The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-09
Mrs. stanton in the National Citizen.l

Mrs stanton in the National Citizenl
Sitting in my library in the early morning of
our great National election day, that had dawned
bright and beautiful, my thoughts naturally
turned on our grand experiment of government.
the deep significance of a National election, and
the blessed freedom of thought and speech our
people here enjoy. My heart swelling with graft
tude and hope that our right to be a Nation
might to-day be fully vindicaed at the ballot-box,
I seized my pen to give the outpourings of my pa
triotic soul to a woman's journal-when 10 ''the
Republican carriage and horses" all decked with
flags and evergreens drove gaily to my door.
One of our leading citizens announced himself in
search Of voters. As my six legal representatives
were scattered far and near in the old world and
the new, offered to do the voting for them and
represent myself-a most fitting thing for me to
do, being the owner of the homestead and having
paid my own taxes in person, and having resided
in the Democratic State of New Jersey for twelve
years being also of sound mind, of the legal age
three times seven, and having sufficient education
to read the Constitution and the ticket l offered
My stanch Republican friend accepted the propo-
sitiOn. Accordingly, Susan b. Anthony always
ready to make an escapade the ballOt-box) and
donned our Sunday attire, stepped into the car
riage and were borne in triumph to the polling
BOOTH amid the crowd of American sovereigns
their crown and scepter, the ballot, in their own
right hands. This greatest of all duties OF an
American citizen we found was to be performed in
a wayside inn, where the aristocracy OF Bergen
county are wont to seek the elixir that keeps them
warm in Winter and cool in Summer though
suppressed on election day until the clock strikes
seven, when the polls close and the sun is sup
posed to set on this I'd day Of November
Ushered into the august presence of the In
spectOrs of Election, and of the imposing ballot
box with the Holy Bible pressed to its inanmate
lips, my champion announced ''Mrs Stanton has
come to vote a clean Republican ticket" As this
occurred precisely in the same spot where l usu-
ally paid my taxes, felt quite at home, and much
lighter hearted at the prospect of enjoying the
highest privilege Of citizenship than on any
former occasion, when compelled to pay its penal
ties, and when my heart did not respond to the
tender Scriptural sentiment at is more blessed
to give than to receive" The author Of that pre-
cept could never have paid taxes in a country
declaring that taxation without representation is
tyranny"
At the first proposition for a woman to vote one
of the Inspectors, whom knew well dropped into
his chair, looking as meek as Moses; another
stood back with bowed head, as if searching for
grains of mustard seed in the cracks of the floor
while the chosen champion for the combat took
his position with dOgged determination that "none
but male citizens could vote; that there was no
precedent for females voting" told him that,
in the opinion of many learned judges, lawyers
and statesmen, women were enfranchised by the
Fourteenth Amendment to the National Constitu-
tiOn which declares 'all persons born or natural
lied in the United States" to be ''citizens,u and
the Fifteenth, which declares ''the ctizens right
TO vote.
'I am here as a United States citizen" said T.
"to vote for United States officers. 1t is not the
duty of a town Inspector to decide on my liber-
ties. As to a precedent, there are many prece-
dents for wOmen's voting. Women are voting on
school questions in eight States of the Union to-
day, and on the sacred soil of New Jersey, where
we now stand, women voted for thirty-one years
from 1875 to 1907"
But this stOlid Democrat for the two Republi-
can Judges had cunningly thrust him forward
was impervious to argument or appeal and, in his
stress for something to say, innOcently admitted
what his assaiants and the bystanders had al
ready perceived-that he knew nothing about the
matter, never having read our constitutions, State
or National Shades of Jefferson and Jackson for
give! that of such material we now make town
inspectors of elections!
At this point, Mr.. Cooper, a Democratic State
Senator, seeing his brother Democrat pushed to
the wall impertnently called from the corner
spray proceed with the voting; we have wasted
time enough over this trihing matter"
Gentlemen" said /, "this is the most mo-