The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-11-02
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

: progress of human events, any new
cause leading to Advancement, to re-
, form, is started forward, it is natural
; enough that it should meet with great
r opposition by those who claim to be
far enough advanced already, and
are perfectly willing to remain in
statu gao-by those who wish no
higher unfoldments, no new develop
ments, no progression.
il So 1t has ever been In the past,
when some great philanthropic mind
has seen the expressions and abuses
of the ruling power, and has dared
to speak ont the convictions of truth,
and enunciAte principles in opposi.
tion to those then existing, thus form
Ing nucleus of minds 10 sympathy
with the principles advanced, and so
commence a movement which
awakens thought and action IN that
direction. and step forward is
taken in q reform which reaches to
the utmost verge of civilization.
1t is not strange, then, that we see
such q "Protest" as we read in the
COURIER short time ago, against the
cause of Woman Suffrage.
j And let me say to that "Republi-
can, that whatever the popular feel
ing may be ut present, in regard to
this cause, it will not "spend its force
in platform harangues and harmless
resolutions, with here and there q
feeble experiment" SO sure as JUS
tice, Liberty, Freedom, Right, have
steadily marched forward, in the
past, so will they continue to march
forward, developing new principles,
doing away with old forms, correct
ing abuses, erecting new institutions
OF truth and love, aud elevating man
and woman in the scale of humanity.
The arguments fif there are any
arguments) which the gentleman
urges against Woman Suffrage, !
imagine TO be analogous to those
which may have been used against
Man Suffrage, in the incipient stages
OF that cause, viz that it is not, or
would not, be expedient; that it wo'd
overthrow the government. or this, |
or that party that it would be detri-
mental TO the persons themselves
that the few could not so easily rule |
the many that some gentleman, or
gentlemen, might have 10 "vacate"
IN favor Of some better person, or |
| persons that zoe cannot longer be |
lords, rulers, and you serfs and slaves.
Ii see any argument in the gentle.
mans remarks, 1T is something like |
that. These objections having been,
believe, in the one case at least,
fairly end squarely met, I shall not
here notice them further.
But, when he makes the statement
'that large proportion of the intel
ligent, thinking men Of all parties
have already reached the conclusion
that political privileges with US are
already extended to the utmost limit
compatible with order and good gov.
ernment," I "protest." When for
eigners, who know nothing of our
laws and government, are allowed to
vote, soon after arriving in our coun-
try, and in some instances to control
the politics of the Country; when six
hundred thousand black men, lust
liberated from bondage, are permit
ted to vote, and three millions Of in
telligent, wise, virtuous, educated,
American-born women, who love
their country, and have shown their
loyalty and devotion to her in thou.
sand instances, are not permitted to
be represented, by her laws, and
share in her emoluments and her
honors, 1t is disgrace to every intelAi-
gent man of any party.
The question of woman's right
and privilege to the ballot and all
that it involves is not question of
expediency, it is a question of right
or wrong. If she is human being
sharing in common with other hu-
man beings thoughts, desires, wants,
aspirations, if she occupies a place
and position-in short, if she possess
es body and soul, then she has
rights which "men are bound to re-
spect," and being the weaker, physi-
cally, has the greater need OF protec-
tion, and such a protection at your
hands, OF which the ballot is an ex.
preston, not merely "chivalrous
sentiment and soft sentimentalities."
Ii governments are instituted for the
protection ofthe weak against the
strong, then the women of to day are
right in demanding the ballot. And
if the founders of this Republic in
uttering the great principle that
Governments derive their just pow.
ers from the consent of the govern.
cd" foresaw not the legitimate re-
suits Of their teachings, then it is
only another proof of the short.
sightedness of man, and that in the
workings of his affairs he is directed
by power higher than his own
...d ~ this they builded wiser than
they know.
In answer to the gentleman's sup
posed strongest argument against
women participating In politics, that
men would then drop their heads in
shame at the mention of the word
l have only to point to that realm
upon whose dominions the sun never
sets, whose beloved sovereign is
woman and mother, and | have
never heard that Englishmen have
ever been compelled to drop their
heads in shame because their govern.
ment Is participated in by woman
who has filled all tho duties of her
station, public and private.
Messrs. Editors | should be sur.
prised, shocked at the expression of
such sentiments, such a spirit as is
breathed forth in this article by this
American citizen, this Republican"
did not know that error is ever
opposed to truth, and every inch of
her progress is combatted by it's most
willing instruments, aod that it must
continue TO be so until the world shall
be emaneipaied from error and dark
ness.
Oh, Bigotry, Intolerance, Tyran-
ny, Injustice and Oppression, when
will You cease 10 comfort the fair !
Goddess of Liberty! when will you
cease to forge your fetters and bind |
your shacktes upon the mind and |
limbs OF suffering humanity. Back /;
retire into your ow dark loathsome
den, and listen alone to tho cankings
OF your chains and lat the world roll