The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-22
On Winners Rights.


Awimmcn bains no business with The
laws of the country :"
"If they haint no business with the
law, the law haint no business with
tbcm,7 SAYS / warmly. ~of the three
classes that haint no basiness with the
law-lunatics, idiots and women-the lu-
natics aud idiots have the best Of il, :
says /, with a great rush Of ideas into my
brain that almost lifted up the border OF
my headdress. a Let an idiot Kill man
what of it says the law Let the luny
steal sheep again the law murmurs in
a calm and gentle tone, what of it p
They haint no business with the law and
the law haint no business with them.
But let one Of the third class, let a wom-
an steal sheep, docs the law soothc her
in those comforting tones? No, il thun-
ders her in the awful accents, You haint
no business with the law, but the law
has a good deal Of business with you,
vile female; start for States prison. fou
haint nothing at all to do with the law,
only to pay all the taxes it tells you to-
embrace license bill that is running to
your husband-give up your innocent
little children TO a wicked father if he
tells you to-and few other things, such
as being dragged off to prison by 1T,
chained up for life, and hung ct cetery."
Methought once heard the words, y
sighs the female True government con-
sists in the consent of the governed. Did
| dream them. or did the voice of the lu-
ny pour them into my ears?
Haint / told you, frowns the law on
her, that don't mean wsmmen2 Have
got TO explain TO your weakened female
comprehension again the great fundymen
tai truth that wimmen haint included
and mingled in the law books and stat
utes of the country only in a coniemring
and pushing sense, as it were? Though |
feel il to be bending down my powerful
manly dignity to elucidate the subject
further, will consent TO remind you Of
the consoling fact that, though YOU wim-
men are from the tender softness Of yonr
natures and the illogical weakness of
your minds unfit for having any voice
in making the Laws that govern You, You
have the right, and nobody can ever de-
prive you of it, to be punished in future
world Just as hard as a man Of the stron-
gest intellect, and to be hung in this
world Jest as dead as dead man and
what more can you ask for you unreas-
enable woman you %
Then groans woman as the fundy
mental truth rushes upon her; 4 can be
hung by the political rope, but | can't
help twist it,
Jest so says the law.
a. Alas isithes the woman to herself,
would that | had the sweet rights of my
wild and foolish companions, the idiots
and lunys, But, says she, venturing,
with a beating heart the timid and BASH
'ful inquiry, ARE the laws always just that
/ should obey them thus implicitly ?"
a. Idiots lunatics and women Are
they going 10 speak thunders the law.
Can believe my right ear? Cip i, be-
ing blindfolded, trust my seventeen SEN
ses? I'll have you understand that it
haint no woman's business whether the
laws are just or unjust, all you have got
to do is jest to obey them so start oil for
prison, my young woman
"'lBut my housework,' pleads the
woman. Woman's place is home; it is
her duty TO remain at all hazards within
its holy and protecting precinct. How
can leave its sacred retirement to moul-
der in States prison
"' Housework , and the law fairly yells
the word, he is so filled with contempt
at the idee. Housework jest as if house
work is going TO stand in the way of the
noble administration of the law, | admit
the recklessness and immortality of her
leaving that holy haven long enough to
vote but guess she can leave her house
work long enough to be condemned, and
hung, and so forth
80 But have got an infant says the
woman, 'of tender days. How can goP
That is nothing, to the case says
the law in stern notes. The peculiar
conditions of motherhood only units a
female woman in covered carriage once
a year, and layin' her vote on pole. I'll
have you understand it's no hindrance to
her at all in cold and naked cell, or in
public courtroom crowded with men.
q As the young woman totters along to
prison, is it any wonder that she sithes
to herself:
"' Would that | were idiot, Alas is
it not possible that may become even
a luny, Then | should be respected