Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-03-06
WHAT RIGHT HAVE WOMEN TO VOTE ?

This is q question often derisively
asked by the opponents of womanis
suffrage everywhere. 1t is asked here
| to-day, before this association, in order
that some of the weightier reasons, at
least, may be presented for our consid-
Grafton, both now and hereafter.
To enumerate all the causes which
make it right for her to vote, would be
impossible within the narrow limits of
brief essay, but have selected FIVE
which seem to me important and con-
elusive to this end:
LIST, The God given right of equality
with man in the creation.
I'd, An equal standard of intelligence.
3D., Because the government under
which we live processes to secure equal
rights to all its citizens.
4th, Because the 14th amendment to
the constitution of this government, de-
clares women to be citizens, and
9th, Because the 18th amendment to
the constitution declares that whatever
may have been the previous condition
of inequality or servitude, alt citizens
are entitled to vote.
1st. The God given right of equality of
man in the creation. se0
In Holy Writ, Genesis /: u we read:
$50 God created man in his own i'm
age y male and female created
he them" "In his own image, male
and female" says the inspired writer.
To the Christian and believer in the
divinity of the Bible, can any proof be
greater of their equality in creation,
at least, than this plain and simple
statement? 49,.
I'd, An equal standard of intelligence.
Beginning with class of the young
est pupils in our mixed schools, and
following it from its first A b C's up
through all the intermediate grades Of
education, until the classics, higher
mathematics and sciences are reached,
all members of the class being subject
to the same discipline and with the
same instructors, on the authority OF
intelligent teachers and every examin-
ing board of professors in the country,
which sex is declared to be iu advance ?
Is it the boys or girls of such class
who win the highest honorsP The
girls-always the girls. Until the time
when o suicidal custom takes her from
her school and condemns her to O pur-
poseless life, or to filter away her mind
in society, with no greater aim than to
be sin fashion" and agreeable" she
stands always the peer Of her brother,
often his superior. Escaping this Gus
tom and thrown into the world of bus
mess or travel, with an opportunity for
her mind to broaden with the inter-
course with other minds, and to grow
large with the knowledge and expert
ences of real life, she expands into
noble womanhood-a working, earnest
women of which our country and Eng
land has many shining examples, show
ing what women can be who have heen
untrammeled in their mental develop
ment.
If intelligence gives o right to have
voice in the government Of free
country, then indeed has she the right.
Sd, Because the government under which
we live processes to secure equal rights to all
its citizens.
In the Declaration of Independence
Of tho United States of America, is
contained the fundamental principles of
our government and the announcement
of the intentions of those who founded
it, and the causes which impelled them
to free themselves from the dominion
of the Mother Country. In that docu-
nent the following paragraph occurs:
"Wo hold these fruits to be self-evident:
that all men are created equpl; that
they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unafienabfs rights; that aaions
these are life, liberty and the persuit Of
happiness. That to secure these rights,
governments ares instituted, deriving
their just powers from the consent Of
the governed" 81,
Under this government, which de-
clares that all are created equal, more
than one-half the nation is governed
,oithout its consent; more than one-half
has no voice in the conduct of its affairs;
more than one-half is compelled, in
silence, to endure and suffer from the
laws of the other half, which from its
very difference of sex cannot know the
needs of this silent majority" So
that these wants and needs OF women
may be met and satisfied, that her un-
alienable right to life, liberty and the
persuit to happiness" may be guaran-
teed to her, is another reason why she
should have the right to vote.
4th, Because the 14th Amendatory article to
the Constitution Of the United States declares
momen to be citizens. r ia
This is the language Of the 1st Sec
ton of that article: All persons,' not
oil men, please observe. /" all persons
born or naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizeos of the United Ttates and Of
the State in which they reside. No
State shall make or enforce amy la,o which
shall abridge the privileges o., imnauni-
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