che government under
which she livesS Has the 18th amendment
purified or softened or spirituali2et anybody
or anything in particular And because 1t
has not. ought it to be, a. the Democrats
want il. amended out of the Constitution
What fairness or justice is there IN decfa-
,tion, made by those who insist ON voting as
their right, that women shall not vote unless
she brings to the ballot box better morals
and better behavior than are required Of
men,
! The Republican speaks of the woman 3
cause as - coming to save, coming to rescue
and to elevate, . and this We believe will be
the result Of its coming But it is not the
reason of it's coming, 1t is not the right by
which t comes 1t comes TO demand its
own. 1t comes as INTO rightful Inheritance
1t comes with every argument in its favor
ever urged in support Of government by the
consent Of the governed. It comes in the
name Of equal rights and fair play It comes
strong In every principle upon which Rcpub-
/ lican government has been, in theory, defend
cd in tins country. And why should its
coming be condemned or forbidden because
Mrs Woodruff il a woman and wants TO
vote, and may possibly in solae future cleo
ton be sent to Congress from the city which
has been in part represented by Fernand5
/ Wood and John Morrissey, and which elects
Barnard and Clrd9g5 as judges Of the Su-
preme Court Shall We condemn all voting
because voting sometimes elects Websters
and Buffers in Massachusetts,, Camerons in
Pc sylvania, OF Chambers in Michigan?
Shall We condemn the woman 5 cause IN ad-
vance because it is possible that Mrs. Wood
hull may sometime get Office
1t is true the woman cause has no loun-
cation except in tie principles Of right, as
the Rel.uj lean asserts but f the Republican
means by the .'Purest principles 81 right,
any other OF different principles Of right
than those upju which mans cause was
founded when, ia this country, he rcbelled
against government without the consent Of
the governed. we cannot agree 10 the propO-
-ition. Because women may d. what men
have done il public affairs, Is no reason why
men should have the undivided control OF
government. IL Is true that the woman S
cause should be i ~ nigh ana noble n its
means AZ in its avowcd ends. a. the Ropub-
iran asserts. and 80 should ~ every effort of
humanity q come 70 10 risA'7 anywhere
But Why should an exceptional morality and
virtue be required in this particular cause ?
in5o th'7 hieh chahccry every suii0f should
come with clean hands "nt equity can never
demand I'Shcr purity ~ woman r ~ 'oT
/ IN thdt curt than mas airchy hcen
demanded o. men At that tribunal there
7ii"uin h1' - ''e "a" i''r man '''i th'''''r
lii'' s-'i''e' RI" ''i "''H'''
/ Let Us not De misunderstood. We have ar
/ Htric rcsuect for Mrs. Woodruff AS we have
/ FIR Cen. Sickle. ~ as the ReD,.bIlraa has i..r
Gen. Butter We should consider Il ! treat
,;ndr,nca - tho .,ccc.. ,r Tho ,..,.c 81
,yo,,sr, snf-,.,. IS NJ. 1y..It.,.i ,,cre non
er,II,, ro.,,.,nflct d. d lo.lor Il, tho move
mont INF +lo r;.-f+ IF ,,...,...,., +, tl ballot
would still remain the same, justas the right
(indcpeGdent Of constitutions or laws Of the
2
/ government under which b. lives remains IN
affected BY the fact that. as orc Of the results
OF manhood suffrage Cen Butler goes to
Congress and Gen. Slckies is sent 70 repre-
sent the United States in Madrid. Any cause
/ is injured by unpopular Of improper alliances;
and it ought to be. In order, therefore, that
the woman's cause may make progress as
rapidly as possible, it should he, as far rs
possible. tree from objection Every caus-
ought to be- virtuous in itself. and t. have
vrtuous advocates and the cause Of woman
especially, because it relies for its ultimate
success upon the favorable opinion Of men
who Judge yvoman's cause hv duitea different
standard Of virtue from that applied to their
own. But it Is. after all Of the very essence
OF Injustice Tor man, having cloth cd himself
with power irrespective Of his virtue, to say
to woman when she demands her right t,
share power with him, q If you viii be vir-
tuous, you may otherwise You are nobody
anu iio'iiilS
! That government will be made purer and
better by the participation of woman in
public affairs, we confidently believe Thai
, man will be made purer and better whcr
: woman Is an equal partner in all his work
we see no reason 10 doubt. That woman
herself VIII be UNNECESSARILY strengthened
indiv dualized, made more -cfrcliant and
lndcpcndcnt more helpful 10 herself. to mar
and to the world. bv the success Of her cause
we expect That alt this may he a reason