The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-06-08
Equal Suffrage.

vance few arguments in favor of
equal suffrage. in reply to the Mer-
curry article of last week.
1t is very hare to find any argument
to which to reply, in that production,
although it is lengthy and sounds we'll.
1t reminds us of the old rhyme:
"It has been tried and always found
That an empty barrel will make the most
sound"
Mr.. Smith insists that if there are
restrictions on the right of franchise,
such as registration, Il certain length
of residence, or an educational quail
iicatlOn AS there is in some states, that
these restrictions prove that the fran
chise is not II constitutional right, but
Il privilege to be give or taken away by
''society." Arguing from this stand
point he might tell you that your liber.
ty was not constitutional right but
likewise II privilege to be granted or
not by ''society" to whom 1t chose. f
But not so. Liberty, the greatest o
all human rights, Is restricted when 1t
IS abused. If l trespass upon my
Deighbors property or injure him in
character, life or limb, my liberty is
restrained, and yet Mr.. Smith will not
dare to say it is not a constitutional
right. So with the ballot. Certain
safeguards are thrown around it in
our present civilization. We as a
nation are young. and to our shores
come the people of all other countries,
SO We ask a certain length of residence
among US, as sort of hostage to the
citizens of our republic that the voter
intends to become bona 6de member
of our commonwealth, support its
institutions, abide by its laws, and
honor its flag. Then he is given Il
right to participate in all the functions
OF government. IT a citizen of one
locality removes to another he is not
allowed to vote ut once or until he is
known to belong to our own country,
and this cannot be ascertained in a
day.
Perhaps in future years, when We
become homogeneous people, we will
not impose any restraint upon people
In this matter, and man may remove
from Massachusetts to California and
vote the next day.
The editor of the Mercury says that
40 legislature could compel man to
register somewhere before he could
transact business OF hold property.
There are inherent rights as well as
constitutional rights, and the right to
hold property lif is your own is one of
them. Also to transact business if it
does not injure al inherent right of
some other individual or nation. But
even inherent rights must be restrained
when they become injurious to the
community, and people are beginning
to question the right of a man to
possess millions upon millions of dol
lars while his fellow men suffer for
bread, and cannot get the work to earn
enough to keep soul and body together
Hence we say that because a right,
either constitutional or Inherent, is
restricted, for "the greatest good to
the greatest NUMBER" does not dis
prove the fact that it is a right.
We did not say taxation SHOULD be
the basis OF franchise, but that being
a man should NOT be.
We quote from tile Merc,ay a little
clause in regard tO taxation:
1.-THE colonies rebelled not because
certain Individuals or certain classes
-. were without representation III the
British Parliament, but because the
whole community was not represented. ,
Women are fighting for the same
reason, because an integral part of
our cOmmOnwealth-the whole COM
nuDity of women is not represented.
Again Mr.. Smith says: Can it he
said for moment that men unjustly
tax the property of women2'' We
will give you the state of affairs in
Little Falls, New York, as vouched
for by an estimable gentleman of our
acquaintance who recently spent year
there, and leave you to form your own
conclusion, rs to whether men unjustly
tax the property Of women or not.
Little Falls has 10, 600 Inhabitants
ssnd manufactures knitted goods. In
these knitting mills they prefer to en-
plOy women, and rs they can earn so
much more than the men, they do the
work aud the men do the Homework
or loaf. There are eighty saloons in
Little Falls. On Saturday nights not
u women is seen in these saloons, but
they swarm with men, spending for
whiskey and gambling the money
earned by the women, who are the
Taxpayers and bread winners of Little
Falls. They are constantly endeayor-
ing to rid themselves Of these saloons
i'm the town that their taxes support,
but SO hong as they cannot vote they