The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-02-10
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

to raise q special committee to which
should be referred all resolutions and
bills relating to the subject of woman
suffrage, Senator Vest suggested that
the committee on Revolutionary Claims
was the proper one to take charge OF
the subject, and in the course of his
remarks said: ..=
"But, Mr.. President, out of all COM
mittees without business, and habitu-
ally without business, in that body,
there is one that beyond any question
could take Jurisdiction Of this matter
and do it ample Justice. / refer to that
most respectable and antique commit
tee, the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims. For thirty years it has been
without business. For thirty long years
the placid surface of that parliamentary
sea has been without a single ripple.
If the Senator from Massachusetts
desires a tribunal for calm judicial
equilibrium and examination, a tri-
bunal far from the " maddcning crowds
ignoble strife," a tribunal eminently
respectable, dignified and unique, why
not send this question to tho Commit
tee on Revolutionary Claims?
When I name tho personnel of that
committee it will be evident that any
consideration on any subject touching
deliberate but Immediate attention, fOr
the second member upon that commit
tee is my distinguished friend from
Florida [Mr. Jones), and who can doubt
that he would give his undivided atten-
ton to the subject? [Laughter.1 1t is
eminently proper that this subject
should go to that committee because If
there Is any revolutionary claim in this
country 1t is that of woman suffrage.
[Laughter.l 1t revolutiOnizes society !;
it revolutionizes religion it revolu-
tionizes tho constitution and laws and
it revolutionizes the opinions Of those
so old-fhshioned among MS AS to believe
that the legitimate and proper sphere
OF woman is the family circle as wife
and mother, and not as politician and
voter-those Of us who are proud to
believe that
\ woman's nobIest st ation is retreat;
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight;
Domestic work-that shuns too strong {:
light.
HBefore that committee on revolu
tionary claims why could not this most
revolutionary of all claims receive i'm
mediate and ample attention? More
than that, as said before, if there is
any tribunal that could give undivided
time and dignified attention, is it not
this committee? Ifthere is one peace
full haven of rest, never disturbed by
any profane bill or resolution of any
sort, it is the Committee on Revolu.
tionary Claims. 1t is, in parliamentary
life, described by that ecstatic verse in
Watts hymn:
There shall bathe my weared soul
In seas of endless rest,
And not one wave of trouble roll ....
Across my peaceful breast
Uaughter)
"For thirty years there has been no
excitement In that committee, and it
needs today, in Western phrase, some
stirring up BY all natural laws stag
nation breeds disease and death and
what could stir up this most venerable
and respectful BILE Institution more than
an application Of the strong-minded
with short hair and shorter skirts, in
vadtng its dignified realm and clucidat-
Ing all the excellence of female sur
frage?
"Moreover, il these ladies could ever
succeed, In the providence of God, in
obtaining report from that committee
1t would end this question forever for
the public at large and myself included,
in view of that miracle of female blau-
dishmcnt and female Influence, would
surrender ut once, and female suffrage
would become constitutional and law.
full. .' "'1 M
ssSir, insist upon it that in defer.
epce to this committee in Difference
to the fact that 1t needs this sort OF
regimen aud medicine, this whole sub.
ject should be so REFERRED" Laughter