St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-07-03

| for school purposes. She IS trusted
| in this most important branch of the
government service She may vote
| money for the erection of a school
house, but not for the building of
courthouse or jail. She participates
in the selection and support of teach
ers for our children in whose welfare
we are SO much interested, but she
can not take part in choosing the
| TAILOR who has the custody of crimi-
mails. She can discharge the higher
duty, but is disqualified for the low
er. Is not this a distinction without
a reason?
1t is said if the women could vote
| discord and domestic troubles would
find place in our homes. This is only
| theory, and the evidence fails to sup
port the plea The bright intelligent
woman of this country will discuss
the political and economic questions
that interest the people at home and
| through the press whether they can
vote on not. If the polling
places are not orderly it is time they
| were, and we know of no remedy
| more effectual than frequent visits
of ladies during the hours of election.
| There exists no reason why these
proceedings should not be conducted
with as much order and decorum as
any other branch of business, or at
least public assemblies. Men do not
often SO far forget themselves as to
abuse the presence of ladies on public
occasions.
With perfect propriety women visit
stores, mercantile houses, banks, and
other places of business. She attends
fairs, and public meetings of all kinds,
| commanding respect wherever she
may go. She may become a stock
holder in banks and other corpora
tons, and with perfect freedom at
tend their meetings, voting the same
as men for directors, to make rules,
and transact the business in which
these institutions are engaged. 1t
will not be claimed that in these
visitation or by the exercise of q
suffrage in selecting officers for these
important trusts, she loses in any
degree her refinement, or that her
domestic qualities or habits are in
the least impaired.
If such acts affect her at all, they
would acquaint and better fit her for
the many duties of life which she
must discharge. Experience, cult
walton, and the acquisition of knowl
edge, in business as well as in other
lines, tend to broaden the mind and
refine the manners of all classes OF
people, and the women are no eXcep-
tons to this rule. Until recently,
married women could not hold and
enjoy separate estate; her existence
was merged in her husband, for pur-
poses of this kind. 1t was said that
to give her an estate separate from
her husband would create discord in
the family. The same objections
were raised which are now urged
against female suffrage. But as
states have progressed, in the enact
ment of liberal laws, they have near
Nv all given married women the right
to acquire and hold separate proper
ties, the same as if sole. 1t has not
been discovered that such right has
destroyed or impaired the domestic
relations of married people. But, on
the contrary, in numerous instances
the wife has furnished shelter and
home, with the estate, which a frugal
life and regard for her children has
enabled her to acquire; and more,
she has furnished a home for the less
successful husband, showing conclu-
sively that it were better and more
consistent if the ballot were placed
in her hands, rather than in his.
In the forty-ninth congress Mr.
Ezra Taylor, the present chairman
of the committee, expressed the views
of the minority with an argument
which can not be excelled or answer
ed. From his report we quote the
following paragraph, which SO well
expresses the views of this COM
mlttee:
We believe that they are now entitled to i'm
mediate, sure, and absolute enfranchsement.
First Because their own good demands it.
Give woman the ballot and she will have ad-
ditiona1 means and inducements to broader
and better education, including a knowledge
of affairs which she will not fail to avail her
self of to the uttermOSt; give her the ballot
and you add to her means of protection to
her person and estate.
sorely needed by one too weak to WELD any
other. and to take it from such to give to
already clothed in strength and fully
armed would appear to be unjust, unfair,
and unwise, to one unaccustomed to the
sight. Long usage sanctions and Sancti-
to be mistaken for Kindness.
part, n history of wrong and outrage.
Created the equal companion of man, she
early became his slave, and still is in most
parts of the world. In many so-called Chris
tian nations of Europe she is today yoked
with beasts, and is doing the labor of beasts,
while her son and husband are serving in the
army. protecting the divine right of kings
and men to slay and destroy. In the farther
East she is still more degraded, being sub
stantially excluded from the world.
1t should be stated however, in this
report, that some members of the
committee who joined in it do not
wish to be understood as committed
to its final passage, but, rather, to
presentation of the subject to the
House, for further considerations
The committee report the resolu-
ton back to the House, with a recon-
mendation that it pass. If we err,
we prefer it shall be upon the side of
liberality in the form of our govern
ment.
NEWS IN GENERAL.