The oasis., 1894-06-28
A RISING PRoPooAsDA.

ed that representative government is not just without granting to the fair CT half of humanity the same voice in it's management and direction that has heretofore been granted only to the masculine portion. Those who have made this contention have been among the most intelligent and cap able of both sexes. But they have been without any very strong follow ing anywhere. Even theY 'defenceless and downtroddenn sex in whose behalf they exerted their eloquence and plead with all the earnestness of conscien- tious conviction, has seemed utterly indifferent to their efforts. But now all this seems changing with rapid ity which seems really astonishing to those who have so long worked and waited without hope, for what they fondly believe will prove political millennium.
 Twenty years ago Wyoming startled the world by granting suffrage to wo- men, and ever since that time that state has been closely observed by students of politico-economical ques- tions, for some definite and tangible conclusion upon the possible result upon soriety of general adoption of the principle of government advocat- ed by the adherents of the new propo- ganda. The conclusion that has been finally adopted has been that it will mako but very little difference to so- ciety; and conviction has also settled in the minds of very many even among those who once opposed it, that when ever the women of the Anglo-Saxon race really want to exercise the suf- frage, they have only to make their want known in the sacred precincts of the home, and the want will im- immediately find itself gratified in the spontaneous political action of hus- bands, fathers and brothers. That such want has been expressed, and that the spontaneous political action indicated is about coming into opera tion is evidenced by occurrences tran spring on every side. Last year Colo rado wiped from her constitution the distinction heretofore existing be- tween the political rights of the sexes; and in several states those opposed to the equal rights propaganda defeated propositions to submit the question to the people, only by the most strenuous exertions. In Kansas the pOpulists have declared in favor of unrestricted suffrage, and last week the California republican state convention took the same unequivocal ground. In New York convention is now framing a new fundamental law, and those fav- bring equal suffrage will be granted a hearing in committee. The conven- tion is said to be opposed to the move ment, but those advocating it are not without confidence and believe they may bring around to their view the august body, which in point of real ability is one of the greatest ever as- sembled. In England the suffrage has been gradually extended until mem bers of parliament are now about the only public officials selected by ballot for whom Englishwomen do not enjoy the sane right to vote as do English men. All these, and numerous other matters that might be instanced, show that the advancement of woman in political privileges has steadily gained ground, and force the conviction that the political revolution the civilized world is now witnessing can in no way he arrested nor turned backward