The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-06-20
THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT
Editors Democrat

AN&'e1fS A<HUtCNEuts
| was little Surprised to see IN the
last issue of your paper the statement
that the discussion in regard to the
Woman Suffrage Amendment would
probably cease for awhile. II you masn
by that remark that our recent defeat
in this state has been 30 overwholmiug
that wa will not dare to assert our prin.
ciples you are indeed very much in err
ror. This is not tho only tighteous
cause that has suffered defeat. When
John Qaincy Adams ia 1887 presented
. petition in Congress praying for the
abolition Of slavery in the United States
he WAS hooted at, cursed, maligned aud
mistrsatsd on the floor Of The house.
When he attempted to read tho peti-
lion he was Interrupted in such way
that he was compelled to read 1t amidst
q perfect torrent Of abuse and deafen-
ing yells. What is the situation now I
The very element which was tho cause
Of tho trouble are not only free but have
been sent to those very halls of Con-
gress in the capacity Of legislators. II
the question Of the abolition Of slavery
had at that tims been submitted TO a
popular vote il would have been de-
feated hy "a much larger msjority than
the proposed Woman Suffrage Amend
mont to onr State constitution. Let
me remind you that the right of wo-
men to vote is not disturbed by the re.
cent vote taken. IL Is right that can
not be taken away. II existed when
the government was formed and exists
to-day aud is as clearly defined in tho
very nature Of our peculiar institutions
As the right Of self defense or any othsr
natural right. The right 10 vote in a
republic is our political right Of self de-
fense. No body Of mon however nun
erous can take il away. Il is guaran-
teed BY the very foundation principles
of our government As enunciaied in our
Declaration Of Independence. ! will
quote the language:
1--WE hold these truths to 10 sell
evident: That ell men ars created equal
that they are endowed with certain un-
alienable rights among which are life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
that to secure these rights government.
were instituted among men serving
their just powers from the consent Of the
governed" Those were the principles
upon which the Revolutionary war was
fought. They formed the foundation cl
government at the time the Constitu=
ton was adopted. To deny intelligent
womanhood the right TO give or 10 re-
fuse to give her consent TO the manner
in which she is governed 10 destroying
the fundamental pr:nsipie upon which
Republican form Of government rests.
Any one ought to be able to see tn It.
The Declaration distinctly states tha,
call men are created equal" Equal IL
what reapect ! Three points are men
toned, viz Life, liberty and lursui
Of happiness. II the right to vote il At
inherent right In men by what process
of reasoning do SINE persons conclud
hat it is not alsJ inherent in woman
They are both included ia the Dsclara
ton. A woman has exactly tho sam'
right to life, liberty and pursuit Of hap
piness that a man has. IL then votin
is mans mode Of securing and defend
ing those rights there is ne reason nnde
Heaven why a woman should not b
given the same means of self defenss
The miserable degradation 10 whicl
some women arc compelled TO submit
caused by this feeling of dependence
She is taught that to disobey crue
and drunken husband is violation O
Gods law. That her fate is to subni
Submit to tchat To drunkenness ar
dispair, to want, viIlainy and all man
ner of personal abuse. All brough
about by the mistranslation Of one littl
wsrd a mistake made during the feuda
ages when women were mere chattel
of men. Paul enjoined that wive
shsuld show due Difference to their hus
bands, but few men under the reig
of James, whethsr dssignelly or not
canuot tell-putin the word submit
carrying wics he idea OF obedienc
of the slave or a child. This is tn
mistake that has placed womanhood !
bondage to men, Who is 80 ignorar
Of the history of this country as not
know that it has only been few yeal
since the opportunities of a higher edu
cation were denied women. Even to
day we have colleges in our land whic
close their doors to women. They al