The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-27
THE MINORITY RULES.
A Few Thousand Really Elect the Rule

Few Thousand Really Elect the Rulers
and Settle Elections.
Editor VOmdn's Column, Morning Call q:
AS Abby HoltOn says, a few thousand
really elect the rulers-the few who hold
the balance of power settle the election,
give name to the candidate; but public
sentiment is the sum total of the influence
of all the voters, and the average sentiment
rules the rulers. The slumS sometimes
elect the majority of our Legislature, but
because many good men vote there is more
or less concession to that element, and
affairs are better than if the good had no
ballot. The fact that they possess the
freeman's blade" and can use it if they
will, is great protection. We do not un-
derstand that cur present methods are es-
sential. They differ much from the meth
ods of the fathers, and we think that they
differ from the ways Of women as much as
woman's housekeeping differs from mans.
The fathers elected electors to select a
President; they were nntrammeled and
were selected because of wisdom and pa
triotism, and they were to select Presi-
dent after careful investigation "a man
who should steer the ship Of state, while
Congress selected the haven. Now all is
changed. The party bosses get together in
some saloon and make out their states to-
gether. They work for a common interest,
the control Of
THE OFFICES AND TREASURY,
And they smile if any one hints that the
good of the people be considered. and
when their dark horses" have been at
last put in the ring each voter dutifully
cheers on the one bearing the name OF his
party, not caring that all the horses, dark"
or otherwise, are hitched in one harness,
/ Ill, a..
methods are not in the least essential, and
If women voted l do believe that political
matters would be as much improved as
have been other interests in which women
participate as equals; that good men would
be enheartened by their help and many of
the 40 per cent who now stay away would
find heart enough to have opinions aud
desire TO have them counted. Forty per
cent OF men who Will not sell their votes,
as they easily could, Will not so through
the form OF voting" but how many Of
these men would be willing to be deprived
OF the ballOt-the implement of voting?
They would swarm to the polls were they
in danger of losing it should they not use
1t. They may be stolid or disguised, but the
most stupid man knows that the ballot is his
weapon of defense. Many soldiers in an
army never engage in 4 battle, few have
ever shared in half a dozen conflicts, yet
the possession Of
MUSKET is JUST AS ESSENTIAL
To those in the rear or off the field as to
those in the fore front of the fray; it Sc
cures respect; II gives each the same chance.
Neither did the majority know how to use
a musket, but the only way to learn is to
use it; and Of those exposed TO equal dan
gers none should be dlsarmed but the mali
cious. Conservatives always claim for each
new idea three things. Those to be bene-
fitted do not want 1t and Will not use il,
"they will neglect all duties to misuse 1t, )"
and lit viii make no difference, anyway"
They said these things when woman first
set loot out of the harem and escaped the
watchiul care of eunuchs; they said it
when women took the control of their chill
dren from husbands and slaves, when they
took off the veil; when they ventured to eat
with husband and sons; when they dared
TO 90 on the street and into public audi
ences. What wall there was when women
learned the alphabet, began TO teach, looked
longingly at The professions, etc. a every
step we are told sit Will make no differ
ence"; but it has made the difference be-
woman OF to-day, who may, and does,
travel around the globe without fear and
unh armed. All women do not care for all
sorts OF liberty, but each
SHOULD BE FREE
To do anything she chooses provided she
does not harm another. One vote does not
control, but it has its proportion of infu-
cause they make law, and each ballot exerts
its proportional influence. We respect peO-
pie and institutions not so much for what
they do do as for what they can do, and my
vote can do just as much as any other one
vote. What woman in the Century Club
the Eastern Star. in the W. c. L. IT,, what
woman owning stock. wishes to be deprived
of her vote? vi course her vote alone does
not carry, but it may carry, it is possible {;
and If In minority 1t represents an in
fuence, secures a respect hich no one can
have without that authoritative expression
of opinion. The bosses who interfere do
it by buying votes. The fact that such
corruption does exist is reason why We
should wish to help control those I'M
portant interests vested in government
Surely our ''lfe, liberty and pursuit of hap
piness" are too important for such guardian
ship; we should wish to neutraliZe such
mismanagement. What woman would be
apathetic If her kitchen OF do0r-yard were
in such keeping? We need ballot system
entirely secret, we need to disfranchise the
malicious element, but such side issues are
not for women until they secure the ballot,
which will enable them 20 do something.
Let us spend no more time fighting giants
in the wilderness, but march to the Jordan !;
when we reach the promised land we can
helm IN ia blIch the kiupdOm