Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-09-21
Woman Suffrage.


While In the centres Of activity,
wealth and learning, the great truths
are enunciated by the statesmen and
philosophers of semi-petrified condi-
ton Of society renders. the practice
Of the theories impossible. Men shud-
der ct violent inovations In the au-
tonomy Of government, and vigorous
ly oppose great changes in the social
system. Thus it Is the tenents which
attract the most Intelligent, are suf-
fered to remain without sealous deci-
Piles In the land Of their birth, adis-
tant community accepts the doctrine
and puts 1t into practice. In the Uni
ted states all the theories ofthe states
man and philosopher have found ad.
vocates and been readily engrafted
upon the new society, Not amsng
the least important question which
has agitated the minds of the great
thinkers of the present century is the
social status Of woman. In the prog
ress of human events she has emerged
from the condition Of a slave nearly, to
that of an equal, but the final step,
the complete emancipation OF the sex,
her elevation to an equal share of the
government is far from being accom-
plished, and, In fact, is so heartily op-
posed by the great majority Of man.
kind, even In the New World that the
weakest demagogues have scarcely
considered it worth their advocacy.
1t remained for Wyoming to put to
actual test the question of woman
suffrage. That territory carved out Of
the desert and peopled by a rough class
of men in whose breast we should
scarcely expect to fnd q refined appre-
citation Of woman was the first to be-
stow absolute and perfect equality up
on her. In the land just snatched
from the grasp of the savage by the
hardy pioneer the most delicate ques-
ton Of the day is being put fairly to
the test of experience. The world will
anxiously watch the effect. The phil
osopher and the statesman will gaze
eagerly for a surer solution of the
problem than theory could ever sup
ply. Intellectual women all over the
world will anxiously watch the con-
duct Of their sex at the ballot box and
in the halls Of justice. There shall the
world learn whether the administra-
ton of the laws has become purer,
whether men are elevated In their
public conduct as they are in private
life by the presence of women, or
whether the moral status of woman Is
limited by her too liberal contact with
her baser partner We are to learn
from Wyoming whether man is emo
bled or woman debased by her joint
proprietorship Of freedom. 1t is mo-
mentous question, and will be settled
for the near future at least by the lit
tie commonwealth In the Western
wilds. We all want q purer govern
men, and none would sanction any
movement to demoralize the female
sex. Ofcourse the experience of q
few months cannot settle the question.
On so momentous q problem we de-
sire abundant evidence. While not
therefore for moment claiming that
sufficient time has yet elapsed for a
fair trial we may nevertheless oppro-
priately call attention. to the result Of
female suffrage thus far, aud we are
free to say it is beyond our expecta-
tions. The Laramie Sentinel points
out the changes that have taken place
in Wyoming in the last six or seven
years, though not claiming that they
are altogether due to female suffrage.
1t paints to facts only as follows.
We never had term OF Court here held In
a decent and comfortable place, with its pro-
ceedings marked throughout with decency
Auu utCOTuilll anu ultfsteQ Vi everything
pertaining to levity and blackguardism, till
our ledies were summoned to attend and
participate IN 1t.
We never had grand jury here that bold
ly and undinchingly took hold to investigate
offenses against decency and morality, and
hunt out and bring Offenders to punishment
Till we had grand jury composed largely of
ladies.
We had several terms OF Court, but had
scarcely been able to convict or, punish a
single criminal for any crime, however helm
Gus, through the medium OF those Courts :,
till we got juries composed largely OF wo-
men. ~ LNFE 80 ! +
We did not have single election hero
without drunkenness, rowdyism, quarreling,
fighting and blo0dshed, until our wives,
mothers, sisters and daughters werc permit
ted to accompany us TO the polls. We well
remember the time when many man stay
ed away rom the polls, losing his right Of
citizenship rather than encounter the danger
and rowdyism he must meet In order to exer-
else II.
But all this Is changed. Our elections go
of as quietly as any other social gathering,
no matter how heated political campaign
may be. or how important tho issues at stake.
And we all point with pride to the result,
whether or not we agree as to the cause
which has produced 1t. ss
Tremendous storms have prevailed
all through New Mexico for the past