The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-07
Gha GmteIEqstrear.
VKgsLIYo, ". VA, j ANUAHY I, 1888.



The question OF woman outrage Is mol
new one, but 1t ia rapidly assuming i'm
portant proportions. JuGt now it Is be-
ing apitated in New York State in connec'
ton with the case Of Mrs. Lucy Sweet
Barber, the pioneer female voter at a gen.
eral election. At this recent fall election
Mra. Barber, who lives at Alfred Center,
expressed her determination to assert her
"rights" and vote. "When woman viii
she WILL" and Mrs. Barber, being endowed
With an indominitable will and courage'
walked up to the polls, offered her bsiIot'
and demanded in the name OF the female
cit:zsns and tax.payers Of tho common
wealth that II be received and counted
II was received and counted, but the mat
Ter was followed by MEs. Barbers arrest,
trial and sentence TO tRsnty.tour hours
Imprisonment for Illegal voting.
sho promptly appealed the case,
and will, II necessary, keep Oh
appealing It until the supreme Court Of
the United States renders final declsion
as to whether woman can vote at gen.
ersl elections in New York. In the news
paper accounts Of this case We ore re-
minded that many Of the great statesmen,
"lrom Wendell Philiipa aud William Lloyd
Garrison down to our national Senators OF
the present day, have been and are in
favor Of woman suffrage. The ladies who
intend to help carry forward the appeal
OF Mra. Lucy Sweet Barber depend a
great deal upon the strength and amount
OF this sentiment which they expect to
find in the various appellate courts aa
they go slons. They nak no help from
man; in fact, they deprecato any attempt
at practical sympathy on the part OF men
when it takes. the shape Of contributions
or proGers Of contributions towards their
fund for hiring lawyers and paying the
costs OF court"
The progrens Of this case will be watch
cd with no email interest. There is little
doubt how the Supreme Court Of the
United States would decide the case.
Very few people believe that the fair de-
iendant would be sustained, but the Ques'
ton being thus brought into national
legal prominence will naturally augment
the agitation which ia already spreading
in the country at large, and afford
those who are in favor Of woman
suffrage an unusual opportunity 10
got In some Gne missionary work.
The continent in ita favor has
increased at wonderful ratio during the
past eEyearu, aud it needs no prophet to
foresee that 1t will be national insue in
politics at no distaut day. Tho fact that
in several States and territories women
already enjoy the privilege Of voting at
certain local eleCLions, and that they num-
Der among our Legislators, both national
and State, many men friendly to the idea
Of extending the right to all general cleo
tlons, warrants the assertion that the day
is almost at hand when "woman in poll
tics" will be an issue for US all to confront.
When that day comes, woe be to the
party that refuses to endorse the cause Of
tho lair petitioners. Womau's influence
in politics has been felt since the founds-
ton of government, and history teaches
us that she has generally been on tho
winning side. Some ono has said, "Give
mo the influence Of the women Of a
country and care not who leads the par
tiss." The hand that rocks the cradle 10.
day wields tho power that may bring
about great revolution tomorrow. The
growth OF the sentiment among women to-
day in favor Of political suffrage, means
that coming generations Of men will be
imbued with spirit in favor Of the To-
male Suffrage amendment.