Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-03-21
NOTABLE EVENTS.
Progress of the Cause of Woman Suffrage
During the Last Century-Imperfectio
in the Constitution.

wv FNDAG - @'s ~
During the Last Century-Imperfection
in the Constitution.
There are two significant facts in this
centennial year Of the Government
which no sagacity of the fathers could
have forseen, and which, indeed, no
political view of a century ago seriously
entertained in the forecast of American
development The first is that women
have the privilege of voting on school
questions in fourteen States and four
Territories, that in one State (Kansas)
they can vote at municipal elections,
and in one Territory (Wyoming) they
enjoy complete political equality with
men. The second fact is like unto it,
for it is that at the late municipal cleo
ton, in the very shadow of Faneuil
Hall, where the pivotal doctrine of the
Revolution was proclaimed, and of
Bunker Hill where it was defended in
arms. nearly one-third of the total vote
for the school board was cast by
women.
Tie spectacle Of women in public life
OF course, was not unknown in the
mother country, where the traditions
of Elizabeth are still part of the glory of
England, and the reign OF Anne is still
described as the Augustan age. The
Countess of Richmond, mother of
Henry VII, was a justice of the peace.
The Countess of Pembroke was heredi-
tary Sheriff of Westmoreland. Henry
VIII. made Lady Ann Berkeley a COM
missioner of inquiry under the great
seal, and there were Old English wri-
ters who held that women might hold
almost any of the great offices of Eng
land. In New Jersey, under the con-
stitution of 1776. ''all persons profess
ing belief in the faith of any Protest
ant Sect demeaning themselves peace
ably, were capable of being elected to
Office and enjoying equal privileges and
immunities with others" 1t recog-
nized the voting of women by specific
ally speaking of This or her ballot. !"
But in 1907 they were deprived Of the
right. In Canada, nearly fifty years
ago, they were sternly forbidden TO
vote. But very few years later, for a
sectarian purpose, they were allowed
| to vote at school meetings.
Ip all such instances, however, there
is no evidence OF serious purpose to
enfranchise women as constituent
part of the voting force of the COM
munity, and although in New Jersey a
constitution adopted in the year of the
Declaration felt compelled to face the
logic Of the situation, and enfranchise
all Protestant inhabitants upon equal
conditions, few years later the incon.
gruity of the grant with public senti-
ment and with the general theory oil
the State led TO its revocation. For
about forty years the agitation for the
adoption in every State Of the New
Jersey suffrage provisions of 1776 has
been steadily prosecuted, and the
question may be truly said to have
passed the stage OF mere ridicule.
Meanwhile the changes of the laws Of
property in the case OF women have
marked the gradual disappearance O
the old theory that men and women are
one-namely, men, and the admission
OF women to vote upon school ques
tons is really the overthrow of the las
barrier
If, rs lately in Boston, woman may
properly and peacefully, without insul
or abatement of her modest womanl,
dignity, and without the least harm t,
her sphere" go to the polls and drol
ballot for member OF school com
mittee in one box, it is only Harlequin
who argues that she can not with tn
same propriety drop ballot in tn
next box for mayor. In Vermont in
deed, the lords of creation are to b.
brought to book in an unexpected way
A petition is in circulation asking tn
legislative sons of Revolutionary sire
that the property of citizens who ar
deprived of representation shall not b
subject to taxation. Those sons vii
not retort that women are already vii
tually represented, because they kno'
that there is no such thing in our polit
as virtual representation. A wido'
who pays taxes upon a property OF
million dollars is not virtually repre-:
ented by the man whom she pays {
drive her carriage.
Yet argument, however admirable
and logic, however conclusive, do nc
avail with the English-speaking rae
like actual experiment. Its wisdom !
declining to mold its political policy b
consistent and excellent theories, i
custom of repairing the old house il
4 stead of razing it and rebuilding frol
the foundation, are constantly justifie
by experience. Our own experience
also. as people of that race, ampl
confirms this disposition. A hundre
years ago, when our constitution
: epoch was beginning, and the ne
I scheme was the topic of universal di
$ cussion, the inaccuracies and allusiol
of political forecast were signally illu
trated. The course and consequence
Y of the new government which were pr
e dicted were precisely those which ha'
5 not occurred. Imperfections in Il
d constitution system have been reveale
s but they are not those that were anti'
a pated, and the least satisfactory par
V of the plan are those which were me
d warmly commended. Mr.. Maids
points out in the Federalist all the .