The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-05-27


''gallantry and not their arguments make
men fancy that they are convinced.
Those musty, threadbare, arguments
exposed to the glare of the light Of the
nineteenth century, fade ike mists before
the rising sun.
And how can an honest, intelligent
man couple the names of two such pure,
noble, self-sacrifcing women, as Eliza
beth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Antho-
ny, with that Of Victoria Woodruff? Do
you think sir, to cast discredit upon this
cause by associating with il the game Of
a disreputable woman. II so, by the
same token, is the democratic party re-
+ sponsible for the acts and character of it's
gambler congressman John Morresey or
I its gigantic chief Boss Tweedl As the
I purity of character of few individual
advocates of measure is no proof of its
soundness or feasibility, or the bad odor
/ that may be attached to some other Of
/ its friends, cannot be an argument
against it. l agree with the PILOT that,
conservatism is nothing more than a
/ jealous fear Of innovation" but why
arrogant strong mindedness" is neces-
sary qualification to an intelligent exer-
else of the suffrage, or ''virility," a
necessary element in politics, perhaps
the editor of the Pnor will explain.
/ But, even though they were, what have
/ they to do with the abstract principles of
right and justice that are involved in this
question: Those are the principles upon
which the demands of this movement are
/ based. Politics are what man has made
them, woman is not responsible, SO why
should she be compelled to suffer for the
errors and shortcomings of the stronger
! sex, even though to become strong mind
ed and viriIe was the penalty? Woman
should be as much interested in the poll
/ tics of her country, as she IS in her re-
ligion. The one affects her in this
world, in the same degree that she ex-
poets the other will in the next, and both
should be so pure that all persons, with
out regard to sex, trace, color or previ-
Gus condition could meet upon one COM
mon ground, under one common banner,
and fight for one common cause.
A government ''of the people, by the
people, aid for the people" is yet to be
realized, for that which is formed, adj
miuistered and controlled only by men,
is practically nothing more than an en-
larged oligarchy whose assumptions of
natural superiority and of the right to
rule, are as baseless as those enforced by
the aristocratic and dynastic powers of
the old world. Is the right to vote and
| be voted for a natural one? If not
whence did it originate, and who in hu-
man form was competent to bestow it as
an act of favor or c0ndescension?
In that case the exploded doctrine of
the "divine right of kings" is again in
the ascendant, and that of popular SOW
ereignty falls to the ground. The indie
/ pendence Of this nation was sought FOR
and won solely upon the assumption that
all power resides in the people, and that
it is their high born prerogative in their
collective capacity as individuals, TO
! establish such government for their Sc
curltY and advantage as they shall think
best 1t was not possible therefore for
| George Washington to show better title
to the franchise than Martha Washing
ton. Our revolutionary sires asserted
/ the true doctrine as against the monarch
lal and arlstocratic pretensions of the
mother country, though they were gross
ly inconsistent, and fell grieyously short
IN the application Of it: In associating
the women of our country, en- 3Jtassc,
with paupers, felons, the insane. and the
idiOtic, as disqualified to have any part
or lot III determining what may be re-
qulred to establish justice, insure do
nestle tranquility, provide for the com
mon defense, promote the general wei
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity," is to re-
voltingly confound all moral and intel
lectual distinctions, add insults to in
Juries, and enjoin a perpetual and in
surmountable exclusion, which is not
exacted even in the case of male paupers.
felons and lunatics, as they may happily
emerge from their low estate, and be
restored to full citizenship; but how
shall woman change her sex? By this
remandlng they are doomed to be politi-
cal non entities forever, except as they
are allowed to be counted to augment the
number OF male representatives to rule
over them. 1t is wholesale injustice and
usurpatlon which ought no longer TO be
! tolerated IN the land.
| In the language of the constitution of
one OF our states, Government is insti-
tuted for the common good, for the pro-
| lection, safety, prosperity and happiness
of the people, and not for the profit,
/ honor, or private interest of any one
man, family, or any one class of men.
therefore the people alone mark, not the
men aloneJ have an incontestable, in
| alienable and an indefeasible right to in
shtute government, and to perform, alter,
or totally change the same, when their
protection, safety, prosperity. and hap
! plness require 1t, and In the language of
the same instrument no man or corpora
ton, or association OF men, have any 9TH
er title to obtain advantages, or particu-
lar and exclusive privileges distinct from
/ those of the community than what arises
from the consideration of services render
ed to the public. And this title being,
in nature neither hereditary nor trans
missable to children, or descendants. or
relations OF the blood, the idea of a man
born magistrate, law giver, or Judge
.or born to rule over woman is absurd
and unnatural. 1t is either fouy or
etfrontery for any man to think of escap-
ing this issue, by pleading that suffrage
Is an acquired, and not natural right;
for If the plea be admitted how does it
follow, without utter mental qualification,
that therefore all men, however vile or
deprayed as individuals, if unconvicted
felons, and complying with fair and
equitable regulation, are entitled to the
franchise, and therefore all women. how
ever signal their talents and qualifications
IN any case, are unfit to have it in their
possession.
Therefore we claim that impartial suf-