Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-12
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

WOMAN SUP r HAOE.
What 1t Requires Of Women and the Posi-
ton In Which 1t Places Them.
If women are called on to vote, they
will feel it their duty to examine pub
lie and political questions; they will
take much greater interest in them
than they now do. They will study
these questions. read about them. talk
about them with each other. with their
husbands and sons; and thus the femi-
Aine element will go much more into
public life. and woman will become
the companion and fellow-worker with
man in this matter also. as she has
gradually become his companion in so
many other things. For, as We can not
fail to observe. the progress of the race
has been along this line of develop
ment-in making woman and man
more and more associates and COM
panions in every thing. In the savage
state, woman is the servant and man
the master. In the second or Oriental
state. she is the plaything Of the man.
In both the steps OF development, she
is regarded us an inferior being. inca
pable of holding equal companionship
with her lord and master. Bat in the
third step of human progress. which
ca.le from the alliance of Christianity
with the Teutonic races. woman rose
into rompanionship. This change has
been steadily going on. She shares
with man in his education. his amuse-
ments. his work. his religion. Her
mind. heart and hand become in all
things more and more allied with his.
AMI who can doubt that this co-opera-
ton gives us much higher type of So
ciety? All we ask is that another step
shall be taken in the same direction.
and that woman shall become the COM
panion of man in his political and pub
l c duty. as she already is in almost
every other.
This would be an argument for
woman suffrage in England. France or
Germany. But the reason is much
more cogent as regards this country.
Where the theory of government is
that of an oligarchy or an aristocracy.
it is logical and consistent to keep the
power in few hands But here we
proceed on an entirely opposite theory.
We say Government by a few may
be better for time. but it is more
dangerous in the long rum" An oil
garchy or aristocracy is in state of
unstable equilibrium. always liable to
topple over in popular CONFUSION.
But here we confide the power to the
whole people. we take in all interests.
all convictions. we let these balance.
correct neutraliZe each other. and
thus mr. dify all extreme tendencies.
and then We educate the whole people
So We have governing power which
is able to correct its own errors by the
force of pa6li: opinion. and to re-
strain its own extravagancies. Ithas
the power of automatic self-rcgulation.
That is our system; and we have to
stand by it. whether we like it or not
Our security consists in putting the
whole thought interest opinion. con-
science that there is into the public
service. You may possibly prefer an
aristocratic government. but you can
not have it here. What we must do is
to take this government of the people.
by the people. for the people. and make
it rs wise and as just rs we can. by
putting into i. every element of hui
man nature. and SO causing it in deed
and truth. to be government of the
largest majority. This nation is found
cd ON faith in man. on the belief that
man. in the long run. means to do
right; and if you can have so much of
humanity interested and active as to
control the influence Of local interest
personal anu private ambitions and
party prejudicss. you will secure to
tho whole people the greatest prosper
ity and peace.
And now we ask. Why should one
half of the people be excused from
taking part in these great and all-im-
portant duties Why. in a govern
ment by the whole. allow one-half to
bury this particular talent in the earth!
/ leave it to others to speak of suf-
frage rs Alright or . privilege. Ispesk
of it as duty. Not every right is a
duty. but every duty involves = right.
1t is sometimes said that whatever is
right is also duty. Not necessarily.
may have the right to many things
which l consider inexpedient or UNI
necessary. But it Il always true that
when it is my duty to do . thing. I
have the right to do it l maintain.
theA that in government like oura