The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-12-10
Report of superintendent of f.esfsia-
ton and Franchise New Jersey
Va & n, a..

| Report of SUPERINTENDENT OF E.egfsia-
| ton and Franchise. New Jersey
w. & IT,
| We have no report of successful iegisla-
ton to offer, for the COED reason that zee
have ne legislature. \ woman of the tenn
| pefancc persuasion has no rights which
| New Jersey Legislature is bound to respect.
| Not content with treating our petition for
| the submission OF Prohibtory amend
ment to the Constitution. in the most con-
temptous manufacturing amendments TO
| the bill " hich were insulting to every wo-
man III the state. their osn mothers in
| cluded, they added Insult 10 injury, by
children evidently ignorant that civilized
governments were designed for the prctee-
ton of the weak-thosc unable to protect
themselves as savages do. by brute force,
and ignoring tie fact that women are de-
MED the means of protection adopted by
civilized nations-the selection of repre-
sentatiyes by ballot. We do not ask for
such expressions, but that the r0tfrs might
have an opportunity to decide whether our
sons should be degraded below the brute
creation, by legal enactments. However.
the question of the right of petition by
women does not seem any more secure
than the right of representation when
| taxed. or consent to the laws by which
we are governed" The New Jersey Leg
| islature Is entirely oblivioas to the fact
| that We help to support the government,
and that many Of us also support its Gus
/ TONERS in tie shape OF drunken husbands,
/ and that W e are amenable 10 the laws en-
acted by the representatives of the drunk
/ en and drunkard maker, and the right of
/ petition at least should be allowed MS
! without provoking contempt.
! As early in history as the fourteenth
/ century of the Christian era, the Floren-
tines declared that the people should SO
manage their affairs that their magma
mimity and wisdom may be eeinced in their
outward acts. 3" but this Christian nation,
With five hundred years of added wis
dom fails to ayince its 'magnanimity i'll
| an outward act OF justice 10 a part al the
| people OF cur bsasGed and boastfHl republic.
| We do not expect a full report from
| County Superintendent Of Legislation and
Franchise this year, because all women
who take an interest in those departments
of work are busy trying to make the call
ing and election of Prohibition cand-
dates sure" But | would suggest that
each county in the state appoint live wo-
man for Legislation and Franchise, not
necessarily the same woman for both de-
port progress made, and facts of interest
upon those questions to the State Supern-
tendent at any time during the year, and
that the State Superintendent OF Superin-
tendents whatsoever She or they may be.
cellate and report to the Executive Com
mittee. aud at the Annual Convention.
This is important, because oar work leads
to- and must hope for ultiuate success by,
prohibitory laws; and am fully purSnad-
ed that such laws cannot hc permanently
obtained nor successfully enforced without
the active cooperation of tlie women OF
the state, whether as voters or i'll other
ways leave for future Developments be-
ing neither Il Virgins nor a daughter OF
one. Lave AN opinion, nevertheless that
this question will not be settled until il is
settled right; and might, no matter how
venerable and time honored must recog-
nize the rights of feminine as well as mas
culne humanity in this age of christian free
dom 1t must come, because ". are all be
coming aware Of the truth that Gods laws
were given to be ubey,d As well as admired
forthcirexcelleHce and literary beauty, and
we have the promise that when they are
adopted as rules Of life, the ''men OF the
earth Shall no more oIrress" The weak and
defonceltss.
lat MS strive, my dear sisters. 90 hasten
the day by so ordering our own lives that
wl,,n we are called up higher 10 human
brother or sister can accuse us Of selfish
ness or OPPRESSION but may We each hear
the Masters approving words ''she hath
done what she could no more will be
required--no less will be accepted as fully
developed Christian life.
r. W. SFABRooK. Superintendent.
Anew Thoughts.