Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1885-04-02

these natural rights, every government i
bound first Of all things to inquire, no
what one individual or any class of indi
| viduals would like to have, but what will
best secure the greatest amount of goot
to the whole, and what may insure tine
greatest strength and security to the gov
ernment
II universal suffrage Will best secure all
these ends then the government should
adopt it, but that is momentous question
which may well elaii, the best thought
and most deliberate actions of our best
statesmen.
II is already question that is exciting
the earnest attention of many thoughtful
persons, whether we have not already by
far too much suffrage. 1t is already a
grave question whether the liberties OF
the nation will not he entombed ere an
other century, in the ballot box. And it
Is certainly very grave question that
demands the careful tn hJught of woman
whether the ballot in the hand OF women
would not prove boomerang that would
return with a deadly wound to her own
peace and purity.
As to the other de ,laration that govern
ments ''derive all their just powers from
the consent of the governed, there never
was a more mischievous fallacy uttered,
IL il Is found in the Declaration of Inde-
pendance. 1t is not true of any kind of
government that is worthy of the name.
Does the right to enforce family govern
ment, or make family regulations depend
upon the consent of the children? Does
the enforcement of military discipline
depend upon the consent of the soldiers2
Every man born into the government is
sublect to its laws. His consent is not
asked.
Under the shelter of this fallacy States
Rights reared its serpent head Of rebellion
and baptised the nation in blood. Every
saloon keeper, distiller and brewer in the
land here shelters himself from the aveng- :
ing Nemesis OF law.
No, there never was government on
earth that derived any of fts just powers
from the consent of the governed. All
their original powers are derived from a
F'gher Power. ''The powers that be are
ordained of God."-Rom. XIII, /. The
Interpretation loosely put upon this part of
our declaration would subvers any govern
ment on earth.
Il T. an Coll tx. t,t -.
man on woman who has not the ballot is
the slave of him who kas IT. There are
thousands of men and women, too. in
this land. who have all the rights they
ask o, need. who have no right to vote
IL you were to tell them they ara slaves
to any one, they would think You an in
curable crank. There are tens of thou
sands who have the ballot. who are MAX
ing earth and heaven vocal with their
nowlings of oppression and wrong. The
fac. is the ballot is a two edged sword as
potent for evil as for good.
Has the chivalry Of man always promt-
ed legislation favorable 10 wOmenY In
this country. answer emphatically. yes:
just so fast and so far as men have seen
the necessity OF more favorable lek isla-
ton; and think we may defy any one,
man or woman, to show that the whole
legislation of this government. State or
National. so far as woman IL concerned,
has not been constant progress. Oh!
hut they never began to do so IT'LL women
BEGAN to claim their rights to self gov
ernment the same as men. Possibly the
discussions growing out OF the woman suf-
frage movement, have thrown some light
upon the question OF womans position
and rights, of which men have availed
themselves: but il the above question is
meant for an intimation that the woman
suffrage movement has impell.d men to
more favorable action. il is supremely
ridiculous. The whole strength of the
woman stfrage movement was concentra-
ted upon st. John. except the one vote
for Belva.
Is it at all likely that movement that
can only muster such a corporals guard
after years of drum ming will frighten men
either oct of their proprieties or impropri- :
cites? No, the improvement in the social
and economic condition OF women has
'oeen the legitima and necessary out
gr owth of II progressive civilization under
the amelorating influences of the christ
ian religion. And let me assure your COR
that whenever men shall see
that her enfranrhisement will contribute
w tit StHcrSi SUtNt. Of Vttttt III MtifiHH
herself for these most important duties
for which heaven has so pre- -eminently
fitted her, and which man can never per-
form, they will not be slow TO invest her
with tn ballot also But 10 will require
more light than has yet dawned upon the
subject. and better arguments than have
vet been advanced, and better results
than have vet been reached by expert
ments, to bring about such result.
MIR. Walker, the Superintendent Of the
U. s. Census is delivering lectures on that
subject, Uhe census) In Boston. Under
the head of women IN the Census he
gives some most interesting factc. show
ing the steady Advancement of women
in these respects, from the earliest census
taken to 1880.
when spring time comes gentle Anna"
brisk as lively as you viii, hut don't spring
before the time comes. In my remarks
npon family jars. / only affirmed what
common sense would teach anv
,nc, that where all the memt ers OF
amily enjoyed the ballot. it were better
hat they should vote together than to
nave heated discussions endangering the
,eace OF the household. Whether the
husband or the wife should yeild the
,oint, is a question l do not assume to
ettle. am glad to say that / never
Knew case of the kind, for in the Yer,
ew cases where such ali unpleasantness |
-as likely 10 occur. the husband silently |
IL n