The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-25
SUFFRAGE NOT A NATURAL RIGHT.
SEATTLE, July "a, 1891.

SEATTLE, July "a, 1891.
To THE EDITOR: Mr.. James G. Clark defends
the doctrine of woman suffrage in very praise
worthy manner. and evidently with q commend
able motive. And yet, 1t seems to me, that his
reason 10 at fault though his heart may be in the
right place. As to the theory of woman suffrage
In general, it needs no discussion in this letter;
but the argument that voting is q natural right
requires closer reasoning than have yet seen
devoted to that branch of the subject.
By denying the natural right, we do not say
either in substance or by inference-that wo-
man, to use Mr.. Clark's words, "has no right to
form or hold an opinion touching matters that
affect her in common with man." Neither do I
see how such an inference can be made. She
may form any opinion she pleasss, she may hold
II as long as she pleasss, she may make il yocar
in any way she pleases. But the mere forming,
holding, giving expression of an opinion does.not
carry with 1t the right to vote in the slightest
degree. foreigner may do all of these things.
and he may be even infallibly correct in such
Judgments, but no one advocates giving him the
privilege to vote on that account
few ethnographical reflections would have
answered some of Mr.. Clark's questions, and
saved some of his fiery rhetoric. Government is
an evil; necessary, perhaps, out still an evil.
1t does not spring full-hedged into existence
It is according to the constitution OF man, in
evitable. Contrary belief IL anarchism, and I
doubt If Mr. Clark OF any other woman suffrag-
list upholds anarchy. The rise and development
OF government are, according to the evolution
of civilization, simple at first, complex ultima
tely. was not aware that any one denied that
when in the savage state, the first leader or chief
of the tribe won his position by his prowess
He did not, single-handed subjugate the tribe
the right to rule was conferred upon him by his
equals. Gradually, as the exercise of his chief
tainship became tyrannous or weak, because OF
inability to manage the whole business OF the
tribe, advisors were added to the government
Then q guard, then an army, etc. No doubt
much power was grssped by force. But this was
later. The point is: The original government
was conferred, not assumed. Is there denial of
thiss
Does the history of America show that our suf-
frage at the beginning was an assumed right9
IL 80. have not read il right The original au-
thority of England was wrested from ii by force
by the people of the colonies. The men who as
sumed the right TO revolt against the mother
country, the men who shed their blood to carry
out the principles they fought for, the men
whose daring and grit won the thing of such
priceless value, voluntarily granted the control
of the public management 10 their representa-
tyes. They won their liberty, absolute liberty
and they had right to use ii as they saw ii l.
They did use il by limiting it in the form OF
government. The notifications they adopted
as TO the perpstustion bound their descendants
We have right to extend the suffrage as we see
nj. In Whatever cases the suffrage Is extended,
IL 10 a conference of political privilege. We who
are born women have not the right to vote till liz
is given us; we who are born men have the
right, aud IL is our duty to use the suffrage as il
has descended TO ne. IL is easy to crtieise the
injustice of nature or OF history; but facts are
facts, aud we must recognize them. From above
we have been told that the ''sins Of the
fathers shall descend unto the children of the
third and fourth generation" etc. The ehiE.
dren are bound by the acts OF the parents In
nature IL is equally true. The child reaps the
physical consequences of the prudence OF the
lmprovidenee Of the parent, the health, the de-
formitiss, the lurking disease. Mr.. Clark might
as we'll say that men assume the right 10 be
males as that they assume the right to vote 1t
originated in the use OF liberty or whatever YOU
may call il, won by the founders OF the United
States government; IL woman suffrage had been
incorporated with the original form OF govern
Tnsut, It would be cFimiaRl usgrpation for anv
one new TO try t. destroy IL. Whether pleasant
90 realize or not, eur suffrage is a conferred
right, originally conquered right, and its ex-
tension depends upon the will OF the yoters
This regardless OF its bearing upon the question
OF womans voting.
II suffrage is 9 natural right, whence comes
the right to limit IL in any senseG If woman
makes her plea solely as q natural right" how
Can she draw ths line against any person what
soeysF?
young % years of age. has he a naursl
right 20 volsg Aud II he has, how about the
young boy 10 years Of age, the baby in arms?
The convict ia prison, has he rigat TO voter
Yes, You say, bat be has forfeited il. Who has
AEgas 10 saAs asay tEs1 Ai@ q Natural Eighl2