Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-01

from the Boomerang.l

IOlu bu0 0OOWeFuVysl
Following are extracts from the mes
sages of the Governors of Wyoming to
the several Legislatures. They give the
opinions of the executives on the inn
portant subject of woman suffrage.
The following paragraph ID taken
from the message of Gov. j. A. Camp
hell to the Legislative Assembly of 1871:
There is upon cur statute book An
act granting to the women Of Wyonn-
ing Territory the right of suffrage and
to hold office which has now been in
force two years. Under its liberal pro
visions women have voted in the Terri
tory, served on juries, and held office.
1t il simple justice to say that the
women entering. for the first time in
the history of the country, upon these
new and untried duties have CON-
Quoted themselves in every respect with
as much tact. sound Judgment and
good sense as men. While it would
be claiming more than the facts justify
to say that this experiment, in limited
field, has demonstrated beyond doubt
the perfect fitness of woman, at all
times and under all circumstances. for
taa ing q part in the Government, 1t
furnishes at least reasonable pFo6ump-
tive evidence in her favor, and she has
a right to claim that, SO long as none
but good results are manifest, the law
should remain unrepealed."
Gov. Campbell referred to the same
subject in 1873 in the following Ian
guage:
"Ihe experiment of granting to wo-
mon a voice in the Government, which
was inaugurated, 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 to express
my views in regard to the wisdom and
justice of this measure, and my O0nvio-
ton that its adoption had been attend
ed only by good results. Two years
more of observation of tho practical
working of the system have only served
to deepen my conviction that what
We, in this Territory, have done, has
been well done, and that our system Of
important suffrage is an unqualified
success"
In 1875 Gov. John w. Thayer's mes
sage commented on the question a. fol-
lows:
"Woman suffrage has now been in
practical operation in our Territory for
six years, and has, during the time, in
creased in popularity and in the conf
dence of the people. In my Judgment
its results have been beneficial, and its
influence favorable to the best interests
Of the community. A right OF privilege
once granted is not easily surrendered.
In this case it is difficult TO perceive
any good reason why 1t should DO"
Gov. Hoyt's message OF 1857 has the
following:
"Woman suffrage, although resting
on equity. supported by reason and CON-
firmsd by experience, has hitherto
gained but partial acceptance - prin-
ciple of political philosophy. 1t COM
mands more and more OF public atten-
ton in many portions Of our own land
aud in other countries whose political
institutions look toward freedom Of the
people. But today the new Territory
of Wyoming is the only spot ON earth
where the political privileges OF women
are equal and identical with those Of
men. Il was a bold and gallant stroke
ON the side of reason and Of Justice long
delayed, that act Of our 6rst Legislative
Assembly; and what wonder that the
eyes of the world have been turned on
Wyoming ever since.
ELSEWHERE, objsctors persist in call
ing this honorable statute Of ours an OK
pertinent. We know il 10 not-that
under it We have better laws. better
officers, better institutions, better NOR
ais, and q higher social condition in
general than could osherwise exist-that
not one Of the predicted evils, such -
loss Of native dslicacy and disturbance
of home relations, has followed in it,
train-that the great body Of our women.
and the best OF them, have accepted
the elective franchise as y precious
boon aud exercise it as patriotic duty
lin q word, that, after twelve yeAss OF
happy experience, woman suffrage is 50
thoroughly rooted and established in
the minds and hearts of this people
that among them all no voice u svsf
uplifted in protest against or in ques-
ton of it. For these reasons, also. there
rests ON rs tho obligation to % guard
and elevate the social order - 10 make
of Wyoming an ever Frightening star
for the guidance of this new grand
movement in the interest Of human
freedom"