Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-04-10
Woman Suffrage in the Ascendant.

Woman suffrage is once more in the as
cendant. After a series Of reverses, grow
ing out Of the refusal OF the Republican
party to make ii a practical issue, Impair
tia suffrage for woman is again under dis
cussion this spring, in almost every North
| ern and Western State.
In Iowa both branches of the Legislature
have just voted to submit 1t to the people.
In Michigan the House of Representatives
has voted, forty-eight to thirty-five to strike
out the word male from the suffrage clause
OF the new constitution. In Kansas one
branch of the Legislature have already
voted to submit ii to the people. Even in
conservative Rhode Island the House has
sent a woman suffrage resolve TO the Sem
| ate for its concurrence. In Ohio there Is
| fair probability that the question will be
submitted to the people in a separate clause,
by the Constitutional Convention now in
session in Cincinnati.
Meanwhile many minor. points have been
gained. In Congress the proposition to
disfranchise the women of Utah has been
checked and seems likely 10 be defeated.
Women now vote in Wyoming Territory,
not only without opposition but without
remark. After four years practical exper-
iment, woman suffrage has been officially
pronounced by Governor John a. Camp
bell in his recent message, ian unqualified
success" \ bill extending suffrage TO wo-
men in all the Territories OF the United
States, has been introduced into Congress
by Mr.. Mellish, and will come before the
House of Representatives for discussion.
Women are being elected to public otlice
in almost all our Northern States. In Illi-
nois, thirteen ladies have been elected
County school superintendents with the
same salary and authority as men enjoy.
In Pennsylvania the new Constitution
makes women eligible to all educational
Offices, and two ladies have already been
elected supcrin,endcnts of schools. In
, Iowa considerable number Of women
have been elected to similar positions. In
California, bill making women eligible
for all educational offices has passed one
branch of the Legislature and will p:oba-
bly, become a law. In Massachusetts, the
attempt of the Boston school committee tC
/
= election o. more than twenty women tC
similar positions in various towns, in ad
dition to those before elected. 1t has re
v suited in unanimous affirmation of wo
mans co itulional right 10 be elected Il
=. administrative Office, by the Suprem
o Court.
The womans temperance crusade Is rous
!, ing and organizing women throughout th
IS country as never before. The co-educatio
; and co operation of women in every dc
"a parlment of educational, industrial and as
81 sociated activity is going on with accelerat
Is ed rapidity. The Patrons of Husbandr
in their Oranges, the Good Templars
If their Lodges, and other semi-political ol
at CARNATIONS, are enrolling thousands of We
m men for public work.
at The injustice of taxation without repr'
sentation," in the case of women, h;
IN aroused public attention, and general syn
m pathy has been manifested for the hero
III women of Connecticut aud Massachusett
in their refusal to pay taxes until they al
d. permitted to vote. A revival OF interest
the woman suffrage movement Is ever.
m where evident. Never since the NOV
a. ment began has the idea of wOman's equa
re ity made such progress as during the la
twelve months, and it is safe 10 predict th
nd it will make itself felt henceforih, as new
nd before, in every avenue of public thong
ue and activity.
He Not tue least hopeful among these pI
pitious omens is the growing discord Al
D., dissatisfaction OF both the two great pol
40 ical parties of the nation. The Repub
;, cans, who have broken their pledges to I
~ women, and the Democrats, who have l
-ed fused to make any, are melting awa
New eonbinations seem likely 10 ia
'i,s place, in which 1t is TO be hoped that "
hot man suffrage will neither be ignored l
neglected.
Il, Let the friends Of suffrage improve
ars coming two years with energy and disc
ton. The day of woman's enfranchi
=, ment is at hand. The Presidential elect
~ of 1876 must make woman suffrage on'
ih- the recognized issues of the campaign.
II position TO our movement has aires
brought disaster and defeat upon our
I'eu mics. lis vigorous adoption by our irlel
do will be guarantee Of its victory
mans Journal.