The Red Cloud chief., 1882-09-01
CHEEF.


Hon. John w. Hoyt, Governor Of W.
oming, in his message 70 the Seventh Leg
i~slA:ive assembly Of Wyoming, thus gives
the result Of thirteen years experience
Of woman suffrage in that territory:
THE GovEESoR's MESSAGE.
JANUARY IL, 1882.
Gentlemen Of the CouneI aud Hous, ~
Representatives:
In bidding YOU welcome 10 the halls Of
legislation, ] also offer you my congratula-
tons for you are convened under circum-
stances most auspicious. You, gentlemen
Of the legislative assembly, represent not
only a larger constituency Of citizens, in
proportion to population, than IL to be
found elsewhere on the face Of the globe,
but a constituency nearly half conpose1
Of a class everywhere In the world regarded
a. the most watchful guardians of public
ms well as private virtue, aud you should
be considered, therefore, rs holding in
trust the guardianship they would exercise.
Woman suffrage, although resting on equi-
" supported by reason and confirmed by
experience, has hitherto gained but partial
hA'fiAhhif ~ u BIllttIit VI IDAskifhs lbA-
losophy. IL commands more and more Of
public attention in many portions OF our
own land and in other countries whose
political institutions look toward freedom
of the people. But to-day the new terri
tory Of Wyoming is the only spot on the
earth where the political privileges of
women are equal and identical with those
Of men. 1t was n bold and gallant stroke
n, IL. IA. " -. ..,sa 1..,
delayed, that act Of our first legislative
assembly and what wonder that the ewes
Of the world nave been on Wyoming ever
SINGER
Elsewhere, directors persist in calling
this honorable statute Of ours an expert
nent." We kno,o Il ~ NOT; under it We
have better laws, better officers, better in
stitutions, better morals, and a higher
social condition in general than could 9TH
erwise exist; not one Of the predicted evils,
such as loss of native delicacy and dis
turbance of home relations, has followed
in its train ; the great body of our women,
and the best of them, nave accepted the
elective franchise AS n precious boon, and
exercise it rs n patriotic duty in a word,
after twelve years of happy experience,
woman suffrage is SO thoroughly rooted
and established in the minds and hearts of
this people that, among them all, no voice
is ever uplifted in protest against or in
question of it. For these reasons, also,
there rests on us the obligations 10 % guard
and elevate the social order ss to make Of
Wyoming an ever Frightening star for the
guidance of this new grand movement in
the interest Of human freedom.
WYOMING SPEAKS o HERSELF.
The Cheyenne DAILY Leader says:
The law comforting upon women the
right Of suffrage was enacted In 1863, mt u
time when the people of Wyoming were
almost unanimously opposed to it. Tho
situation was accepted with good nature
and a disposition 10 give the law a fair
trial. At the end Of two years, Governor
Campbell, in his message Ia the Legislative
assembly, expressed himself on the subject
lis follows:
"There is upon our statute book An act
granting to the women of Wyoming Ter
ritory the right of suffrage and to hold
Office which has now been in force 70
two years. Under its liberal provisions
women have voted in the Territory, served
on juries and held office. Ii is simple
justice to say that the women entering, for
the first time in the history Of the country
upon these new and untried duties, nave
conducted themselves in every respect with
as much tact, sound judgment and good
sense ms men. While 1t would be claiming
more than the facts justify, to say that
this experiment, in n limited field, has
demonstrated beyond a doubt the perfect
fitness of woman, at all times and under
all circumstances, for taking u part in gov
eminent, il furnishes ut least presumptive
evidence in her favor, and she has a right
to.claim that, SO long rs non but good
results are made manifest, the law should
remain unrepealed."
A two years trial, therefore, rave the
aides another chance, and while our legis-
ators were disposed TO dissent from the
governor, the Law was permitted to remain
IN our statute book.
Two more years passed by, and we give
here Governor Campbell's opinion of
woman suffrage and its effects, after an
experience of four years. The governor
says to the Legislators:
1.-THE experiment Of granting to woman
q voice in the government, which was in.
augurated for the first time in the history
OF our country by the first legislative
assembly Of Wyoming, has now been tried
for four years. / have heretofore taken
occasion 10 express my views in regard 10
the wisdom and justice of this measure,
and my conviction that its adoption has
been attended only by good results. Two
wears more of observation of the practical
workings of the system have only served
Ia deepen my conviction that what we, in
this Territory, have done, has been well
done and that our system of impartial
suffrage is an unqualified success"
Tn Legislative assembly, coinciding in
the governors views, wisely refrainei
from tampering with our election laws, SO
far as concerned women, and consequently
received the commendation of their cou-
ttituents.
Before the end Of the ensuing two wears
we had another executive, Gen. j. NJ.
Thsyer, formerly a United States senator.
IA gentleman experienced in public affairs,
and familiar with legislative matters. In
has message to the legislature Governor
Thayer pays the following compliment, to
the people of Wyoming:
Woman suffrage has now been in prac-
teal operation in our Territory for six
years, and has during the time increased
IN popularity and in the confidence of the
people. In my judgment its results have
been beneficial, and its influence favorable
10 the best interests Of the community. A
right or privilege once granted is not easily