Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-08
The WOman's Suffrage Failure i'm
Colorado.

The defeat of the woman's suffrage
amendment in Colorado is one hardly to
be regretted by the judicious friends OF
the measure. 1t would not have been
carried under normal conditions of socie-
ty, and it would not have been tried I'M
der conditions fair to itself. The admission
of women to the privileges of the ballot
In Colorado would not have been based
upon the argument by which alone they
should wish to attain it, and although
they might never have lost it again in that
State, for In such cases there is no step
backward, it would very likely have him
dered its adoption by settled and nor
NAL community on whose deliberate and
unbiased judgment the value and safety
Of the privilege depends. Colorado is no
such community. Very much the larger
proportion of its inhabitants are males, and
its population, although it has consider
able infusion of the best culture and ad-
vancement Of the East, is essentially a
frontier one, with all its defects of educa-
ton and want Of consideration of any alb
stract politics. 1t cannot he supposed
that woman's suffrage would be adopted
by any such community on considera-
ton of its merits as a measure of grave
and responsible policy. If carried, it
would have been upon question of chlv-
airy, that woman, where she is scarce, is
entitled to anything she may ask for, and
that 1t wouldn't amount to anything any
how. We do not suppose that the friends
of the measure wanted 1t carried upon
any such grounds as these, or In circum-
stances where II would not have full
and legitimate influence upon public af-
fairs. The experiment has been tried in
similar community in Wyoming, with
out fattering results; or, rather, any re-
suits, good, bad, or Indifferent, and fail.
ure to accomplish anything, is almost
worse than genuine evil.
II woman's suffrage is to be adopted to
any advantage, it is to be on the sober
and deliberate judgment of an intelligent
community, with an equal proportion Of
both sexes; that it would be better fol
women and for the welfare of the whole
population; that 1t would purify politics
as the higher education of women has lit
erature and art, without degrading hei
by the contact; that 1t would educate wo-
men TO higher and wiser knowledge Of
public affairs without lessening her love
and devotion to her family and home that,
in short, it would be a practical measure
Ia its best and wisest sense. 1t Is upon
such an argument, and not upon any al
legged natural right to vote. that the ques-
ton should depend and should be settled.
And, on the other hand, 1t is but justice
to say, that arguments about the natural
disability of women are of no account.
1t is practical measure for whose adop-
tlon women should prove themselves po-
litically fit. as a whole, if they can and de-
sire, and when they do, there will proba.
bly, be little difficulty about granting.
Properly understood. it is not question
Of sntagonism at all. and the main efforts
Of the friends OF the movement should be
directed toward women and not toward
men. This. we doubt not, is understood
By the wiser advocates of the measure,
among whom we cannot count all the
preachers of the Colorado crusade
Providence journal.
George Stephenson. magnificent engineer and
good man, 10 to have his memory honored al
Chesterfield Eng, by the erection Of great ball,
the foundation stone of which is to be laid by the
Marquis Of Harrington. The hall will cost about