The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-07
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Adverse Report from the House Committee
Eloquent Plea of the Minority.

Adverse Report from the House Committee
Eloquent Plea of the Minority.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The majority Of the
House judiciary committee has reported ad-
versely upon the proposed women's suffrage
amendment to the Constitution, and submitted
formal report recommending that the PROPOSE
lion lie upon the table. The minority report
which is signed by f. B. Taylor, Hepburn, Cas-
vel and Ranney, comments upon this fact and
says ''The Importance of the question of woman
suffrage is forcing its full discussion everywhere
and the silence of the committee will have no
tendency to withdraw it from the public atten-
ton. In government by the people, continues
the minority the ballot is at once badge of
!. sovereignty and the means of exercising power
= IN are people, and we submit that they are
ser morally nor intellectually incapable, and
that no good reason for their disfranchisement
can be suggested. The history of W oman is for
the most part, history of wrong and outrage
Created the equal of man, she early became his
slave, and still is, in many parts of the world.
In many so-called Christian portions of Europe
she is to-day yoked with beasts, and is doing the
labor of beasts while her son and husband are
serving in the army, protecting the divine right
been conspicuously unjust to woman in the past.
nor is he now, but he believes that she is in her
true sphere. not realizing that he has fixed her
sphere If the unspeakable Turk should be So
lcited to open the doors of his harem and let the
inmates become free and human. he would be in
dignant. doubtless. and would swear by the
beard of the Prophet that he never would so de-
grade lovely woman, who, in her sphere. was in
tended as the solace of glorious, superior men.
let, as man advances, woman is elevated. and
her elevation in turn advances him. No liberty
ever given her has been lost or abused or re-
grettedr Where most has been given her. she
has become hest. Liberty never degrades.
Woman's vote is necessary for the good of others
She is the enemy of foreign war and domestic
turmoil. She is the friend of peace and home
Her influence for good in many directions would
be multiplied II she possessed the ballot She de.
yires the sons of the land to be pure and sober
With her help they may become so; without her
what is the prospect in this regardl Under the
wise and sole administration of women well
may the cry go out: sWatchman tell US of the
night-what it's signs of promise are We do
not invite woman TO the dirty pool of politics.
74or does she intend 70 enter that pool Politics
vis not necessarily uncean. II it is unclean. she
is not chargeable with the great crime for crime
1t Is Politics must be purified, or We are lost.
TO govern this great Nation wisely and well is
not degrading service To do 1t all the wisdom,
ability and patriotism of all the people Is re-
qured. No great moral force should be unem-
ployed. But it is sometimes said that women do
net desire the ballot. Some may not. many do
not-perhaps a majority-but such indifference
cannot affect the right of those who are not in
different The conservative woman who feels
tnat her present duties are as burdensone AS she
Can bear. when she realizes what she ran accom-
pllsh for her country and for mankind bv means
Of the ballot. gsill as rsverontly thank God for
Chs opportunity and will as zealousiy discharge
her ner obligations, A. viii her more radical sis