Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-20

tIldt Ue Call Stt TIC OillCts. Ilc ls Cil-
tirely unmindful of the lesson of the
enfranchisement of the negro. He is
entirely unmindful of the lesson of
this Territory during the last two gen.
eral elections. Verify, verify, there is
none so blind as those that are willful-
ly blind.
My poor deluded Democratic friend
shouts give the ballot to woman and
We will everlastingly wipe the earth
with these cranky prohibitionists and
these hold-on-to,-otiicc Republicans,
and we will just have one eternal pic
mic holding Office and enjoying the
fruits thereof. Now let me say to you,
my policy-loving friends of whatever
political faith, that if there is one thing
that the noble wives and mothers of
Washington Territory despise more
than another it is the base fiatterer,
the cringing sycophant or the trucu-
lent demagogue, and you, gentlemen,
will be the first to receive hint in
that direction should this bill pass
and the suffrage be given. Look back,
if you will, along the political highway
of the last four years, and see if you
will the bleaching bones of the apostles
of woman's suffrage that line that
highway, politically dead and politi-
cally damned, and none to shed Il tear
over their untimely end. | have pur-
posely avoided attempting any legal
for the very good reason
that am a farmer and not lawyer,
but there is another view Of this ques-
ton, and that is policy view too. 1t
is admitted upon all hands that the
one thing that this Territory needs
above all others is admission into the
Union, to the end that we may have,
enjoy and exercise the full rights and
privileges of American citizenship;
that capital shall be invited here to
build our railroads, to develop our vast
resources, to place Washington Terri
tory upon the roll OF States of the
American Union, the brightest star in
the whole constellation. But, says my
sulfragist friend, this question will
make no difference. But l contend
that it will, because the Congress is
composed of men, very few of whom
have not strong feelings in opposition
to this measure of womans suffrage,
and when this question of admission
comes up in Congress it will come up
as political question and whenever
question partaking of political char
acter comes up, no matter how just it
is, parties will divide nearly upon party
lines on that subject, and many men
who would have conscientious scru-
pies about following their party and
who would naturally feel inclined to
support bill for the admission would
find this law upon our statute, and it
would give them the very excuse that
they want to vote with their party,
and the consequence would be that We
would be left out indefinitely. l see,
by circulars left upon my desk, giving
reasons for voting for woman's suf-
frage, only one of which / will notice,
for do not wish to weary the patience
of this House: that the officials Of Wy
oming Territory declare that this kind
of law works well there. Now that
is going long way for an argument
when we have had practicable illus
tration right here ut home, and we
know that hundreds, and probably
thousands, that were warm supporters,
both male and female, have had u
change of heart within the last four
years. l, myself, have personal knowl-
edge of many; but do we want to pat
tern after Wyoming,,s ii Territory that
lies near the political center of the
country west Of the Mississippi, Ter
ritory that has had railroad communi-
cation with the vast and populous
countries east and west of her, and
that with all these advantages is the
least known Territory of the United
States. We even hear and know more
of Alaska. We never hear anything
said about the admission of Wyoming,
and now, sir, permit me to say that
the party that shall act with in the
next canvass must come out square
upon this issue, for this question, must
and shall be settled in the court of
last resort. We will force the fight by
an appeal to the intelligent men and
women of Washington Territory, and
/, for one, will not fear the result. Oh,
but one says, We have fourteen votes
in this House to pass our bill and you
had better stand in with us. For
shamel Do majorities controlled by
such mercenary motives make right?
No, sir, if twenty-three was the num-
Der of your votes my answer would
still be the same, and standing here
alone | would nail my cClors to the
mast and go down with all my flags
flying, and my last words would be
!" Don't give up the ship"
Truth crushed to earth will rise
again; the eternal years are hers, and
the time will come in the future, as in
the past, when you, gentlemen, will
zee your folly, if not, the intelligent
men and women of the Territory will
open your eyes for you. Now, sir, ] do
not suppose for one moment that what
l have already said, or whatever may
say, in relation to this matter will
change a single vote in this House,
but l have placed myself upon the re-
cord and gave my reasons for my vote
1t is given honestly, believing the doc
trines that have laid down.
Now, perhaps some will say, oh he
would deprive the woman of all right
and make her practically a slave. Far
from it. There is no right that en-
joy but that my wife has the same
right-she in her sphere me in mine.
When l enter the house l am in my
wife's domain. Her word is law there.
When she comes into the fields she is
in my domain. The property and the
purse are common, to which one has
the same right as the other. Some
deeds are in her name, some are in
mine; and when death comes the sur
vivor has all during life. This is what
l call equality according to natures
own law, and any other system will
miserably fail. In these remarks !
have spoken plainly because believe
the case needs heroic treatment, and
when the matter has been submitted
to vote of the people, and they, the
court of last resort in free America,
have nassed unOn IL. then whatever