Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-27
Reply To Miss anthony.

IOCphy ~ ASAASs 4Ai2S@iCAAJ
The Sioux Falls Press, IN referring
to Miss Anthony's lecture in that city
last week, says there was not lin the
opinion of the editor the first argyll
ment adduced that "lays the least OBJ
legation upon any intellect to accept
the claims which she makes in behalf
Of woman suffrage"
The editor of the Pross holds to the
opinion that the elective franchise is
conferred on a particular class for the
benefit of the government as q whole
and notthat of the individual. He
says:
But the sole function Of franchise is
to promotethe strength and stability
of government as a whole-not merely
the betterment of "a part. 1t is a part
OF the machinery by which those in
| whose hands sovereignty may have
been placed by the progress OF events
shall eNarcisetheir trust and preroga-
tive, and none other than those a
justly claim participation in the use OF
this machinery-;,nd emphatically so
when the object for which they claim
it be at most their private veal.
And furthermore, the claimants can
not by any possibility lay any ethical
burden upon those already operating
this machinery to permit them to par
ticipate therein. The powers that be
are the sole arbiterS of the matter.
There is no standard of moral right or
Of personal interest. or OF anything
whatever that ear lay any obligation
upon the observation-disclosures that
sovereign may be at any particular
time-to admit any outside factor into
that sovereignty.
Our friend Caldwell would have the
people distinctly understand that the
sovereign Nhe male sex) has the power
in its own hands to admit or exclude
any class and that there is no stand
ard of moral right or of personal in
terest or of anything whatever that
can lay any obligation upon the SOW
creign'' to induce 1T to admit any class
or factor into the administration of
public affairs. In the lines and be-
tween them we read that we men are
the sovereigns-We viii not admit any
class or factor into our body polite
who may possess the ability or inclina-
ton to contest with us our undisputed
right to rule. We willadmit the negro,
the Indian and the foreigner, all of
whom can be controlled and few OF
whom have the ability to disturb our
place in the sovereignty. The editor
OF the Press cannot understand how
the improving or benefiting Of indivi-
duals will help the government as a
whole. How can the whole be bene-
fitted without improving the lndi-
yidual? How is public opinion formed
except by the shaping of individual
minds? What is the basis Of u So
cial fabric except the aggregate opinions
of the individuals? And is not the
stability Of our government resting
upon the education and intelligence of
each individual member? Whatever
benefits part will benefit the whole.
But the editor reaches the heights of
arrogance and presumption when he
says:
OF course it is to be supposed that
when any portion of those subject to
the government can demonstrate that
their participation therein would pro-
mote the stability and strength there
of, then those in power would admit
III ON fn AScicf H1f for O,,N o1occ fo
demand a share therein, in the duties
create a clear conviction that such par
ticlpation would strengthen the gov
eminent, is mere presumptuousness.
Will he kindly tell his readers what
portion of the negroes clamored for the
ballot and how clearly theydemonstra-
ted to the sovereigns that their par
ticipation in public affairs would bene-
fiji 1.-THE government? For what did the
"sovereigns" grant the Indian the
right of suffrage? For the benefit OF
the Indians or the government?
Which? OF course for the govern
ment. Then will the editor kindly tell
us in what way the Indian created a
clear conviction that his participation
in the government would strengthen
it.
Did the enfranchising of the Negro
and the Indian strengthen the govern
ment? If so, in what respect does it
differ from the benefits that would
arise from the enfranchisement of
Women9 The many readers of the
Press would no doubt be pleased to
learn in what manner the enfranchis.
ing Of the Negro and Indian has
strengthened this government more
| than would the Acknowledgement of