The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-18
An Extract From Address o. Rev. ". 8.
Priest before ire sallRa E s. A.

Priest before ire saIlns {. s.A.
II is In harmony with the DeclaEA-
ten Of Undergraduates that women
aholid vote. The wise men who
framed that charter Of our nation, Of
which We are 80 justly proud, de-
ciared that all men are created equal ;
that they are endowed by their CFea-
tor with certain inalienable rights (;
that among these sFe life, liberty and
pursuit Of happiness" You will no
tiee that they said ''all msa are Gre
ated equal" &C. Nov, I suppose no
one Is 50 simple o. TO believe that
our worthy ancestors meant 70 eX-
clude the gentler sex when they used
the term "menm-fOF, II they did 30
mean TO exclude women, they put
restricted and unauthorized sense
upon that word. The word imam"
Ga its br0adest meaning has reference
not 70 ser but TO race. In support Of
this quote Gen. d: %: And God
said, let IA make man IN our image,
amer our likeness, and let them have
dominion" etc. II Is quite evident
here that the Lord speaks Of the hui
man race and not o: either sex Of that
race; besides this, the very first
definition given by Webster, under
the word imam" Is I. An individual
% the human race q human being ;
q persJn." Then Ca its secondary Or
IiHsted sense he defines "man" as
''an adult male person a grown up
male 81 distinguished from a woman
or boy" Now / claim that the
trainers Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence used the word men" in It's
primary and real sense a. including
both sexes Of the race OF man, and
that therefore women, as well Is men
nave these GOd-given, inalienable
rights Of life, liberty. and the pursuit
Of happiness, and, consequently, the
right-under the real spirit Of the
DeclaratiOn-tO engage In making
such laws rs shall insure life, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness 10 all
mankind. But some OF the opponents
90 Equal Suffrage remind me here
that our constitution informs Us that
only male citizens who have attained
the age Of n years are permitted to
vote. Well, I simply deny that there
is any justice In putting any qualify
ing adieCtive-either male or female,
white OF black-5efOre the word
'citizen." II you take the trouble TO
look, you will ind that the Fifteenth
Amendment, See. l.. reads IS follows:
The right Of citizens OF the United
States 20 vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United states or By
any State, on account Of race, color, or
previous condition Of servitude." Il
h here distinctly enacted that cit izens
shall have the right to vote hut who
BE- citizen Of the United States ?
The word citizen Is derived from the
Latin csUis, and my AinswOrth Latin
dictionary defines Girls as A citizen q
free man or woman This Is the
legitimate meaning Of the word but
les us see how Webster defines Il.
he says, -. A person, native or
naturalizet, who has the privilege Of
voting for public officers, and who is
qualified 90 fill offices in the gift Of
the people; also. any native born or
naturaliEed person OF either sex, who
Is entitled 10 full protection in the eX-
ercise aud enjoyment Of the sO-called
private rights According to the
nrst part OF this definition no woman
is a citizen Of the United StBtes; for,
although she may have all the en-
dOwments Of the human intellect, al
though she may help 10 support the
government 10y tax-paying, yet, be-
cGifsC she Is a trOHl0n, she Is refused
the privilege OF elective franchise
while & male HOtIentOt, coming to
these shores, j. very shortly clothed
with the silent but mighty ihstru-
ment for veal or woe 10 our national
and sacred institutiOns-yea, our life
and liberty. He gods what wis
dom! What Justice! o, tempOra
., mOres, How long shall our eyes
behold the injustice Of the present
franchise law? Webster has not
given Us the true meaning Of the
word citizen he has defined It 10
suit the times, but I trust there will
not be many more editioRs Of his
dictionary issued until we shall see
the word have its correct definition,
Wis: "A free man or woman having
the privilege Of voting" etc.