Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-13
A PLEA FOR UNIVERSAL
SUFFRAGE.
by Mm. LLOYD Garrison Jr.l

10y W ~ LlCyd OdTIlSSA
A last refuge of many intelligent
people, who are too enlightened to
oppose the right of voting on the
ground of sex. and yet not ready to
accept impartial Suffrage, is the plea
that the franchise is too broadly ex-
ereised already and should be limited.
Although this is the essence of toryism,
and a distrust of the great principle
that a republic is ga government of
the people, by the people and for the
people, it is the fashion of many to
urge it when the claims of woman are
presented
In the first place, if it were true
that Suffrage should be limited, the
| answer is, that when the same limits
apply to men and women alike there
will be no ground for complaint on the
score of injustice to women. At pre-
sent the objection is irrelevant and
impertincnt, not touching the question
at issue.
In the second place, is the objection
TO universal Suffrage a sound one?
The underlying principle of our great
experiment of self government is that
government derives its just powers
from the consent of the governed" which
includes the humblest member of socity.
Not from the consent of the rich of
the educated, of the strongest, but of
the governed. It was momentous
experiment based upon an abiding
faith in human nature, a conviction
that the average wisdom of all is safer
than that of any portion, however
favored. 1t took into consideration
poverty and ignorance, trusting to the
innate desire of humanity for order
and good government. Itwas assumed
that, although the principle might be
severely tested, as enlig htenment in
creased, fostered by popular education,
government would improve and the
responsibilities of the ballot have an
elevating effect.
So our national experiment was
launched upon the broadcast principles
of justice, and although the farmers OF
the government were inconsistent IL
not embodying in the constitution the
principles enunciated in the Declaration
of Independence, and applying them
lmpartially without distinction of sex
or race, the declaration will last for al
time, because it is as broad as humanity
But until our laws accord with it there
must be an aggressive conflict. Partial
ly as the experiment has been applied
and although Europe has poured inte
our midst hordes of ignorance, poverty
and criminality, to be assimilated, the
nation has stood the strain marvellously
Wisdom is justified of her children
We have undergone connections tina
would wreck monarchies, and in every
great crisis what has saved US? No
presidents, nor capitalists, nor scholars
but 1t is the uprising of the whole PEG
ple-the grandswell of popular feel
lng-that always decides the issue il
the interest of right and safety. Tall
as we may of the Irish or coIoreC
vote, each class has the right to repre-
sent itself. no matter if its represen
totiroo unsavory or had Nor cal
the virtue and intelligence of tn,
country afford not to have ignoranc,
and poverty send their representative
to speak for them.
They are the warning dial that indi
Gates to all eyes the magnitude Of tn,
degradation in our midst. We canno
afford to overlook or forget it. mas
much as the dial's hand shows its in
crease, SO much more has the alarm t.
be sounded and regenerating influences
set to work to rescue society, which
otherwise, lulled in a fancied security
might awaken too late. Upon thu
walls OF our representative governor
let the whole nations figure be thrown
and the shadows be as prominent al
the lights. Republicanism can only
bear the trial but can not spare it
We are too far on the voyage to pu
back. The ship has incurred it's chic
dangers because too many Of its crew
are kept under the matches. Let then
up into the day. Welcome woman t.
the rights and responsibility of al
untrammelled ballot.
-=E- -se--
How Russia Hates RIM