Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-08-16
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
woMAN's LOGIC.
The Responsibility of Suffrage as Viewed
by a Mother---Reasons Why Women
Ehould VOfe.

The Responsibility OF Suffrage as viewed
by a Mother---Reasons Why Women
Should Vote.
There is an old adage, "If you want
thing well done, do it yourself" II
suffrage is duty, should not intelli-
gent and conscientious women attend
to it for themselves rather than leave it
to many less capable personsP Though
men often feel participation in politics
a burden, has any man every been dis
franchised from choice? 1t is quite
true that there are many women who
do not yet desire to vote, not yet hav-
ing been educated to consider it their
right and duty to do so; but the time is
within the recollection of many when
the prO-slavery advocates claimed that
many of the negroes were unwilling to
be freed. Many women hug their chains
from about the same motives. But, as
it is quito true that there are men
who neglect to vote, it follows of course
that women could also who failed to
appreciate the sacredness of the duty.
The fact, however, that many men
neglect to vote in no way affects the
franchise of men;neither should the opin-
ions OF a'portion of womankind affect
the rights and privileges of women. If
suffrage is an inalienable right, it should
be accorded to women without regard to
the individual wishes or opinions.
Reference is made to military and
fireman's duty, as suggesting other OBJ
jections. Are these tests applied to
men? Were not many men represent
ed by substitutes in the last war? How
is it with the lame or blind men-are
they disfranchised? The male inmates
of the poorhouse are brought to the
polls here; but sensible women, owners
of property, widows without sons or
brothers, are taxed, and taxes are i'm
posed in municipal elections contrary to
their interests, against their wishes,
without their being permitted any voice
in the matter. How would man feel
who was voting in his place of resi-
dence for candidate who would repre-
sent his ideas in regard to the manage
meat of municipal affairs? Would he
consider voting under such circum-
stances duty or privilege? Surely a
privilege.
1t is true that married woman is
often sufficiently represented in this re-
spect, but then why not give municipal
suffrage to widows and spinstersp That
has been done in conservative Eng
land. AS for jury duty, can you tell
us why woman should not be tried by
a jury of her peers? AS Miss Anthony
had told us, mo woman has ever been
granted trial by jury of her peers;
women are tried by their superiors."
After municipal suffrage was granted
women in Kansas, lady-and doubt
less there are many such-who was
wealthy, childless, having very good
husband, declined to register. "She
had all the rights she wanted. Mr.. -,
the husband, could represent her. A
year AFTER the narrator of this story
was again in that town. Mrs. - was
ready to register, declared her deter
mination to do so. What had wrought
this great changer Why, this woman
had beautiful grounds around her home
that she took great pride in, and in that
place the cows were permitted to run a,
large, and would get into her fine door
yard and commit great damage. Sc
she wished to register so as to vote fol
a man for council who would be in favo,
of an ordinance against the cows. But
of course her husband could represent
her? No! he only cast one ballot, while
if she voted it counted two against the
COWS.
After hearing about the relief thai
Kansas mothers experienced when they
were able to drive out the saloons an(
could permit their boys to be out freely
knowing they were safe, one declared
herself to be like the woman in Kansas
though the wish to vote was not from
desire 10 preserve a dooryard. but {,
protect the boys, NOT from cows, bu
from the dram-shop. And for this
where is the mother, when she under
stands the possibility that is open t,
her, who will not merely desire to vote
but, more than that, will beg to do so
And If it is possible by this means {,
protect our boys, is it not a duty t,
voteP-C Christian Union