Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-30
ETHICS OF SUFFRAGE
THE EVOLUTION INVOLVED IN WON.
ANS USE OF THE BALLOT.


Of self government, the right Of eysrv ritI-
zen to choose his own representatives and
to make the laws under which he lives
and "A this right can be secured only nv
the exercise OF the right Of suffrage III, hal.
lot. In the hand OF every qualified person.
constitutes the truo political status OF 4
citizen in republic.
The right of suffrage IA simply the right
70 govern ones self. Every human being
Is born into the world with this right. and
the desire TO exercise II comes naturally
with the responsibilities Of life. "The high
est earthly desire OF a ripened mind saws
Thomas Arnold, lis the desire OF taking an
active share in the great work OF govern.
ment'' those only who are capable Of an.
preciating this dignity can measure the er-
tent 10 which women are dcfrRuded "a citl-
rens OF thisgreAt republic; neither can they
measure the loss to the councils Of the na.
ton OF thewisdom OF Representative women.
When men say that women do not desire
tue right OF suffrage, but prefer masculine
domination to self government, they falsify
every page of history, every fact of human
nature
The chronic condition Of rebellion, even
OF children against the control OF nurses,
elder bTothers, sisters, parents and teachers,
is a protest In favor OF the right OF self gov.
eminent
The general unrest of the subjscts OF
kings, emperora and czars, in secret plot
tings or open defiance against self consti-
tuted authorities, shows the hatred OF all
people for governments TO which they have
mover consented.
But 1t is said that on this point women
are PECULIAR that they differ from all other
classes; that, being dependent. they nat
urally prefer being governed by others.
The facts OF history contradict the asser.
tion; they show that women have always
been in a state Of half concealed resistance
TO fathers, husbands aud all self consti-
tuted authorities rs far as they dared as
far as good policy permitted them (being
dependents) to manifest their real feelings.
1t has taken the whole power Of the civil
and canon law to hold woman in the sub
ordinate position which It is said shs will
ingly accepts II woman had no will, no
self assertion, no opinions OF her own to
start with, what means the terrible perse.
cutions OF the sex in the pasti
So powerful and merciless has been the
struggle to dominate the feminine element
In humanity that we may well wonder ut
thesteady, persistent resistance main tanned
by woman through the centuries. She has
shown all along her love OF Individual free
dom, her desire for self government, while
her achievements IN practical affairs and
her courage in the emergencies OF life have
vindoated her capacity TO exercise this ght
These, one and ALL are 50 many protests
against absolute authority and 80 many
testimonials in favor OF self government,
and yet thisis the only form Of government
that has never yet been fairly tried.
The few experiments that have been
made here and there IN some exceptional
homes, schools and territories have only
been partially successful because the sur
rounding influences have been adverse
When We awake to the fact that our
schools are places for training citizens OF a
republic, the rights aud duties involved In
self government will NIL larger place in
the curriculum OF our universities.
Woman suffrage means a complete reyo-
luton In our government and social life q
revision Of our constitutions 10 means an
eIpurgEted edition Of our statute laws and
codes civil and criminal 10 means equal
approximation In the halls OF legislation
and tha courts OF Justice; that woman may
be- tried by her own pesrs-JudRss and ad-
vocates Of her own choosing IL means
light and sunshine, mercy aud peace, IN our
dungeons, jails aud prisons, when the bar.
barous idea OF punishment shall give place
10 the diHner idea OF reformation. Il
means police mstruus in all our station
houses, that young girls arrested during
the night when intoxicated and otherwise
helpless may be under the watchful eyes Of
some judicious woman and not left wholly
at the mercy Of II male police.
And what does woman suffrage mean IN
social litei Health and happiness for wom-
Ell aud children; ono code OF morals for
men and women; love and liberty, peace
and purity in the home; cleanliness and
order In the streets and alleys; good sani.
tary arrangements In the homes Of the
poor; morals and manners taught in the
schools.
Ne cannot estimate the loss 20 the world
in this repression OF individual freedom
and development through childhood and
youth. Woman suffrage means u new and
nobler type OF men and women, with mu'
tuAl love and respect for each other. II
means equal authority in the home, an
equal plaoe In the trades aud professions
and equal honor and credit In the world oi
work.
line. Everything is carried by force and
violence aud war and will DO until the
feminine element Is fully recognized aud
has equal power in the regulation OF hui
man Affairs. Then we shall substitute 90
operation for composition, persuasion foI
coercion.
II woman suffrage means all this, surely
II Is the greateat question ever before any
nation for consideration and imperativsly
demands the prompt attention OF the lead
ing minds OF our day, and women them
selves must ruake this the primal question
ia their estimation.
The cnfranehiseine OF woman in Eng
land and America would give new dignity
self respect and hope to the women OF every
nation in the ut.srmoat isles Of theseS.
The protracted struggle through which
we have passed and our labors not YET
crowned with victory seem to me some
times like painful dream, in which one
strives torun and yet standsstill, incapable
alike OF escaping or meeting the impending
danger
But would not pain my readers' ear
with rehearsal OF the hopes ofttimes de
ferred and Swallowed with fear, OF th'
brightest AnticipAtions again and agar
/ dimmed with disappointment VIII leav'
Il to your Imagination 10 picture 70 your
selves how you would feel II any OF yot
had had a case 81 court, or bill befor'
come Legislative body, or political aspira
j -. -. ....ely half 4. rautitrV with n con