The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27


young women of indianapolis have appeal
ed to congress for the upholding of woman
suffrage in Wyoming. The various and
moving motives inspiring this touching ap-
peal have been set forth before in these
columns. All the imprisoned periods of
the Ciceronian school are brought to bear
to impress the inalienable right of woman
to select her rulers. It has never struck
the enthusiastiq woman, intent on suffrage,
that the right to office implies some pretty
rough jolts in the journey of lie. What;
for instance, would our Indianapolis voters
say to a feminine justice of the peace send
ing the partner of her bosom "up for 80
days." or pay his fine herself1 Yet this in
estimable boon of suffrage has made just
such thing to pass-Mrs. Justics What
do you call her? Of Cheyenne =
found herself passing sentence day after day
upon her beloved lord. and winding up with
the cheerful formula of paying his fine, as
well as paying for his drinks. Now that is
feature of the suffrage grant, that makes
the thing look sort o. blue. Fancy it in
operation in this city with the nine O'Clock
law and the like in forcee Why, women
wouldn't have enough money to buy the
absolutely essential "black silk' after paving
her spouse's fines. Take another case:
,plucky Misses Smith, of Glastonbury, Ct,
who refused to pay Staxes because they
couldn't vote. Miss Abby Smiths writings
shout the case have been decidedly enter
tanning in the strong minded way. But her
eloquence could not stay the law. Yankee
taxes, like nearly everything else in yankee
dom, are the most relentless of taxes. The
ladies' refused to pay and the collector sold
their cows. Four of the best were driven
away and sold, and the taxes of the
wealthy spinsters paid. Abby's &C.
count of the sale was very affecting
and drew forth some sympathy. The wo-
man s~ffragists seem to regard the result as
great moral victory. To common mortals
it looks like a pretty fiat defeat. They re-
fused to comply with the law and pay their
taxes, whereupon the law proceeded TO vim.
dictate itself by calmly taking property as in
such cases made and provided. The women
stood in the way and the law walked over
them with blind impartiality, just the same
as any other people in like circumstances.
II victory consists in stupid contumacy
and needless martyrdom to established au-
Shority, they are victors, just as in
Ike disobedienee and violation of the
statute Miss Anthony was justly pun
ished by the court for voting last fall
What advantage is gained by these attempts
at passive rebellion the women may see,
but it is difficult for ordinary minds to see
any at all. They will probably learn in the
course of time that open defiance of govern
ment is not the successful method of carry
ing their point. Martyrs may be of service
to a cause under some circumstances, but
not when obedience is right and duty AS
for the officers of the law who took the prop
erty, they had no choice. The women made
their fight at the wrong place. 1t is the leg
islature of the state with whom they are at
Issue. The sympathizing women are max
ing up fund by subscription to buy back
the cows, but that will not help the matter.
II is well enough as mark of regard, but
probably the Smiths are not in need of the
aid.