Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-22

ing upon inc lut0EcSts Va y lOunua sessA
is generally recognized, and that IL the
equality of woman. Agriculture re-
quires the labor BIT both sexes. Woman
not only has charge of and performs the
necessary part ct farming known as
homework, but in many instances she
towns and operates her own farm. She
shares equally with nan the burdens and
oppression imposed upon agriculture by
unjust legislation and has not the means
of redress by the ballot which our Worthy
Master, in bis annual report. calls upon
the members to use. We believe that the
highest interests of Agriculture would
have been more rapidly advanced had
woman been empowered with the elective
franchise"
This evoked very spirited and excit-
ed discussion on female suffrage. and oy
vote of twenty-eight in favor and nine
opposed the clause that declared,
''that the interests of agriculture would
have been promoted if woman had been
allowed the right of suffrage" was strick-
en- out. was very decided in my own
opinion that this was not in accordance
with the spirit of our declaration of pur-
poses, or in sympathy with the course
heretofore pursued, or complimentary 70
the sisters of our order. While would
give to every Patron the widest lati ude
OF opinion on all controverted questions
outside of constitutional limits, and while
| il may not be policy, or the time has not
arrived to confer upon woman every
where the full power of citizenship, IL Is
my opinion that not only agriculture but
every material interest of the country
| would be promoted if her vote could be
found i'll the ballot box, desire simply
| 10 say so on all proper occasions without
| fear or favor. Sister William Johnston
of California addressed the meeting, and
gave as her reason for desiring the right
| of the ballot for women, THAT III her
State every street corner had It's whlskey
shop; that you could not send your ooy
| for pound of tea or coffee at the grocery
but that he would come in contact with
| the vile stuff. Although she herself had
not suffered thereby, she had seen such re-
| suits from this state of things to cause
| her to desire earnestly that women might
have the privilege of the ballot. that they
| might vote for those who would be inter-
ested in abolishing the curse of the saloon.
| She was sure every true woman would
| use her privilege to secure this result"
| Whether the ballot is given TO woman or
otherwise, we must recognise the fact
that in the family, on the farm, she is one
of those superior factors that give TO their
| necessities great power. Whether she
may take the lead or fall in the rear she
| is acknowledged to be "our better half"
always suppementing the achievements
and labor of the sterner sex, and is pc
culiarly fitted for many important duties
h. .,h nab hnnSn or fro. tivn
its surroundings pleasant, and its produc-
| tons profitable. She is truthfullv said
| to be the "Qartermaster and Commits
| sary" on the farm, and the family owe to
her skill and good management the well
| spread table, and order in the household,
upon which the health, comfort and hap
piness of the family SO much depend.
We find precedent for equal political
rights of women in the State of New Jer-
sey, for they voted there from 1776 to
1907, when they were wrongfully dis
franchised, and much to their credit they
always exercised the privilege; also in
Pennsylvania in the off ;ial life of Will
| liam Penn fo- the right of woman to take
part in public affairs, in the historic fact
while for six years he fingered AS an in
valid, his government was a mlnistered
for a time by hi, wife Hannah" suisse
quently sit went into the hands Of his
children ami their descendants as propiie-
| tors, and they administered the govern
ment well until the American revolution
put all end to all governments acting
under English authority" We also APP
preciate PENIS last advice to his boys,
which we give for the benefit of our boys
of today: "And as for you, boys, who
are likely to be concerned in the govern
ment, do charge You before the Lord God
and holy holy angels, that you BE- lOwly,
diligent and tender, fearing God, loving
the people and hating cOvetousnesS. Let
justice have S impartial course and tue
law free passage. Though to your loss
protect no man against it; for you are
not above the law but the law above YOU.
Live, therefore, the lives yourselves you
would have the people live, aud then you
have ii right and boldness to punish The
transgressor. Keep the sxuare for God
sees you, therefore do your duty, and be
sure you see with your own eyes and hear
with your own ears, entertain no lurch-
erS, cherish no informers for gain or
revenge; use no tricks, fly to no devices
to support or cover injustice, but let
your hearts be upright before the Lord,
trusting in hun above the continuance of
men, aud none shall be able to hurt or
supplant.' The above are the words of
the illustrious William Penn who found
ed the great State of Pennsylvania and
the city of Philadelphia.
| Let us not forget that our children are
soon to fill our places, and that their hap
piness and that of those who come after
them, depend largely upon their ednca-
ton. Let them have every advantage of
culture that we can possibly give them,
even if the bank account is lessened
thereby. Bro. r. II. Thomas of PENN
sylvania, to whom the members of the
National Grange are much indebted for
many courtesies at their recent meeting
in Philadelphia, is an earnest worker for
Grange education, and his plan similar
to the Chatauquan is meeting with marked
success. lie says, "A reading circle
should be maintained and established in
every subordinate Grange" And | agree
with him. When once an interest in
goHd docks is awakened, no other can
fill the place. There is nothing like trav-
ell to enlarge the perceptions and broaden
the ideas. All cannot enj)y the privilege
of travel but all can read, and TO make
ones self acquainted with the
customs and manners of different
countries through books is the