The Washington times., 1894-04-13

in the American Declaration of Independence,
it is absolutely unique. No such published
basis for government ever before appeared in
the history Of human experience
| There have been many governments before
which rejected the divine right Of kings or
emperors, but here We have an entirely new
foundation, in the declaration that govern
| merits derive their just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed: that, whenever any
form Of government becomes destructive OF
these ends, it is the right of the people to alter
or abolish it,
Now any logical person need but ask him.
self or herself what is the only method by
which consent to government can be mani
tested in order TO see at glance the full sig
niflcance OF the American ballot. 1t is, in it.
SELF simply symbol of justice, a sign OF recog-
| milton of the individuals right to express
consent or dissent in regard to governmental
! affairs. 1t is standing recognition that
''taxation without representation is tyranny"
and that all who are taxed are entitled to at
least voice in regard to the choice OF their
| representatives. 1t is an acknowledgment of
this badge of sovereignty is to bestow upon
the individual national honor, mark of
national dignity. Its bestowal signifies that
the individual upon whom this honor is con-
ferred is not only to be recognized the world
over rs capable OF self-government, but also
as a worthy assistant in the sacred duty Of
promoting and preserving the public good.
thoughtful person that the possession of title to
exercise the American franchise is the highest
honor the United States can bestow, and,
conversely, to withhold such right, duty, or
privilege is proof that those from whom it is
withheld are deemed neither capable of self
government nor fit assistants in the task of
securing political order, peace, happiness.
and prosperity. Hence, the possession and
non-possession of the ballot inevitably divides
the people OF the United States into two
classes, namely, the people who are publicly
honored and the people who are publicly dis
honored.
Now II those who were thus honored were
a caste composed wholly of the educated, the
thoughtful. the wise, the industrious, the
temperate, the honest, the moral, kind and
good; in a word, If it were a caste OF character
there would be no fault found with such dis
elimination on general principles. though
even such an establishment of caste is uncon-
stitutional. But what is the dividing line in
the United States? Who are sovereigns
and who subjects? What is necessary that
one may consent to ones own government
and have a voice in the affairs for which all
are taxed and in which all men are equally liz
terested?
Incredible as it must seem to every reason
ING person, the chief qualifcation-the only,
qualification agreed upon by all states and
territories without xception-demanded of
the individual upon whom the United States
confer the highest honors is. to be male
person, Some states discriminate more and
some less, some do and some do not exclude
the vicious, the pauper and the idiot male
person. but with one small. one new. and one
partial exception every state and territory in
this reputedly civilized country excludes
women, Behold the class catalogued as un-
fit for self-goyernment published in the
Tribune Almanac of 1898:
Persons under guardianship, aliens, minors,
bigamists, polygamists. Indians. Cinnamon,
felons, robbers, forgers, counterfeiters. per-
iurers. embezzlers, illiterates. lunatics, con-
victs, infamous criminals, traitors, idiots
and all women,
Here we have q published list of all the
dishonored, into whose category are forced
the mothers, the sisters. the wives. the daugh-
tiers of every household in this republic. And
yet men hold women responsible for lack of
influence for good over their sons, the in
fluence of mothers whose sons know that the
whole body OF American men refuse 10 count
the opinions of women! She must. indeed,
be a rarely gifted woman who can exert good
influence under such enormous disadvantage
placed upon her by her state or country
The first result of the enfranchisement of
women in New York will be the added SELF
respect which must come to any state which
lifts its mothers, wives, sisters. and daughters
out of the criminal and idiot class and recog-
nizes them as part of the self-governing
people. The second result will be the in
creased intelligence OF women which must
accrue from the knowledge that they are ex-
pected to know something about public well
fare
The third result will be the growing COM
radeship, the increasing mutual respect be-
tween men and women, as women increase in
breadth of knowledge and thus become more
truly helpful to themselves and to all others.
And the ultimate result will be the same
increase of public good which attends every
substitution of honesty for dishonesty, of
truth and sincerity for falsehood and hypoc-
risy. Every celebration of the American
Declaration OF Independence is, at present,
an act of national hypocrisy. The enfranchise-
ment of the women--the female people-of
New York will be grand move toward re-
storing harmony between American profess
sions and American practice.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY.
HITS-OR MISSES.