The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-06
LETTER BAG.


1.-THE HERALD under this heading prints COM
munications, but does not assume response.
bility for the sentiments expres,ed.l
Judge Cheney Reviewed woman's
Rights.
EDITORS HERALD I'm the report OF
the above genseman's talk to the "fe-
male clubs" come of us were a little sur
prised that he followed the old party
idea OF class legislation, demanding of
woman what has never been exacted OF
man. This diverging line began in
Eden. although it was Adam who was
forbidden to eat the fruit, Eve not hav-
ing been evolved when the command
was given to him--yet for his disobe-
dience and Ewes search for knowledge,
she was made the sufferer and Adam the
ruler. Woman has ever had to knock
at the door OF knowledge, even of her
own endowed Institutions. Harvard,
princely endowed by two women TO the
amount OF nearly two million of dollars,
has just now, after over quarter of a
century, admitted them to an annex.
(Of course this means kitchen-woman
has ever been in the rear of mans ad-
vancement as a commissary depart
ment.) But to 90 into politics the Judge
would have her talk coherently On these
learned questions, and for this purpose
he charitably proposes to instruct her.
1t is now in order for the women of the
city to establish a male ethical club to
instruct the present voting population
to think coherently, talk coherently,
and vote coherently. that we may have
coherent municipality, state and
national government. Mans quRlifi-
cations for the franchise has
had changing value from old England
to New England, and down through the
colonial days from freeholder, money
value and church credentials, till now in
the state of California these self-regu-
lated, qualified voters have only to be 81
years of age, white or colored. with
small collateral addition of residence.
We have all sorts OF arguments against
woman's fitness, from the sledge- ham
mer, physical force quality, down to the
delicate non compos mentis, the result
of enforced inactivitles and long ages of
dormant mentality, in consequence OF
her serving man as a physical machine,
owned and gagged by mans self-im posed
reductio ad absurdum OF masculine ego
tism AgRfals 70 the modern n mind q even en-
bubble than an accepted legal point OF
argument. and decided judicial at
tempt to make a distinction without a
difference. Woman bows in rever ence
before noble manhood, and has ever
ven her substance, strength and life to
his institutions-to many of which she
has not yet been admitted. Taxation
without representation was justifiable
revolution by our fathers. Representa-.
tion with taxation should be justifisble
evolution with our mothers. But this
crystallized organ of the law demands
that women prove themselves worthy
citizens, an Indispensable necessity for
the government, and then men will say,
Come over and help US. This is the same
old story, woman made for man." la
Paul. Pull to pieces mans theory of
things and you will find it based upon
facts collected at suggestion of his de-
sires," a la Spencer. 1t seems never to
have occurred to this ex-honorable law
maker that equity knows no difference
OF sex; and it is to reach this standard
of growth in the individual that woman
is now pressing her claim to the ballot
She does not snd never did claim ability
to right all wrong. When privileged to
exercise this divine human right, q
voice in her own affairs, she being god.
ordained mother of the statesmen and
possessing the stronger intuitional and
moral elements Of force must eventually
lessen many OF the evils that have flour
ished and reach colossal proportions I'M
der masculine rule. Where and how
this legal advisor took the census OF the
number OF moral men and women is
another mystery in jurisprudence. Ger
tainly from the police courts up to the
supreme judicial bench the record of
offending women is much less. Jails,
penitentiaries are all conspicuous
by their absence in number equal to
men. 1t would not be strange were ehe
there. Many generations of corrupt
fathers will surely in time produce cor
rupt daughters. Nobility of manhood
divinely stands on the nobility of
mother hood, correlated to pure father
hood; and the condition of the state is
only an expression of the relation of
man and woman. One of our congress-
mon recently said, "Sin Injuries man,
but destroys woman" Shining women
our city fathers have thought it neces-
sary to crib for the public good, but the
came sort Of SHINING men are left free to
vote, to elect and be elected. Another
eminent congressman said, "Women
need suffrage to complete their educa-
ton. but the Lord help the country
while they are being educated"
S. A. Bowman.