The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04
RIGHT AND EXPEDIENCY
OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The principle of equal rights, the keynote OF
American civilization, is the pivot on which
the whole question of the enfraDchisement OF
women turns Here our argument is grounded
on o rock. The Declaration of Independence
declares that "ail men are created equal;
equal, not in capacities. but in rights. 1t
must be conceded by all that the word "men"
here includes both sexes. These words OF
Jefferson but echo the voice of progress
sive humanity. This equality of rights
being once recognized, we have only to
inquire what rights man has TO
voice in government in order to discover
woman's right to the same. Lie, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness have been set forth
as the inalienable rights of man. Now, what
ever may be said as to the possibility of in
alienable rights In society, no one will deny
that these rights belong equally to both sexes.
If woman has the same right to life, liberty
and property that man has, then she has
right to an equal protection, and tnis is pre-
cisely what is meant by the right OF suffrage.
In consequences of the imperfect state OF
human society, governments are instituted to
secure these rights. Woman, having the
same rights as man, needs the same security.
Governmentis is therefore as necessary for one
as for the other. But government derives its
powers from the consent of the governed. Is
this declarst ton true? To deny ii is TO deny
the fundamental principle of constitutional
government
If true then our question is fairly and for
ever settled; and ii requires no argument to
show that il is true, for it Is self-evident that
government exists by the consent of those with
whom it originates It originated in the neces-
sites of both man and woman; it must, there
fore, exist by the consent of both man and
woman. Thus is the right of woman to the
ballot es ablished in the first principles OF our
Government. The wrong arising from with
holding suffrage from the women OF this State
is not only negative but also positive. The
simple exclusion is but the mildest phase OF
the injustice. The sin is more than doubled
when with this exclusion taxation is cou pied.
Your women pay taxes upon millions OF
dollars worth of real and personal property,
yet they are debarred from al representation
in the Government and cannot say how all this
money shall be expended. Thus does this so
called representative Government violate the
first principles OF its own existence.
Suffrage for women is often objected to on
the ground of expedieney. As If what is right
is not always expedient. We are told that our
basis of representation is already too ex-
tended, and that to give the elective franchise
to women would only aggravate the evil Ii
this be true, then let reason able qualifications
be required for admission TO the ballot; bullet
all parties be subject 10 the same res trictions.
Let no advantage be given 10 sex. Let nothing
be made disqualification for the exercise OF
the right of suffrage, which viii not apply to
one party with as much force as 10 another.
We are told that the result OF the whole
ballot would remain the same, and so nothing
be gained. This objection, If true, does not in
any sense whatever affect the question under
consideration. Suppose that two men vote
opposite tickets, shall they be disfranchised
because their votes neutralize each other?
so, then may one party cancel another OF
equal number, and so all be disfranchised to-
gether. This objection places no value on q
vote except as it subserTes party interests and
ignores the duty and obligation of all 10 defend
what they believe TO be right.
women may relieve themselves of all
political responsibility By intrusting their in
terests to their husbands, fathers, broth
ers or sons" This statement involves a
moral impossibility. forit assumes that right
| or duty of one may be performed by another.
which is simply impossible. II is the old ap-
peal for Glass power.
The majority of the objections urged against
woman suffrage only prove the necessity of
the reform. They spring mainly from the con-
servative instincts of humanity, and are OBJ
jections TO those only who seek to know what
is expedient before knowing what IS right
Conservatism is always shocked at the idea OF
reform and shrinks from il Instead of main
tanning the right, with all its consequences, it
Is forever tormenting itself with the problem
of expediency. Woman suffrage is right and
therefore expedient SUSAN B. ANTHONY.