Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-02-01
w. G. r. ID.
t7kisCoiumnis Editeduade,the Direction
oftheW @. Z Union % ofPsrrvsbur
SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL FACTS.

are Ngn,6cnn, sign, Tor the W. c. T. U. to
consider:
There are two significant facts in this
centennial year Of the government which
no ssgacity Of the fathers conid have fore
Acen, aud which, indeed, M political view
of ceninry ngo seriously entertained in
the hrcc,H "f American development
The frat IL thrt women have the privilpp.
al voting on sci,pl quer,iUna IN fourteen
States md fur Territories, that In one
State tKansa-) they can vote nt mupiai.
pal elections, "nd in one Territory (Wyom
ing) they enj'y complete political equality
with men. The recond TACT IL that lib,
unto II, for II is that at the late municipal
election, in every shadow Of Faneuil Hall
where the pivotal doctrine Of the Revolu-
ton was proclaimed, and OF Bunker Hill.
where il was defended In arms, nearly
one-third Of the total vote for the School
Board was cast by women.
The spectacle Of women In public life,
Of course. was not unknown in the mother
country, where the traditions of Eliza
beth are still part Of the glory Of England,
and the reign Of Anne is still described Ms
the Augustan age. The Countess OF Rich.
moad. mother of Henry VII, was
justice Of the peace. The counters of
Pembroke was hereditary sheriff Of West
morland. Henry VIII. made Lady Ann
Berkeley n commissioner Of inquiry under
the great seal, and there were old Englisl.
writer's who held that women might hold
almost any Of the great Offices Of England
In New Jersey, under the constitution OF
1870, call persons protesting a belief IN
the faith Of any protestant sect, demeaning
themselves pesceably, were capable Of
being elected to Office and enjoy equal
privileges and immnnlties with other-.r
l, recognized the voting of women by
specifically speaking OF "his 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
a very few years later, for 4 sectarian pur-
pose, they were allowed 10 vote at school
| meeti ngs.
In all such instances, however, there IL
no evidence Of serious purpose TO enfran.
chise women as constituent part Of the
voting force of the community, and al
though IN New Jersey 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 incongrriity Of the grant
with public sentiment and with the general
theory Of the State led to its revocation
For about forty years the agitation for
the adoption of every State Of the New
Jersey suiirage provisions of 1870 has
been steadily prosecuted, and the question
may be truly said to have parsed the stage
of mere ridicule. Meanwhile the changes
OF the laws of property IN the case OF
women have marked the gradual disap-
pearance of the old theory that men and
women are one-namely, men; and the
admission Of women to a vote upon school
questions Is really the overthrow of the
last barrier.
II, as lately in Boston. n woman may
properly and peacefully, without insul,
or abatement of her modest womanly
dignity, and without the least harm ic
her Sphere" go to the polls and drop 9
ballot for member OF school commilte,
In one box, 1t Is only Harlequin who
argues that she cannot with the sam,
propriety drop ballot in the next boz
for Mayor. In Vermont, indeed, the lord,
of creation are to be brought to book ia
an unexpected way. A petition is il
circulation humbly asking the legislative
sons Of Revolutionary sires that the pro-
Perty OF citizens who are deprived of re
presentation shall not be subject TO taxa
tion. Those Sons will not retort tha
women are already virtually represented
because they know that there is no sucl
thing in our polity as virtual represents.
tioh. A widow who pays taxes upon q
property Of million dollars ia not vir
tually represented by the man whom ell,
pays 10 drive her carriage.
Yet argument however admirable, and
ligic however conclusive, do not avail
with the English-speaking race like ac,u~
experiment. Its wisdom is declining L
mould it's political policy by consistent an,
excellent theories. its custom OF repairing
the old house instead Of razing 1t and re
building from the foundation, are con
stantly justified by experience. Our ow,
experience, also. rs people OF that race
amply confirms this disposition. A hun
dred years ago, when our constitutions
epoch was beginning. and the new schem
was the topic OF universal discussion, tn
inaccnracy and illusions of political fore
cast were signally illustrated. The cours
and consequence OF the new governm. n
which were predicted were precisely ,hos
, which have not occurred. Inperfection
in the constitutional system have been re-
vealej, but they are not those that wer
anticipated, aud the least satisfactory l,art
Vf the plan are those which were mo-.
wsrmly commended. Mr.. Madison poiut
: out in the Federdiia all the objection
that were offered 10 the constitution whpI
e il was submitted to lhe States. and the.
- were aimed at almost every provision ex
: cept the one which failed altogether il
practicable method OF electing the Presi
dent. All the slirewd prescience faile,
to discover it's impiaclicabilily or to toucl
the unSound spot.