New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-27

For twenty-five years the snffragists have
been working for the equal rights OF
women with results SO fruitful and so rapid
that when we look back, We stand amazed
at our own success We have broken the
hard crust of prejudice, have captured the
Outposts of CUSTOM and have swept away a
thousand barriers, industrial, social. educa-
tional, professional and religious. We have
effected general reformation in the laws
that concern woman as wife, mother and
widow, and still more radical revolution
in the pnblic sentiment OF Christendom con-
cernIng the sphere OF womanly duties and
activities.
An immense preliminary work has thus
been accomplished. Woman suffrage, the
crown and keystone of all other rights,
comes, of course, more slowly, but it can
not long be postponed We have already
succeeded in establishing 1t in two Terri
tories, Wyoming and Utah. In two States
we have SO far succeeded as to get it sub
mitted to the people, viz: In Kansas in
1867 and in Michigan in 1874
In Kansas we pOlled 10000 votes for slf.
frage, one-third of the whole; 10000 votes
were cast against it, and it was defeated by
10000 majority. At the came election negro
suffrage was defeated by about the same
majority.
In Michigan last fall we secured 10000
votes, nearly one fourth of those cast;
the same election the new constitution re-
ceived fewer votes than the woman suffrage
amendment, and WAS defeated by q still
larger majority.
la Iowa woiAan suffrage constitutional
amendment has already passed one Legisla-
ture. Since then the Republican State
convention has adopted resolution in favor
of submitting it to the people, and the next
Legislature will probably do SO. In that
case the vote viii be taken upon it in Iowa
next fall.
So much for the country at large; now
then for Massachusetts.
In this State woman suffrage is still tech
nicallv "a Republican issue," the platform
of 1872 having never been formally res
ended. But it has been three times defeated
in the Legislature since then, and is there
fore, practically, without any party behind
it. A large majority of our friends are Re
publican, but they are not organized as
suffragists, and their influence Is therefore |
but little felt politically.
In Massachusetts and Maine we have an
important advantage in the fact that, in our |
State constitutions, the restrictive wcrd |
male is only used specifically in relation |
TO voting for members of the Legislature |
and Governor.
In the election Of many other officers the |
sexual qualification is matter not of |
constitution, but of statute. Simply by |
change in our election laws the women of |
these States may vote Tor all town and city
officials, for educational ard other local
boards, and for all questions, such as liquor
license, which may he specially referred to
them. They may also be empowered to
vote for electors of President and Vice
President CT the United States. To effect
all these important changes only bare |
majority of Representatives and Senators
are needed, with the approval Of the Gov
ernor.
As public sentiment stands to day, we can
rely upon the votes of onethird of the
Legislature without discussion or special
effort. Therefore, in order to give women
and presidential suffrage, we only
need the votes of forty more Representa-
lives and ten more Senators--ffty more
votes in all How can these fifty additional
votes be obtained! ,
We answer bv forming suffrage COM
nittees in each senatorial district of the
These committees should
consist of one reliable man and woman in |
Zach town aud ward. These persons, asso-
'iating with them the suffragists of their !
localities, and influencing the s
nomination and election of suffrage candi-
iates, can soon effect the necessary changes. .
specially when it is apparent that three {
ourths OF the men who vote against '
utfrage in the Legislature do so from mis-
aiken motives OF political expediency. Of !
he 10 Representatives who voted mo" $
he other day, one half would have voted d
yes" if they had been requested to do so
~ their constituents beforehand.
Here, then. Is the work of sufragists.
tefornl. like charity, must begin at home |
We shall succeed, not by meeting and pass
az resolutions in Boston once year; not I
y urging nnanswerabie arguments upon
ne deaf ears of reluctant legislators who =
ear to vote for an unpopular reform, but +,
v banding ourselves together in our own | o.
ard, in our own town, in our own district. o.
eady to break party lines il necessary. but "a
any case determined to help elect Rep. 81
ssentatives and Senators who are in favor he
impartial suffrage for women Womans D.
3ur7tal. 10