The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-30
Woman Suffrage.

There is a fair prospect that the people OF
Maine will be authorized to vote, at the next
September election, on an amendment to the
constitution Of the State, by which the
political disabilities of women will be remov-
ed. A vote of two-thirds of both houses will
be necessary to submit this question TO the
people, but there is probability that even so
large a majority as two-thirds can be obtain
ed. Last winter the proposition was merely
to authorize women to vote at the Preslden-
tial election then pending. This required
only the passage of simple bill by majority
vote. 1t is said by the opponents of woman
suffrage that the large majority of Senator'S
and the large minority of Representatives who
voted for the bill did not do so in good iai'h'
lin short, that the whole proceeding was an
immense practical joke. But 1t a singular
fact that it is impossible to find one OF these
cu,iouslv humorous gentlemen who voted for
a most important measure ''ior fun. When
questioned on the subject, they all say that
tbev really desired the emancipation of wo-
men.
This year the prospect is far more encour-
aging than ever before. The time has now
come in Maine when woman suffrage has the
immense advantage of general conviction
that sit is bound to succeed The time
has come when men have the indefinable i'm
preston that sit is in the air." aud that the
masses are at length ready to enfranchise
women. Therefore, man being in some re-
spects gregarious animal, the just cause for
which so many good men and women have
labored for SO many years has, at length, add
ed to its intrinsic moral strength the advar-
tage of popularity. The improved pros
poets of the reform movement arise from sew
eral other causes besides that al
ready mentioned. The most dreaded
argument made use of by the op
ponents of woman suffrage has been the
declaration that women themselves do no
desire it. There never was anything in sucl
reasoning that need to silence the advocates
of impartial suffrage. The injustice of ex
Guiding from the polls ten women who wisl
to vote is not in the smallest degree lessene,
because there are hundred women who d.
y
woman's apathy has not been without it,
effect. Happily the time has now come when
resort must be had to new tactics, for it can
be said with absolute truth that where the
attention of women has been especially called
to the subject, the greater part Of them arr
not only willing but anxious to enterupon thu
immediate exercise of what they now regart
as their natural rights. Petitions, prayin,
for reimbursement circulated by them among
themselves are eagerly signed. If there wer
persons who could or would give attention t,
the matter it is certain that tens of thousand
of women would petition the present Legisla
ture for the right of suffrage. In those places
particularly country towns, where Mrs. Camp
bell and other speakers have been able to rea
son with this people, there is substantial una
nimity among both men and women as to tn
propriety of trying the experiment of impair
tial suffrage in Maine. Still another favora
BILE augury for the cause is found in the fac
that many members of the Legislature WHIT
are not quite convinced of the expediencv o
the impending revolution, ARE nevertheless vii
ing to submit the amendment now pending
to the people They are content to let tn,
men of the State vote it up or vote it down
as they please. If the convention, held al
Augusta last evening and to day shall prov
success, it must act as powerful auxiliar,
in spreading confidence in the woman suffrag
movement and in fastening its success.