The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-06-16
wonAN SUFFRAGE AND CONSISTENCY

The visit OF two such distinguished ad-
vocates of woman's suffrage as Susan b.
Anthony and Rev. Anna Shaw will I'M
doubtedly give impetus to the efforts of
the local advocates OF the feminine right
to vote. The effect of their advent here
will be observed; for some time in local
agitation Of this admittedly important
and interesting question. The discuss
SION should be welcomed. If women are
being deprived of anything to which they
are justly entitled we should know it.
No society founded on any other than a
full recognition of all the rights of its
members can survive for long, nor exist
tremendously while these rights are de-
MED. The whole contention for woman
suffrage must stand or fall on the propo-
sItion of right. In the battle that has
been waged about the subject both sides
have deToted altogether too much atten-
ton to considerations of expediency
Men have talked about the mad visa bi lily
OF granting the suffrage to women and
pointed out innumerable effec they
allege would result and that they deem
undesira BILE. Women have been led into
intermipable dispositions upon the good
were conceded. Thus they have wrestled
with each other in a field that is purely
speculative. The real question at issue
and the one deserving primary considera-
ton is not the supposed good or bad of
won an suffrage. but the right of it. The
proposition to be elucidated is whether in
nature woman is mans equal, not his
equal in specific things, but whether the
aggregate of her faculties and attribute
is equal IN the sum of importance to
those possessed by man.
If SO. man and woman are endowed
with equal natural rights. AS govern
ments are instituted for the purpose of
protecting natural rights, it would seem
to follow that the possessors, in all equity
are entitled to participate in the affairs
OF government upon the plane of equal
ity. If it be correct for woman to enjoy
suffrage, it will be so not because she
will do tier or worse with it than some
men now possessing it, but because il is
a right essential to the preservation of
her natural equality. If it is a right thus
needed, it is right that woman should
exercise it. And what is, right will
IN the end be expedient. The fact is that
large number of men less fitted appar-
emily ior the duties of citizenship than
the mass OF women. enjoy the ballot, or
that at present women are in the possess
sion OF certain legal advantages not given
men, should have no place as determi in
ing factors in the contest, but yet the re-
spective sides devote unlimited attention
to them. The first thing to settle is the
rio ot to
the citizen. This settlement can only be
attained by candid, intelligent and dis
passionate consideration.
From the standpoint OF policy, one Of
the weaknesses of woman's campaign for
the ballot is TO be found in her incon sist-
ency. AS we have intimiated, she can only
be entitled to it by proving it to be
natural right, and this contention has OF
course been the groundwork of her argu-
ments. but with singular inconsistency
she will follow a plea for the ballot based
on this premise, with assertions regarding
what she will do when she secures the
ballot that indicate an utter indifference
to some of the natural rights that govern
ments are intended to protect
She would convert the ballot intended
own rights into weapon OF oppression
by Infringing upon the rights OF others.
IL is TACT that almost every prominent
leader of the woman S suffrage movem ent
is an ardent believer in prohibitory and
snmptuary leglslltion. They would en-.
act the kind of laws that define what peo.
pie shall not drink. and upon what DAYS
they shall not toll, and logically, if the
principle thus espoused be true and be
followed co its inevitable conclusion. they
would in time practically define what
people shall eat, drink and wear and what
religion is TO be observed on the dav that
is arbitrarily set apart from the ordinary
avccations of life. In effect they would
have tho government whose real func-
ton is only to recognize men In their re-
lations with each other to the extent of
protecting each in the enjoyment of "life,
Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. u
interfere with the strictly individual and
private concerns of people,.
Consistency is jewel seldom found in
the woman suffragist, but it is Jewel
she must wear to win. To deserve the.
natural right they claim, they must recog-
nise the natural rights Of those in oppo.