Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-03-26
Woman's Suffrage.

Undoubtedly the much mooted ques-
ton of woman's suffrage is gaining
more and more of the attention of the
public year by year. Without doubt
the voice of the sisterhood to whose
hearts the cause is SO dear, is becoming
every day more distinctly audible, and
the time may not be very Far distant
when they shall gain the point so much
desired and 10th amendment be sub
mitted, the..case of the Lawmakers being
that Of the unjust Judge of the parable
who because of the importantly and
"much speaking of the applicant, heard
and needed. The reasons why the cause
of woman's suffrage has so often failed
OF success heretofore, and has this past
winter in at least three State Legisla-
lures and in Congress either failed to
pass both houses or met the veto of the
executive, are numerous. On the part
OF many there are well grounded obiec-
tons to the very principle of the move
ment. Gov. Pierce, in vetoing the
woman's suffrage bill recently brought
before the legislature of Dakota, ex-
pressed the views of the most intelligent
people of that territory in his objections.
He said: 'lf women are to be enfran-
chised let it be done not as thirty day
wonder, but as a merited reform result
ing from mature reflection, approved
by the public conscience, and sanctioned
by the enlightened judgment of the peo-
pie. The fact is, all attempts to secure
fundamental changes of this kind by
any sort of snap Judgment OF smart ex-
pedients. are like explosives that have
the most effect in their rccoiI. Ii is
doubtful if the majority of women want
the suffrage. If enfranchisement con-
fers privilege, it also imposes an obi
CATION, and the women of Dakota should
have voice in determining whether
they will assume this burden or not. In
other words, their first vote should be to
say whether as whole they want to
vote. Again if the voto of woman is
needed anywhere it is in the cities, but
by the existing charters OF many of our
cities this would be forbidden
With some, fear of the result as to the
liquor question should women be given
the ballot, forms the animius of their op-
position, while with many the objections
made are as absurd as unjust. The chief
cause of opposition, however, seems to
be the knowledge of the fact that so few
women really desire the franchise.
Senator Palmer recently said in
the first set speech on the subject
ever delivered in Congress that
tle suffragists themselves would be
surprised to know how many Congress
men would be willing to vote for
AVlth amendment did they not feel
that twas a mere handful of women
who desired it. Their object will never
be accomplished, . said Senator Palmer,
It'll they stop arguing with men and 90
to arguing with women.'' There is
scarcely doubt but that, if the sense
of TIE women of the land upon this
question could be obtained, the feeling
would be Overwhelmingly against it.
The small response which is met in dis
tricis where the right to vote upon school
matters is given to women, is highly sig
nilieant. In Boston, where they have
had this privilege for the past six years,
out OF 10000 entitled to vote, but 9S9,
772, 74S, SCI, 751 and 1,11q have regis
tered for each of the six years respect
lively, and in every case fewer have voted
than have registered. In this same city
recently, where the subject of giving the
ballot to women was being agitated,
petition with the names of hundreds of
women attached was presented, protest
ing against having this right granted
them and the corresponding duty i'm
posed. The views of several of the
more prominent women of Boston on
the subject were asked, aud Mrs. A. ID.
+. Whitney responds, in harmony with
the sentiments of women all over the
land, "1t, is not at the caucuses and con-
ventions and at the polls where she is
needed, but in the home where are be-
ing trained the little men who are TO
be the future voters. Her true work is
TO be done not by struggles for new and
different place, but by the better, more
loving, more intelligent, deep seeing and
deep feeling filling of her own place.
that none will dispute and none can
take from her."