Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-04-19
OlYmnla Thnnders.

| LUIS thuuuet tFpmOiYmpuS. the homl
of the gods. was like the cooling of tn,
gentle dove compared to the fulmina
tons which Olympia Brown hurls a
Judge Cassiday in an open letter. Thu
Judges offense was his opinion in thu
case of Olympia against certain ward
commissioners in Racine, for refusing
to receive her vote at the spring cleo
tions a year ago. She claimed the
right to vote under the law Of 1885
which was ratified b. a popular vote,
by which women were given the right
to vote mt elections pertaining tc
school matters. y The woman sufIirag-
lists led by Mrs. Brown, took the ground
that this language was broad enough to
cover elections for all state, county OF
town officers as they all in some way
pertain to school matters. A case SINH
lar to Olymphia's Gan account Of which
was given in the HERALD of June 9.
'8Owas tried in the circuit court cfCraw-
ford county. There the votes were re.
ceived, and changed the resul, in the
election of town charm ~ .. L is., Thr
defeated candidate et,,t-lu ana Jud. +.
Clemeutson decided ~ fat,r afi-e coa-
testaut, holding Thai tue lass lid not
give women the RICH, % vote ~ anrual
town meetings or geLtr.l elections
Mrs. Brown was on hand AZ Prairie da
Chem to look after the cas-. Arer the
decision was rendered She severely
criticised the counsel for The defensa
upon bis admitting 10 her privately
that he was moi believer in female
suffrage, and said the case WAS lost be-
cause he had no heart in it. She held
a meeting that Eight in Tie court house
and addressed the people, taking oc-
casion to give Clementson fits for the
decision he had rendered
Mrs. Browns own case was decided ia
her favor in the circuit court Of Racine
county, and Judge Wiuslow escaped
the Olympian wrath. But his decision
was reversed by the supreme court,
J Judge Cassiday delivering the opinion.
In her open letter Mrs. Brown accuses
the court of vagusness aud neglect OF
duty in following out the dictates Of
party leaders, making the startling
statement that she suspects that the
decision was privately promulgated in
certain circles at least month before
the session of the court. She then as
serts that, had the court had the dis
cernment and courage 10 decide the
case in accordance with the letter and
manifest spirit OF the law, '.all men
would have reioiced bur, >ho continues,
the decision degrades the law and
weakens the respect Of the people foI
the Government. and henceforth no
man coming into court will feel Sc.
cure in the Righteousness of his cause,
for he has no assurance chat his cast
will be atlentively heard or even that
the law will stand
"Do you feel safe, she asks. in
thus setting aside fl,e-law because there
is no higher court to which We can ap.
peal? There is q higher court higher
than any that human constitutions have
established, and 4 Judge, before whom
you stand, who will hear the cry of the
DISTINGUISHED, wronged, cheated women
Of the land. Day By day, silently but
surely His verdict is going forth, and
in the severe logic of events it viii be
made manifest fine viii declare it.
| know that we i've in an are when men
have little fear OF Divine relrioulon
and many deny the existence II God.
But such men are apt 70 fear the con
domination of their fellowmtn. Your
decision will stand in tie archives oi
Wisconsin to be judged by those who
come after in the light of u higher civil
ization. But judgment will not wait
for tho future. To-day your decision
is being questioned in every lawyer
Office in Wisconsin. 1t is sncered at be.
cause of its vagueness, its misstatements,
its contradictions, its departure from
established rules of construction, its
manifest violation of both the letter
and the spirit Of The law For all are
alike Interested iii the establishment oil
justice, and even bad men desire thai
courts should render righteous judy
ment. Already the most severe crit
icism Of the court is heard from men Of
candor and learning, while it is com
mon talk upon the stree, that too much
power is vested in judges; that no man;
liberties are safe when, under preienst
of interpreting, five men can make and
unmake law. These are the first fainl
mutterings of distant thunder thai
herald the coming storm. leave yor
to the just condemnation of nu outraged
people whose will, as expressed in law
you have defeated; whose wives anc
you have defrauded; whose
Governor you have insu'ted; whose
representatives assembled in the legis
lature you have falsihed, dist rting theil
action and disappearing their intents
| leave you to . posterity itat will elias,
your decision with the bred Scott de
cision and the tyrannies Of the Ole
World, leave you to God. who vii
overturn and overthrow until His vii
be done and the right triumphs.
leave you 10 Yourself 10 answer to YOU
own conscience Tor this CRIME agains
the women Of tks state.
Mrs. Brown has prepared posters. il
which extracts from The courts decision
are placed IN ore column and com
menis thereon by herself in the other
The posters viii be sent 90 postmaster