Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-21
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from lot page.l

connected with the church, afterwards
those who held property. In this country
we debar certain classes from voting,
criminals. minors, and in some instances
insane people and idiots. But that Is no
reason why we should debar woman from
yutinR. Our government Is founded
upon the principle that all the people
should have part in the government OF
the country. So on the principles of our
government, ON the principles OF liberty
and OF freedom this right is extended just
A. fax NJ possible to take in as many
people and as many classes as is possible
70 perform the functions of government
by voting. And / claim that 1t should be
still further extended, and should include
women.
1t is claimed that women would vote
differently FROM the men. Suppose they
did It is one of the principles OF this
government that all should have the right
to their own opinion, and to express that
opinion by their vote. l believe that it
is for the best interests Of the State and
nation that women should be allowed to
vote. and claim that on this ground
alone that right should be given them.
In looking back over the history OF this
matter we find that there are only few
nations and few states that have adopted
wornen's suffrage, and yet think that the
thing has worked so well in these nations
and states that it is now admitted to be
n success We find women's suffrage in
large portions Of Great Britain, in Ice
land, in Australia, and in many OF the
states and we do not find in these places
any of those bad elements that the OPP
ponents of this measure claim will appear,
none Of those elements that would bring
tiisprace upon society are found. We all
know that woman sold her jewels In
order to enable the dscoverer OF this coun-
try to prosecute his expedition, and that
he was enabled by her help alone to dis
cover America. Is it right that woman.
who did SO much for the discovery oil
America should have no part in the gov
eminent of the country? We say that
the right to vote takes with it, necessarily,
the right to hold office, but even granting
that. IL does not follow that woman will
hold office as much as man. The right is
given to the citizens to elect that citizen
who Is best qualified to fill the office. be
it woman or man. Even supposing that
she should be found better qualified than
man. would it not be right to give her the
Office and let man do the voting?
When we say that women are not cap
able OF governing do we mean IT? Let us
look into history, and see the Queens who
hayO ruled the nations OF the earth.
Queen Isabella, Queen Elizabeth, Queen
Victoria! Was there man more ad-
yapced in his views than Queen Isabella?
Was there q man better than Queen Eliza
beth as a diplomatist or as statemaB?
You must remember that she had to com
pete with the best minds of the age, and
no nation prospered rs did England under
Elizabeth. The period Of England's
greatest prosperity has been the last fifty
years, during which time she has been
ruled by Queen Victoria Gould any king
have ruled that nation better than that
grand and noble woman? And want to
call the attention of the Senate also to the
fact that Queen Victoria has performed
her duties as mother. and her duties to
her home also. She has not neglected
them. She has reared nine or ten chill
dren, and / think it never has been
claimed that she has not done her duties
as q mother during that period, and yet
she has ruled the land better than most
OF the kings who went before her. Where
can tho opponents of this bill get facts
to prove that woman is not capable Of
governing? Woman as teacher has been
teaching this nation and this State from
the time that we came into the world,
and they will do so until we go out OF It,
As babes, as primary students, as youths,
she has taught us, and brought us Ut in
the principles of our government, and
yet she is to be prohibited from taking
part in the making Of that government
which she has to teach to the children of
the land Is it right?
The opponents of this measure say it is
against nature that women should govern.
! say it Is in accordance with nature
that she should govern and have an equal
part with man in the government OF Sc
ciety. She not only teaches in our schools,
but through all the vacations of life it is
woman's practical efforts that help and
teach man She is today occupying place
Of trust In cur colleges
You know that women some fiTty or
hundred years ago had vacations ut home
that have now been taken from her by the
advancement of science and the mechanic
arts. The factory now takes the place OF
the old spinning loom. Woman today has
greatly enlarged her sphere, until she
stands now side by side with man. She
show, disposition, a tact, nature quail,
fled to enter on these new duties, and
can sec nothing in nature to prevent hor
from entering upon them. l think she
he r self is better judge of what is good
I, her than man. Who proclaimed us the
Judges of woman's welfare? Who gave
us the right to know better than woman
herself what is good for herr
1t Is claimed that she cannot bear arms,
and 10 to war. aud l think is not right
that she should SO long as men are here to
dosit for her. But it is she that takes
care of the wounded and makes better our
sanitary conditions. 1t may bc that she
is not peculiarly fitted to go into battle,
b 1t think you will agree with me in
saying that but small part Of the men
are So qualified Shall we eonfine the
right to vote to those men who arc COM
petent to bear arms? Not ut all. So that
it cannot be upon this theory that the bal
lot should be denied to woman.
The opponents of this measure claim
that it is not practical. Let us see whether
1t is practical or not.
The speaker then read from resolutions
of the Wyoming Legislature, endorsing
woinan's suffrage, after IS years expert
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