Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-07-19
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.


what they are pleased to call the cause
of ''equal suffrage, and it may be well,
if we define our position on this ques
ton.
For thirty years, in season and out
of season, we have advocated that the
electoral franchise be based upon edu-
cational basis and we certainly do not
propose now to advocate proposition
to multiply the ignorant vote of the
country by two. We hear much about
the wealthy refined and educated lady,
who is compelled to pay taxes without
being accorded a voice in the govern
ment, but we hear nothing about the
poor, vicious and ignorant woman, who
pays no taxes, and in voting would be
actuated by the same motives which
actuate the ignorant and vicious man.
Yet the proposition is pot to confer the
franchise upon the educated female
tax payer, but upon all women, regard
less of qualification. No sensible per
son will deny that women, taken as
whole, are no better, mentally or
morally than men, and woman suffrage,
being therefore unable to improve the
electorate, can not be viewed as re-
form.
But changes or innovation should
only be made for good reason. The
change must either be an improvement,
reform, or else must involve the
righting of wrong and must be de-
manded by justice. Now if woman
suffrage is reform, does justice de-
mand its granting?
We say no. Taxes are now and have
always been levied equal upon all prop
J erty, according to value and regardless
as to whether the owner is man or
woman. But in all other respects, the
high regard for woman, which is a
characteristic of American manhood
J has made many laws unduly partial to
woman and when the law does not ia
. vor the woman, the execution of the
law does. Certain it is that woman has
no cause for complaint and that gov
ernment based upon male suffrage has
treated them far more gently than a
government based wholly or in part up
on female suffrage would be likely to
do. We repeat, there is no reason
whatever for the innovation.
On the other hand there are import
ant reasons why woman suffrage should
l not be granted. We will consider here
only the two most important objections,
they being amply sufficient to satisfy
all who approach the subject without
prejudice.
l The first objection is the very injur-
ious effect woman suffrage would have
upon the family life of the nation.
This is by far the most important, for
upon the family rests the state, the ma
ton. Unfortunately our people do not
all look upon matrimony as a sacred
t obligation, they do not all believe. that
$ whom the Lord has joined together, no
f man should sever asunder. In short
l we grant more divorces than any other
4 civilized nation, and every divorce
: means wrecked family, it means the
: destruction of that which alone can
= rear up children to become honest and
$ yirtuous citizens and useful members
e of the human family, an orderly, clean
i and attractive home, presided over by
{ a true and loving mother. No true
4 man, no loving father should be willing
: to increase the opportunities for possi-
bic differences of opinion between man
: and wife. But woman suffrage would
T increase discord to a disastrous extent.
t For ii the promoters of woman suf-
= frage did think that women would vote
the same as their husbands, then there
Q would be no logical reason for the move
d ment. for then everything that IS car
ried How at elections, would simply be
carried by double the majorities.
It But aside from its effect upon the
duration of the matrimonial contract
- IL would also reduce the number OF
e such contracts. Since the Inauguration
If of the crusade for wOman's rights so
called, women have been forced more
, and more into the walks of men, MOI
e only IN professional life, bnt in many
Is other callings, which used to be re
IS served for men, we now meet women
5, These women fill the place which 9th
e erwise men would occupy, who could
IT marry these or other women and estab
l. lish a proper home for themselves, tC
g the physical and moral advantage Of
e both. As it is, the man is deprived oi
/ the opportunity to earn livelihood fol
y family and hence can not marry
(. while the woman's ability to fulfil the
d requirements of her employment de
e pends upon her remaining single Thu:
% both are condemned to pass through
l. life homeless and alone, deprived O.
y life's choicest blessing-the love of chill
i. dren and the sweet cares of fatherhooC
IS and motherhoOd-and destined TO enc
Of their existence among strangers IN
IS loved and unwept- Anything that vii
re tend to increase this evil We must op
L pose.