New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20
Womn7 Suffrage Judicially KecoGnizcd,

Auo question WneLnor women are entitled
to vote under the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments has now been passed upon 10.
dicially in three different cases. and in ali
three it has been decided against the claim.
This is as it should be. If women are ever
to vote in those parts Of the country where
they are now excluded from the polls. it
must be bv fair and open admission. not by
trickery. Every candid person, Of whatever
opinion as to the propriety Of admitting
women to the polls. knows that those
amendments were not adopted by the co,,n-
try Tor any such purpose or with any such
intention To say that the country adopted
them without knowing its own mind, and
without sore.eeing their effect is after
the exhaustive discussion that preceded
their passage. simply silly: and to
cay tha. after adoption they can
be twisted to Is new and uDheara
unheard OF meaning and effect. is as fair az
to say that after a man has sigued a note
for $1,000 the zone can be read ten" and
he lie held TO pay accordingly. 1t is diff
fcult 10 see how an honest ;uig. could
decide the question otherwise: and those
who first opposed the amendments on the
express ground that they did not entran.
chise women, and afterward turned round
and claimed that they did, have--very
properly --had their labor for their pains.
ln fact. 10 o!le would be so sure to rue the
results Of "a favorable decision az Theses
very persons. Woman suffrage can ONLY
come to stay wien public opinion is pre-
pared for it: and if the courts should to-
day admi; women to the polls. within two
years laws would be passed excluding them
again. and also. it need be. reecnstruvting
the courts.
The first case in which the question came
up was that of the United States against
Susan b. Anthony: bnt az the court unlaw.
fully and tyrannically prevented the jury
from deciding the guilt or innocence OF the !
defendant. the ease has little weight. In |
Minor We. Hoppersatt. Mrs. Miner, OF st. |
Louis. sued the judges of election for re-
using her vote. and the Supreme Court Of |
The United States denied her claim The |
bird case, that of Mrs. Sara j. Spencer.
against the judges of election, was elabor- I
ltely examined by the Supreme Court of |
he District of Columbia-one Of the ablest
4 United States courts, consisting Of five |
Judges instead Of one or twc-and the full
bench rendered a unanimous opinion that
While the constitution recognizes the right
It suffrage ss existing in women. it does
lot repeal State constitutions or existing
avs excluding then from the exercise Of
he right. While this case has gone up 90
ppeal, the appeal does not question the !
Constitutional recognition. It Is iudlcially
sta blished, therefore, that the constitution
ecognizes that women have right to vote.
These facts place the suffrage question in
new light before the public. Women,
nding their right to suffrage .iudiciallv
onceded, will largely ask why they should
9 debarred its exercise. Other facts, too,
how that the question is one of the issues
the near future. Eight wears ago John
tuart Mill moved in the British House of
Ominons to strike out the word "man" and
lsert the word 'person" in the description
persons entitled to vote. The motion
as rejected by ABOUT two to one; but five
ears later a bill to allow women to vote in |
'wn and city elections passed the same
ouse unanimously, and women have since !
1ted at such polls without any dreadful
'nsequences. The motion to admit them
J voters for members of Parliament was
gain made within few weeks past, and
ore votes were given for the measure
AN eight years ago were given against it.
hile the adverse majority this time. in.
cad OF over seventy. was but thirty five.
Michigan, last fall, despite discourage.
ent and laundering, 10000 men went to
9 polls and voted to open the ballot box 8
r their mothers. wives, sisters and daugh.
re. The organization of q ''yOung mems | +
oman suffrage league" in New York, its
rsistent activity and rapid growth are |
so signs OF the times: and another is fur
she'd by the fact that when a deputation :
pm this league lately appeared before the
sembled judiciary committee. they found
serious opposition to their views, and a
cling favorable to the movement among g
,st of the politicians who yearly gathered
Albany. The time has passed when .
It's or sneers can dispose of the subject +
oughtful people must address themselves
its earnest consideration; for if wOman's h
is to be prevented it will v
We to be by an earnestness and persis. .
tence of opposition at least equal to those i,
herewith it is urged.-Ncm York !Mercan. a
.JOurD0l :.