The Columbus journal., 1882-06-14

~ O-AA
Ed. Journal AS this question is
to be settled by our people At the next
election, all are interested in having
it settled permanently. In order that
all may judge in~telIigently, l suggest
that every alliance, literary society,
perhaps better, every school district
take up the question and discuss it in
their own school house. Let them
divide by preference, or appoint sides
and see what arguments can be bro't
up on either side. Take two or three
evenings, holding n meeting q
week it will prove entertaining and
undoubtedly profitable. The suffrage
society here have tracts that would
help on some points usually talked
upon. Some time ago there appeared
in the Gazette q challenge to discuss
certain propositions as follows:
"1st. A womsn's power is moral
power, not physical
ID. Moral power is 8 higher order
Of power than physical and more
truly dominant
Sd. The ballot represents physical
power ALONE and not moral.
4th. For q women to descend from
the sphere of moral power to that of
physical power is to degrade herself
II We answer yes or no the first,
second and fourth propositions. it
would decide nothing, and I think the
statement that the ballot represents
physical power ALONE, stands with
out other authority than that Of the
writer. Webster defines the ballot IS
10 vote,-vote, as the wish, choice Or
opinion expressed in some received
and authorized way He also says
the physical force i. e. power of 3
nation is in its army and navy" l
like Webster's definition of the ballot,
even though many Of our people are
inclined sometimes to rebel against
the decision of the ballot and ignore
law, thus showing that like the bad
boy in school they are not morally or
intellectually fitted to appreciate a
government based on the consent. Of
the governed whose laws are ordina-
rily enforced by the moral power of
the will of the governed, expressed
by the ballot.
But to settle the point in full accord
with Webster, let Us look st the Ques-
ton under discussion and to be settled
by the ballot at the next election.
viii not each voter express his opin-
ion or choice when he deposits his
vote for or against striking the word
male from our constitution? And
will not that vote represent his moral
and intellectual conclusion on the
question? Then when the result is
announced in the received and su-
thorized way" will not this law be
enforced by the consent Of the gOr-
erned, without calling in the army
and navy?
I think the ballot represents our
convictions Of right, Of justice, of
liberty, our choice of men to embody
our convictions in law, and to exc
ute the law, that the moral power
of the duly expressed will of the gov
erned is sufficient to secure thei- en-
sorcement in ordinary csses, and that
the aim of Christian statesmen to 30
clearly define the rights and duties Of
nations Or individuals that all shall
submit to the moral power of right,
is not q failure, but that the ballet has
proved q very fair security in the
hands of the voter for his life, liberty
and happiness, and As woman's life,
liberty and happiness are Sc much TO
her As mans is to him, she is As fully
entitled to security and to hold her
own security as man is.
That As woman is physically weak
er than man, so much more should
she be secured and have the security
under her own control; and as wo-
man is governed, taxed, etc, the same
As man, it is only common justice that
her consent be asked, the same As his.
As womsn's ideas of right are IS
strong in her as mans she should
have the same right of individual e1-
preston by the ballot. In fact, that
woman having the same nature IS
man, living under the same circum-
tances of life the safe, sure and Just
way is TO give her the same RESPONSE
bility of expressing her convictions
and giving her consent BY our chosen
means, the ballot.
E A. GERARD.