Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-20
Mr.. Knapp on the Suffrage Bill.

MI. Knapp OH tHe outrage Dill
The exhaustive speech Of Hon. II.
NJ. Knapp, Democrat, of Clarke, de-
livered in the House of Representa-
tiyes of our Territorial Legislature,
Monday, on the suffrage bill, appears
below, the concluding portion of which
Mr.. X. was prevented from delivering
by illness:
Mr.. SPEAKER:
am in favor of this bill as reported
by the Judiciary Committee, because 1t
submits this question to n vote OF the
people. would be willing to submit
it to a vote of the women themselves,
but to pass an act to change the fun
damcntal law without even knowing
whether the parties most interested
want it or not is something l am not
prepared to do, and l will go still far
ther and say that / am willing to do this
merely us method of settling the
question, not because ! think it is
right but because as Democrat be-
lievc that the majority ought to rule.
Now, sir, to my mind this question
hinges upon one proposition: That is,
has woman an inherent right to the
ballot. If so, then she has been
wrongfully deprived of her just rights
during the whole history OF our gov
ernment, and the fathers of the revolu-
ton, together with all the patriots,
statesmen and other great and good
men who the people have delighted to
honor during the hundred years and
more OF our national existence, were
unmindful of one of the greatest
wrongs that was ever known, or else
they withheld these rights simply by
the power Of might. Such thought
to my mind would be monstrous.
Now who does enjoy this natural right
to the ballot? / contend that it is the
native-born American Of the male per-
suasion, who is over twenty-one years
old, and none other; but for good and
sufficient reasons this right has been
conferred upon the white foreigner
upon compliance with certain condi-
tions, and by special enactment the
same right has been conferred upon
certain persons of African descent; but
in each and every case the persons ex-
ercising this right also assume the
responsibilities OF citizenship, and /
contend that no class of persons may
exercise the one without assuming the
other and in this case, for the first
time since our first parents were driven
| &c Of
curse was pronounced upon them and
their descendants, has it been assumed
that certain portion of mankind, or
womankind either for that matter,
might sit with folded hands and enjoy
rights and privileges that had been
bought at price Of the blood and treas
ure of others. The Almighty never so
ordered it. Even the Lord of glory
never attained the proud distinction
of the Saviour of the world except by
the struggle of lifetime and was
finally required to yield up his life i'll
the most cruel and ignominious man
tner. You will search the pages Of
history in vain for single name that
has been known to fame through the
exertion of some other person. In all
the walks of this life, we cannot ex-
! pect to enjoy favors or benefits without
corresponding equivalent. Hence, I
say, that no class should have the
right to vote, to hold Office, to have a
voice in all matters Of public policy,
unless they are prepared to serve as
Jurors when called upon to dc SO, to
labor upon the the public highways
and too if the law demands it, muster at
such places and for such time as the
law may .direct to become familiar
with the drill and tactics of war, in
fact to be ready to form a part of the
military arm of the government in
case of war or invasion, to uphold the
honor OF our flag and to preserve the
integrity Of our Territory, and also to
respond to the call Of the sheriff, mar
slaal or constable to assist in the arrest
OF offenders against the law to sup
press riot or insurrection. Now, 1 ask /,
are the women of Washington Terri
tory prepared to assume these respon-
sibilities as well as to exercise the
privileges. II not, then / contend that
the law was never made, the rule
never laid, down in this world or q
promise of the hereafter given by
which person or q class Of persons
might enjoy benefits without u fair
and just equivalent be given. There
is another claim put up which is an
expediency dodge. That is, if woman
had the ballot then we would elect
better men to office, consequently we
would have better laws and II more ef-
ficient public service.
Now, sir, in the language OF that IL
lustrious patriot, Patrick Henry. l
have no way of judging the future, ex-
cept by the past. What will he the
result of the labors of this session, it is
impossible to tell at this time; but
more unsatisfactory session laws than
were enacted at the last session CT the
Legislative Assembly l do not believe
we're ever enacted in the whole history
of the Territory, and that better class
OF men were elected ut the last two
! general elections, or that the public
policy has been of better grade than
it would have been is an open ques-
ton with no means Of coming to Il
correct conclusion.
And now come to the third and
last proposition, the root of the whole
question, and it is where the male suf-
| fragist, so far as my experience goes,
always brings up, and that is the pol
icy dodge. OH says the prohibition
list, give lis woman suffrage and we
will banish King Alcohol and clean
out the saloons, convert all the saloon
keepers and topers to our way OF think
ing then we will have perfect little
heaven here below, where me will hold
all the offices and live on the fat OF the
land, for by that time We will have
raised and sold hops enough to those
ungodly brewers that We can afford to
quit the business and spend our time
running public affairs. Then my Ke-
publican friend speaks up and he says
| Just pass this suffrage law and We will
carry Washington Territory from the
| II n pNn