St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-20
WOMAN

The Americans are the most tolerant
people on earth. No matter what the
matter in controversy may be. or what
the eXpedients resorted to for its settle
ment, they demand that each side shall
have fair play. An attempt to take an
unfair advantage of an opponent will
array the entire American people upon
the side of the weaker party, whether
he be right or wrong.
Comments of Miss Susan B. Anthony
at the Women's Suffrage association at
Washington, on Saturday, called atten-
ton to this characteristic of our people.
She spoke of the excellent reports Of
the proceedings that are sent out daily
by the Associated Press, and given a
wide publication throughout the coun-
try in all classes Of journals. This pub
liclty, she thought-and rightly, too
was of great benefit to the cause, and
she was free to express her thanks, both
to the press and its news agency for
the fair treatment accorded the crusade
and Its participants.
The wide publicity given by the press
to women's suffrage gatherings is an
other evidence of the fairness that
characteriZes the conductors OF the
American press. Few of them are adj
vocateS of the extension of suffrage to
the fair sex; the majority are firmly op-
posed to it, regarding the movement as
calculated to unSeX and destroy the
charm of ONE Yet no newspaper
has refused to accord the champions Of
the idea a hearing. A few years age
their claims were received with almost
universal ridicule, and the leaders were
caricatured from Maine TO California.
But rldIcule soon gave way to argument,
argument to meditation, and in many
cases meditation was followed by con-
victlon. There are many public journals
that a few years ago violently assaulted
the idea Of comforting the suffrage upon
women, which today are free to admit
that the consequences of such a change
in conditions would not create a serious
revolution in government. They do not
favor thec change, but If it should come
they would view it with %equanimity and
make the most of the situation.
With the change in the tone and treat
ment of the suffrage cause by the press
has come a change in public opinion
generally. Whether the public was in
tuenced by the press or vice versa, the
GLOBE does not undertake to say. 1t
simply records the fact. and is glad of it.
In their conduct of their campaign the
women have been governed by rare
good sense. They have sought to awak-
Ell no antagonisms, but have fought
their opinions and repealed unmanly as
saults with a vigOr and spirit that has
done them great credit. OF course a
few have INDUCED in vituperative at
tacks upon the tyraut man, but these
have been the exception, not the rule.
They have been content with au asser-
tion Of the justice of their demands, and
persistent in keeping it constantly be-
fore the public. And in localities where
the suffrage has been granted, wholly
or in part, to women, they have taken
care that none of the dire consequences
predicted should come to pass.
The fact that woman's suffrage has
been a measurable success wherever it
has been tried is a strong argument in
its favor. In Kansas there have been
some abnormal developments, that seem
to be, however, more the result of sur
roundings and locality than of the new
conditions. Kansas has been a crank
state ever since the days of Ossawat-
tonne Brown, and is no more so now
that women are allowed to vote than
before they had that privilege. In
Wyoming, where universal suffrage ex-
lists. no injurious effects have resulted.
In many other states in the West, Miu-
neSota included, where partial suffrage
is granted, some good results have fol-
lowed. In this state Woman'S influence
has been felt upon our school system.
The time was when men wholly unfit
for the responsibilities Of the position
were chosen as members of boards o {
education and school directors. That
time has passed, thanks to the fact that
the mothers of the pupils have a voice
in the selection OF school officers. and,
except in rare instances, the men select.
ed to govern in educational matters are
well qualified for their responsibilities.
Theoretically, a woman has as good a
right to vote as a man. She has a right
to determine the puniShments that may
be Inflicted upon her and her children
if they shall violate the law. and the
taxes she shall be required to pay upon
her property. As to the e~xpediency of
comforting the suffrage upon the sex,
opinions will continue to differ in the
future as they have differed in the past.
But the man must be an in%corrigible
pessimist who, in the light of past ex-
perience. can view with foreboding the
further investiture of woman with the
rights of citizenship.