Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-23
WOMAN SURFACE.
Ed. Posr- sr-ISTEILraxScEs: :

Ed. Posi- sT-lSTELLIGgSCER
1 noticed with pleasure the statement
that the House passed bill giving tt
women the right of suffrage, and hops
the Council may ratiH and the Cover
nor confirm it. There is o cosnmor
feeling that Christians, who stand by
the Old truths, Will necessarily be op-
posed 20 this measure, Yet seveu pas-
tors OF Seattle yesterday signed a peti.
tion to the Coancil that the bill be
passed Congregationalist and Baptis,
cnurches have, for a generation, given
,neir female members equal Suffrage
| Delegates 10 our associations are chosen
from either Sex. Our ladies speak in
meeting, manage their own circles, and
hold public conventions. The women
OF scripture had far greater liberties
than are sometimes credited to them.
Deborah led the armies OF Israel when
Barak failed to do his duty. Esther De
tifloned the King for her people, and
saved them from the wrath of Hamau.
Abigail pacified the hot headed David.
and saved Nabal and all her family.
The Marys were the first Systematic
supporters of Jesus, who. with their
friends, provided for his varied wants.
Even the so-cailed marrow Paul. rec
commended Phoebe of Conchrea, trav-
cling woman, to the kindness of his
brethren In Rome, and spoke kindly Of
Fryphena and Tryphosa, who labOred
muck in the Lord-publiely.
Some suppose that the ballot will de-
grade woman by bringing her into
closer contact with the male sex. But
these modest women wend their way
through q crowd of a hundred men
about Yesler's corner, often wait fifteen
minutes before gentleman gives them
the privilege of asking for mail, and 60
away without thinking of being dis
graced.
1t takes no greater bravery to deposit
ballot than to drop letter in the box,
and consumes about the same length of
time. The first female vote cast in Wy
eming, and probably in the United
States, for Congressional Delegate,
was cast by Mrs. Swain of Laramie, a
Quakersss of 70 years, highly respected
by all, and as modest as any woman
need be. saw men full of liquor, just
on the eve Of fighting, quiet down in an
instant as one of them said, Hist. here
is woman coming" ! have attended
eight different elections in Wyoming,
where all classes of women voted freely,
and mover saw more quiet elections in
New England.
The women who led in the first jury
and who have been prominent in the
various political campaigns have been
Christian women who did their own
work and raised orderly families of
children, taking the time usually spent
in small talk or scandal, in securing the
votes of their neighbors for the best
men, and they usually carried their
point.
Some suppose that women wili vote
inst as their husbands do; but eight
years experience has proved that wo-
men are as independent in their action
as men. Very few men vote independ-
emily. Friends, party, surroundings in
f1uence us all.
Of course bad women vote, and no
simple law of woman suffrage can rem
edy all the evils of society, but the NOR
al character is higher in the female sex
than in the male, and woman being the
greatest sufferer will more naturally be
the more active in reform.
Some OF the more enthusiastic advo-
Gates of equal suffrage will probably be
disappointed in the immediate effect of
the ballot.
But there is a growing sentiment in
favor of equal suffrage, and the present
generation will undoubtedly see woman
placed ON leselwish man in holding
property and casting the ballot.
This will no more compel her partici-
patton in all masculine pursuits than
vow compels minister to serve ON
jury, or a cripple to go to war.
Washington Territory, the last sta
ton in the Northwest, with her lntelli-
gent men and excellent women, could
not be harmed and might be greatly
benefited by comforting upon the g bet
ter half" of the family, and the moral
element of society, the right of equal
suffrage.
We hope the present Legislature will
seize the opportunity of oonfering
leng withhoiden right upon our female
citizens. d.. j. PIERCE,
Pastor Baptist Church.