The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-23
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
SEATTLE, Aug. 2, 1891

SEATTLE, Aug. 2, 1891
To THE EDITOR: II is difficult TO rectify false
convictions, especially when they run in ac-
cordance with inclination or pet theory. And is
will probably take more time than will be 81
lotted to this generation OF human beings to
convince the advocates OF woman suffrage that
they are weaving their cause by continuing 10
assert that suffrage is natural right III they
are wrong IN this position they are sailing In an
unknown sea, their compass Is not trustworthy
as a guide, and they must be set right before
they can expect to try to reach port. You re-
member Webster's noble opening figure in his
reply 70 Hane. Those natural right suffrag-
lists are away from their moorings. Let them
10 X TO see how they stand, that they may aim
accurately: in no other way can they hope 70
carry conviction by their propagandy There
are but two reasons for eniargtng the
present system OF suffrage-elther because IL Is
right, or because 1t is expedient IL the sur
frage is not natural right, II Is sheer waste OF
time TO argue that il is; the thought and the Ell
fort would be much better spent in discussing
the question one of expediency.
IL it is worse than useless, therefore, 70 use
the natural right doctrine. let Us hear no more
OF it, for the discussion Is thereby diverted from
the main issue, and consequently does harm
rather than good TO the cause
1t seems to me that there is some inconsist-
ency in the application of the natural right
theory by the defenders of woman suffrage.
right applied TO women born in the United
States, but not to women born in foreign
country. II IL is right for women or any one
else TO vote, is it not equally right for %
year-old boy7 Or for an idiot? Or for for
eigner? 1t is not demonstrated that right that
is natural can be abridged by society at large
even in cases of capital punishment There are
few great and fundamental natural rights, and
as they are natural, they are, therefore, common
to every human being. They existed before
governments were instituted, and they viii con-
tinue to the end of time. The Declaration OF
independence limited at them when 1t referred
TO "life, liberty and the pursuit OF happiness"
Upon coming to an artificial state of society
known as government, the original, natural
rights become complicated with expediency, the
doctrine of the greatest good to the greatest
number and such things, and IL often Is CON-
mon for defenders or advocates of particular
doctrines to refer their especial grievance or
theory to the much abused word natural
right
In the American Revolution we had ssno tax
alton without representation" as a shibboleth.
The expression sounds verv convincing and Is
taken without investigation by the vast major
ity OF people. But that IL is entirely true, IL
neither matter of fact or OF actual, general be-
lief. The property of minors is taxed, and they
have no representation. The property of for
eign landholders is taxed the same as
other property, yet we hear of no movement to
give such foreigners q voting representation.
The property of lunatics and imbeciles is taxed,
but there is no reform looking TO their repre-
sentation. Undoubtedly the cry of "no taxation
without representation roughly expresses a
certain principle. But il cannot be craven in
the public statutes because it is not true
guide.
so has It been with the declaration that "all
men are created equal" 1t is admittedly very
pretty sentiment, and yet suppose that no one
believes that 1t does anything more than shadow
the truth: that in respect to certain inalienable
rights all men have certain amount of politi-
cal equality. All men are not created equal; in
the whole world no two men are created equal
In their moral, spiritual, intellectual or pecun-
larry endowment. In the parable of the talents,
the fact of mems inequality is plainly recog-
nized-
All OF these semi-true and semi false phrases
are good enough in their time to eoniure with
But they are not the real flesh and. blood Let
US avoid them when we can. Away with these
plausible fallacies SIDNEY g. Ross.