The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-15
oBEDiENcE TO THE LAWS.
How Some of Them Work and Affect the
Eiohts of Women.

HOW some OF mem Work ana Auect the
Rights of Women.
Editor Womdn's Column. Morning Call.
Obedience to every law is conImendable.
Bad laws secure repeal and destruction by
enforcement. Under a monarchy the ruler
is the law-making and executive power. In
our country a mere majority over one
twelfth of the population controls the legis-
lative and executive power. Only one-half
of the adult population is allowed 10 exer-
else citizens privilege of vote; the other
half Of those adult citizens are denied such
rights. That a mere majority of those
amenabe to the laws should rule is right
and just in principle, but it is false in prac-
tice. That Government should rest upon
the consent of the governed" is correct in
theory, but untrue III fact. In foreign Gov
ernments the masses are cajoed into rev.
erential awe and servile submission to GUS
tom and formalitieS through the glamor
and pageantry of royal robes, titled plumes
and gilded crowns, and in many instances
the devotion of the subject is only equaled
by the tyran ny of the Government. Modern
progress will soon throw off all this old
pagan tlummery Of royalty, and the 'divine
right of kings" will be supplanted by the
inherent right of the governed.
All our constitutions and laws are con-
veDtional and are merely "rules of con-
duct"-nothing more. Who has the right
to decide what these rules of conduct shall
be? and who are the best qualified to make
these rules and enforce them? Our GRIM
inal courts and prisons tell plainly the set
OF persons who commit the murders and
ro6beries and thefts and forgerles. The fe-
male portion of the population possesses
equal Intelligence, equal industry, equal at
tai nments under equal opportunities with
the male and hundred times more purity,
benevolence and charity. This assumed,
exclusive right by the male population TO
the ballot does not rest upon
INTELLIGENCE,
Or attainments, or industry, or character,
OF s0bTiety, or merit; nor upon all these
combined. This whole, and only qualifica-
ton OF the ballot, as absurd as it is true,
consists in and rests upon one condition
matured manhood. All the virtues, ac-
complishments and attachments and prop
erty and taxes OF the most deserving
woman does not, under the law, give her
the right to voice in framing the rules
she must live under-doeS not equal the
one qualification Of the lowest Sovereign"
The mother nurtures. educates and gives
impress to the character and disposition of
the boy through years of anxiety and trials.
Seldom. If ever. that boy leaves his mothers
tender hands a criminal or debauched
person. The law of the land denies to that
mother any agency in rule or aw-making
for her son or for herself; but rather the
son, in his full-grown sovereignty, uniting
with every imported secondhand" citizen
and with the most besotted native, and the
most stupid, casts his vote in making the
laws to govern his mother and all mothers
interests.
The wife and mother who has the care of
the household, and who has made home
for family, dies. No notice of admins
tration is given, no public sale, no breaking
up Of the household. But presently new