Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-21
WOMANS REALM.
Under God The People Rulo" Eotto
ofS0uth Dakota.
ARE WOMEN PEOYLE??
Conducted by LoEllaH Blank associate editor.
FEMALE
ARTICLE "

precious to her than all the wealth
of Croesus, come forward and ask
the privilege of casting her vote ac-
cording to her rights as an Ameri-
can citizen and these men are as
greatly shocked as theywould be by
an original idea.
But it is gratifying to turn from
such a scene to the contemplation Of
those noble men who are ever found
vallently battling in the front rank
OF national progress, against the big
otry, ignorance and superstition OF
the past. The "press," whose ire
sistible power may be retarded but
never destroyed, isturning its bat
%teries upon the decayed and moss
covered intrenchments of igno-
rance, superstition and bigotry and
| woman will soon stand disenthrall-
ed by the irresistible genius OF mi
versal emancipation.
The world moves, and every year
widens the field of woman's labor
and usefulness.
Guizot says "providence moves
through time as the Gods Of Honor
through space,-itmakes a step and
ages have rolled away" but the
browning stepof this or any other
age, will be when the good people Of
this state shall declare to the world
that South Dakota has clothed her
females with the right Of citizen
ship.
Twenty five years ago the q.
S. by the ratification OF the XIV
amendment, declared that all citl-
zens Of this country should be en-
titled to the right Of suffrage, and
this changes the subject Of female
suffrage to the simple question Of
citizenship; for when we make her
a citizen no legislation is neces-
sary to give the right of suffrage,
for the XIV. amendment guaran-
tees that right to all citizens.
The question before the people
Of South Dakota, then, is shall we
recognize woman as a citizen Of
this state or the subject of a
superior power? Wherein lies the
difference between a subject of the
O. S. and a subject Of the Car Of
Russiaa A geographical differ
ence is all that we can discern,
for one enjoys just as much liberty
as the other. The Englishman,
owing his first allegiance to a for
eign power, no sooner lands upon
our shores than our government
throws around his person and
property the same protection Of
her laws that is enjoyed by her
OWL citizens. And let war arise
between U. S. and England and he
is allowed to depart unmolested, to
his own country, to return, mus
ket in hand to tear down the gov
eminent which afforded him pro-
lection, and no civilized nation of
the globe would regard him as a
traitor; but let a women of this
country aid or abet the enemies of
our government in time Of war
and she pays the penalty with her
lite,-and for what? Why, for
opposing a government which does
not recognize her as a citizen. Is
this justice? But they tell us
woman "pays no tax and therefore
has no right to VOTE" Is this so?
Not by any means. Every woman
in America to day is a tax payer.
OF course she does not pay capita
ton tax but she pays just as much
property tax as her husband from
the fact he pays for them Jointly
on the property which they Joint
ly own and jointly accumulate.
Another says eff women vote
they must assume all public
duties which devolve upon men
that in case OF war she must shout
der her musket and march to the
'front.'" We admit that women
are physically incanacitated for