The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-26
WOMAN'S ARGUMENT.
Tux EQUAL RIGHTS QUESTION DIS
CUssED LAST EVENING.
Two Prominent Advocates of the
Movement Speak to n Large Au-
dienee-Tbeir Opinion Of the Re-
cent Supreme Court Decision.


There was quite gathering at the
Board OF Trade rooms last evening to
hear the question of equal rights pre-
scented by Mrs Elizabeth l.. Saxon,
poetess OF some note. and for some
years president of the Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union of Tennessee.
assisted by Mrs. Colby, editor of the
Tribune, OF Beatrice. Neb., a paper de-
voted to the advancement OF the move
ment.
woMAH's ARGUMENT.
Mrs. Colby said she would deal with
her subject more from a moral stand
point than upon the basis OF its pOliti-
cal and legal bearing. She said that
she had talked with many persons in
Olympia, Tacoma, Port Townsend and
other towns, but bad So far found no
one able 10 explain away the objec-
tons raised by her 90 the re-
cent supreme court decision. She
strongly recommended the women
| 10 go 10 the polls at the coming cleo
| ton aud test the legality of the decis-
ion by nm appeal 10 the higher courts,
as the days for prompt action would
be quickly passing away and no time
| should lie lost. she then began cur
sorry criticism and argument addressed
TO the salient clauses in the decision,
in which she claimed that the first two
columns were simply conglomerate
mass Of verbiage, in which the court
| confines itself 10 the intent OF TIE law
in contradiction TO judgments rem
| dered by similar courts elsewhere, in
| which decisions, Involving like legal
| points, had been handed aown, incon-
sistent with the recent one: that an
enactment in Great Britain some
| II or % years ago eniranehi ed
women throughout the Brit
/ ish nation In municipal elections.
The original law granting all male
white settlers the right 20 vote, was
afterwards amended 80 as 10 include
'all citizens, which was an amend
mrni in the nature Of an extension,
and not a restriction. The woman
sniiragists claim the right of voting Is
not privilege OF law. but born ot
the natural qualifications, ensuing
from the rights OF cilixenship. and
the right Of voting l. a natural one,
whether that right IS the child Of Col
or man.
snNE or TIE fkAFtsifioNs-
The right of consent is inherent IA
every person born Consent OF the
governed i the first law of govern
ment When YOU find woman a serf,
chattel. or plaything la any country
/ she has no right in governing, bat
when sh. becomes independent enough
| bv property, educational advantages,
or otherwise. she becomes, in the ma
ture OF the case. developed In that
point where her consent should he
recognized.
The decision claims that congress
and the constitution never intended
the eniFanchi-emeut OF women.
| What q presumption on the part of
| the court To assume hat the founders
of our government intended. IL u
| manifest that the constitution as
| framed by our fathers contemplated
| the possibility OF larger human rights
4 as citizens. At this point The speaker
/ in referring to an inciisnt IN the lie
and administration of John Quincy
| Adams. got him somewhat mixed up
/ in his parentsee, bat after mild cor.
rection from Mrs. Saxon. continued
with very pleasing argument on the
subject
Mss. sAxoS's TALK.
She was Immediately followed 10y
Mrs. saxon, who delivered an eN-
hanstive aud forcihle argument from
A strictly religious and moral stand
point. Mrs. Saxon has never been
/ heard here before. and made a very
| favorable impre ssien. This aiteTuo1 N
7 the subject LAYING Issues viii he
discussed hv the ladi-s az the opera
I A...,-., o.. 4 .,sa.t,.l. They Will relfftr