The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-16

action, The remarks that were made in
the Senate when the appointment Of the :
committee was under reconsideration did mot
indicate any serious intention on the part
Of that body d taking up the matter for
Legislative action. The most pronounced
speech against any such possible action
was that Of Senator Beck, Of Kentucky,
who made what We consider very strong
point against the movement when he
pointed out the fact that the ladies who
| appeared at Washington as its champions
were not to be considered as fair specimens
Of those who would WELD tho ballot II 1t
was put in the hands Of their sex. We
must look rather to the dark side ofthe pic.
turc We have now in this country
; IN immense mass Of eniranchised igno-
rance, especially in the South. The ballot
: had been given 10 this ignorant mass as
result Of the war, or, in other words, us
! political necessity growing out Of the free
! dom conferred on the slaves by the results
Of the war. We had gone to tho extreme
: limit OF safe experiment in endowiBg this
ignorance with the ballot, and We could
c not except at our peril go further. 1t was
g Objectionable enough to have ignorant
. men-men who could neither read nor
II write-casting an immense vote-a prepon'
d deratiug and controlling vote in some OF
'e the States-withoat duplicating It by the
y votes OF wives and daughters who were
IS even more ignorant than the husband and
lie father. OF what avail would be
at the votes Of Miss Anthony and Other
<, champions Of the suffrage movement a
ID against this avalanche Of ignorance. Il
o. would not amount to a drop in the bucket
n intelligent, independent and incorrupt
Id able as they might be. We must TOOL
Us to the dark and threatening mas ,behint
ne them. For the sake OF giving educatet
ca women the ballot-many, II not most, o
ue them, do not ask for it, and great number
a Of whom would not voluntarily exercise
n il conferred-we would offer apremium 70
nj the purchasablc ignorance Of the land to ris
ne up in It's Samson like strength and over
". M whelm Us.
A' 1t seems rs II the remarks Of Senate
Nh Beck must have made decided imprel
jul sion on the Senate, as We do not obserV
the slightest reference to the question i
os that body since the passage Of the resolt
Of ton quoted above, by the select COMMITTEE
us !, We do not expect to see the matter com
10 up again during the present Congress, IN
'rn we doubt whether it is likely to recei'
'a' any serious consideration in either branC
ore Of Congress for an indefinite future tim
u. ne The fact that Il the ballot is conferred u
us on women at all it must be conferred on a
women alike, is an argument that will ki
OF the movement during this generation
Ns' least.
nu' OF course we are speaking in reference
IN, federal action in this matter. What NJ
0' of the States may do is another questio
i, Any one Of them can give women ii
NJ, %' right TO vote within their territory at al
Der and all elections, and for federal, State al
ssh local officers, If they see fit. But uni
his there is public sentiment in some Of Il
pra States demanding such new departure
the seems superfuous to agitate the matter
ut Congress.