Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-28
WOMANS REALM.
Under God The People Rule" hsotto
oYSouts1 Dakota.
ARE WOMEN PEOPLE??
by LoEllaH. Blank associate es
FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

ME. EDITOR: AS the citizens OF
South Dakota will soon be called upon
to decide by ballot the political status
of the females of our new state. de-
sire space in the HERALD for a few
articles in advocacy of female suffrage.
am well aware of the fact that
those lords Of creation who believe
that women were created tor no higher
purpose than to minister to their
wants by washing and ironing, cook
ing and sewing, will view my express
sions AS objectionable etfrontery; but
am addressing the living presentand
not the dead past.
Let Us inquire; what ure the quallfi-
cations which entitle an individual to
the right of suffrage? Although the
answer we shall give could he greatly
enlarged we believe the following
covers the whole ground: first, patrio-
tlsm to desire our country's welfare:
and, second. intelligence to direct us
Alright in securing it.
| Before entering upon the discussion
of these propositions let MS endeayor
to disabuse the public mind of / very
grave error in regard to the right Of
suffrage-an error in which most OF
our best writer's have unhapplly fallen
and that is the use of right" and
sliberty" as assynonyms. The fright" of
suffrage and ''liberty' or "privilege'
of suffrage convey entirely different
ideas. A fright" can neither be given
| nor with-held-a privilege is a liber-
ty granted or taken. If an individual
possesses the right OF suffrage 40
| power on earth can take that right
away. Law or force may prevent his
exercising that right, but that right
still. exists.
1t would be equally as sensible to
try, by legislation, to make white
man of black one, as to try to con-
fer alright where none exists. A right
IS a duty for which nature or education
has qualified us. We may grant the
liberty OF suffrage to one who does not
possess the proper qualifications to en-
ercise that liberty, in which case the
public welfare will suffer in proper
tion to his lack o. patriotism and intel
ljgence. Or we may deny the liberty
of suffrage to one who possesses the
right" or in other words, the proper
qualifications Of patriotism and in
| telligence--in which case the individu-
| al is WroDged and the nation suffers in
an inverse ratio to his ability to pro-
| mote her interests.
The Russian serfh just as good
tight to cast his ballot as the American
citizen, bat astronget power will not
| allow him to exercise it, While
| many Of our own country are eXercls-
ing the privilege without possessing
the right. Having thus drawn the
distinction between the right and the
privilege Of voting, let us now return
to the propositions laid down, viz: th$t
we have no righy to vote and conse-
quently should not enjoy the privilege.
unless we possess, first, patriotism
enough to desire our country's good
and second, intelligence enough to pro-
| mote her interests.
The first proposition is SO manifest
| ly automatic that but little argument
| is required to sustain it. No matter
how varied our accomplishment or
| how WIDE our experience, our ballot is
a constant menace to the public weai
| Il l,,,
patriotic intentions. Although we
ster, the sttiteslnanship OF II Jefferson,
| no right tc cast our ballot unless actua-
ted by our conntfy's good and that
alone
Of course this rigid construction Of
the right Of suffrage would disfran
chlse our political demagognes ana
| their ignorant followers; and as these
politics are to-day. 1t would be folly to
attempt such a course Until. our nation
takes a stride forward.
But patriotism is 10, sntlicieSs of
itself tc entitleu US to the right Of suf-
frage, for unless we possess intelli-
gence sufficient 70 direct our good IN
CSl1llO1lS. " tu C.-!-O t',SoAlt'' WY t'iCS
Of the designing demaGog!:e and our
boasted right OF suffrage becomes the
property OF one whose, every, act Is
prompted by selfish or mercensry con-
siderations. What, shea, it5 the duty
of our state in, regard TO clothing her
citizens with the privilege to vote?
Manifestly this. that those, and these
only, who are thought to be Intelligent, |
patriotic, citizens should, be allowed TO
exercise tha right Of suffrage; and to
deny this right to such, either male or
female, is an .unWarranted Injustice
to the individual and an absolute loss
to the state.
Having thus given ycc orr views Of
the right and :liserty' OF suffrage
and the obligations OF our state With
relation thereto, we shall enleayor.: by
deductions from the premises laid
down. to convince the readers Of the
HERALD chat "sex" should form 70
consideration when the state is called
upon TO grant Or withhold the priti-
lege Of voting.