The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-11
WYOMING IN.
The Only State in Which All the Citizens
Are Free and Equal"

The Only State in Which All the Citizens
Are Gree and Equal"
Editor Woman'S Column, Morning Call:
Everything is a growth. and liberty is no
exception TO the law, and as in all kinds of
growth there are periods of apparent rest,
even of retrogression, succeeded by the
bursting of leaf and flower, the outcome of
invisible activity, so in the moral world
Some one suggests truth and truth-loying
people espouse it; for a while it thriyes,
til en- some ones vested interest in wrong is
disturbed, the alarm is sounded, the clans
of evil gather to slaughter aud inter the
new idea; there is seeming overthrow
when lol the crushed, buried truth rises
and captures its aSsailants. One thing is
sure, nothing is ever settled until it is
settled right" The woman question is one
of the truths that have again and again
been announced as dead, and yet to-day,
for the first time in our history, women
have personal reason for rejoicing, for at
last modicum Of political justice has been
granted to them: they have been recognized
as a part Of the people, and granted SELL
government Wyoming is a free State.
Other women live in the feudal ages, but
Wyoming women are truly
"FREE AND EQUAL"
Twenty years ago the men of Wyoming
enfranchised the women as a ralny-day
joke to adver tise the Territory, hoping to
boom real estate by the prominence which
such phenomenal legislation ouid give.
The dodge succeeded, the Territory had
much free advertising. Contrary to eXpec-
tatIon the women accepted the boon, took
jury duty and by the verdicts which they
compelled IN the Interests OF home drove
from their borders the worst elements.
Then the Sons of Belial" rushed bills
through the Assembly and Council disfran-
chiSing women, but the best men rallied to
the woman's side and the Governor vetoed
the second bill. Wyoming has little agri-
cultural value her mines are not noted, she
has comparatively lew resources, but her
towns are the best on the overland line, and
her men respect WomaDhOod and Tor
months remained under Territorial Gov
eTnment rather than turn traitor 10 their
sisters and accept Statehood without them.
The Magma ChaTta was great document,
by it lew BacOns advanced toward liberty.
The Declaration of Independence is much
more important PAPER for it lays down the
great principle OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.
1t is an excellent chart 10 steer by The
bill. OF rights which fix the fundamental
points of law in many States come closer TO
the individual, they define his personal
political rights; but greater than any be-
cause including all others and much more is
the Constitution of Wyoming The others
freed classes and are events to be cOmmem-
GRATED; they pointed the way but limited
their benefits to those who had physical
power to demand their rights; they fos-
tered the idea, with the exception of the
Constitution and declaration, that might
makes right" and they have hitherto been
unjustly construed in the same spirit. To
the men and women of Wyoming was left
the framing of "A perfect constitution, and
as there are seven men to one woman the
men deserve seven -eighths of the glory.
The Constitutional Convention of Wyoming
adopted without dissenting voice the fol-
lowing declarations as part OF its Bill Of
Rights:
Section l. In tneir right TO life liberty and the
pursuit of happiness all members oil the human
race equal.
See g. Since equality In The enjoyment of
natural and civil rights Is made sure only Iough
political equality
THE LAWS OF THIS STATE,
Affecting the political rights OF its citlzens, shall
be without distinction Of race, color, sex or any
circumstance or condition whatsoever other
than individual incompetency dusanty etc. or
unwOrIhiness tcriminaltty), duly ascertained by
court Of competent jurisdiction.
The Constitution also provides for bal
lot system that will ehectually Shut out
gross ignorance. The Legislature has no
power TO tamper with it. The State pre-
pares the ballots, on which are the names
of all candidates, and each voter must
make out his ballot alone; SO If he cannot
read his case is hopeless. 1t Is as stringent
as the Australian ballot, with no provision
for help to the ignoramus who will not
learn. The ballots are only given out by
officials at the polls, so there Is no chance
for doctoring. Cultured people sometimes
indulge IN polite sneers at the cowboy and
the miner, but these pioneers lead the
world in constitutional liking, and Tor JUS
tice are far ahead of most college Presi-
dents and so-ealled learned people. They
are the knights Of the nineteenth century.
May their tribe increase" S. S.
6;fror, TifyI, JGSO