, 1891-12-19
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE
ASSOCIATION ATT ITS MEETING.
A Few Facts Relattye to the Theory
and Practice of Our Govern-
ment-Thanks to the

L
Following.w were the resolutions adopted
by the Equal Suffrage Association which
met at Tacoma hall On Thursday:
WHEREAS, The theory Of our political in
stutions is that all human beings are en-
doWed by their Creator with certain rights
that the object of government should be to
secure each indivit ual in the enjoyment of
those rights, and that government should
only derive power from the consent of the
governed, and
WHEREAS, The practice of our govern
ment IS not based upon this theory, mas
much, as one-half Of our people are denied
the privilege OF giving our Withholding
their consent to the powers assumed BY
government, and
WHEREAS, The privilege Of participating
III the functions of government for time
enjoyed by the woman citizens of Wash
ington, has been unjustly, unlawfully and
fellow men, to their great injury and to the
injury Of the state at large, and
WHEREAS, 1t is a habit of those who exc
cute and administer the powers of govern
ment, to act very differently to those
whose petitions they NAV disregard with
impunity, to what they will toward those
who can call them them to an account.
and
WHEREAS, The strength of every govern
ment rests mainly npon the cordial sup
port OF all the governed obtained only
where consciousness exists in the public
mind that the welfare of all is the aim Of
the government, and
WHEREAS, The condition of affairs exist
ing at the time OF the formation Of the
United States government, whereby the
welfare and independence of every citizen
could be secured and maintained has BE-
come greatly changed, and is still rapidly
changing, and
WHEREAS, The changes that time is pro-
ducing, and the exigencies that are often
occurring, require closer similitude be-
tween the theory and practice Of our gov
eminent; therefore
and permanence Of the American system
OF government, requires an amendment to
the United States Constitution, securing to
every American citizen equal rights before
the law.
= Resolved, That we appeal to the man
hood OF our fellow-men in the state of
Washington, to remove the foul stains
that were cast upon our state by unjustly
qepriving the women of this state of that
6rlght, held most sacred by every true
American. the right Of fself-goyarnment.
Resolved, That we consider that not
only the welfare and stability of our gov
ernment, but the permanence Of our pres
ent civilization requires higher STANDARD
of moral manhood than has heretofore ex-
isted the production of which is depend
ent upon the advancement of woman,
which can only be secured by endowing
her with voice in the government, under
which she lives, and we hereby pledge our
selves to labor every honorable and lawful
way to accomplish this purpose.
Resolved, That we tender to the supreme
court Of our state our heartfelt thanks for
reversing the decision Of the supreme.
court of our territory in the case Of Wash
1ngton versus Harlan.
Resolved, That in depriving the women
citizens of the territory of Washington of
the right of suffrage, an outrage was per-
petrated which in its effort became ma
tional in character, and that the National
American Woman Suffrage Association is
J erly presenting the case Of Bloomer vs.
Todd ct al when it is called in the ii. S.
supreme court, which court, we are in
! formed has refused to dismiss the case on
{ the motion of attorney for plaintiff.