The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-20
SUFFRAGE SHOULD BE RESTRICTED
RATHER THAN EXTENDED.

Fortunately for the fate of our democratic
institutions, the disbeliefin universal suffrage,
| which is SO often brought forward as an argu-
ment against woman suffrage, is not general
As has been said over and over, we have never
| had real universal suffrage, and until that has
| been tried and found wanting there is no use
| in talking about going back to an oligarchical
| not to say monarchical, form of government
In the words of William Lloyd Garrison Jr.,
such an objection to woman suffrage "is i'm
pertinent aud irrelevant not touching the
| issue at ALL" Granting for arguments sake
that the suffrage should be restricted, the re-
striction should apply to men and women
| alike, and not act by shutting out an entire
class OF citizens, irrespective OF intelligence
and fitness for the franchise.
Such directors seem 10 be fearful that
large influx OF women voters would add
! greatly to the illlterate vote. One would think
| that illiterate women existed in hordes, far
outbalancin the educated women; but when
| one tries to follow up this alleged amount OF
| iliiteracy among women, and to find out where
it is located, the search proves to be strangely
some other fellows circle of acquaintance.
| But is not the danger from illiteracy, ana lis
extent, greatly exaggerated?
| According to the last census there are, In
! round numbers, 100000 women in the
| United States who have received an education
from being able to read and write to the high
est education obtainable, and 100000 who
cannot read and write. Again. the proportion
of illiterate men is about the same as OF Hit
| crate Balance the male anu 1emale
illiterate vote with the total vote of the women
| of the country and there will remain the
handsome number OF 100000 educated
votes 10 reinforce those of educated men.
! In our own State women who cannot read
aud write the English language will not be
| enfranchised, since an educational qualiica-
| ton to that extent is now part OF our State
constitution. We should expect to find the
| greatest illiteracy among foreign immigrants,
| but even were there no educational qual1hca-
| ton the danger some fear on the score OF the
| ilhterate foreign female population does not
! cut much of figure in our State. According
| to the census OF 1890 there are ga, III native
| born women 20 years of age and over out OF
| total white female population amounting to
! 485, $50, and 101 ,592 foreign-born women of
the same age, and all OF the latter are by no
means uneducated.
| 1t is a generally known fact that more girls
| than boys attend the higher schools OF our
! public system, and that the girl stays longer
! at school than the boy; and as far as knOw-
! edge of the questions of political science is
concerned, Mrs Ida A. Harper expresses what
will hardly be questioned in wing: ''Without
any preparation it will be admitted that
women are capable of casting an intelligent
ballot as the boys OF II and the mass OF newly
| naturaliZed citizens"
What really happens wherever woman suf-
| frage is gained is that the best and most rep
resentative women exhibit the greatest activ-
| ity in the formation of study clubs or civic
clubs, to prepare them for their duties as citi-
| ZeDS. In this connection Mrs. Helen Ecob says
of the Colorado women: Realizing their igno-
rance OF civic duties, as soon as the right of
suffrage was secured they began careful
work OF education. 1t is said that during the
! eight months after suffrage was gran ted more
! books on political economy were sold than
| during eight years previous. Lectures on
economics were given by the best speakers
| who could be secured. The drawing-rooms of
| representative women were transformed into
| lyceums for the discussion of civic duties.
The study OF economics led to much
| questioning OF husbands and brothers at home,
and the disclosures compelled both men and
women to demand thorough renovation"
| What is true of California is true every
MI han tod
! citizens. With such proof of capacity for self
| improvement aud such zeal, when direct
interest IN the government is given women,
| not know enough to voter Besides, as George
! w. Gable saws, 'Men are disposed TO exagger-
| ate the difficulties of voting lntelligently
! when they talk OF women voting Bv the time
| public question is ready for the popular vote
! 1t has become very simple question that re-
! quires little more than honesty and common
| sense to vote uDon it,"
We believe the possession and exercise of
suffrage an education in itself, and that this
| Government cannot avoid decadenee unless
! all OF its citizens become educated up to its
needs through active participation in the cleo
tion OF the officers Entrusted with its admins
tration and have lively interest in the prob
| lens that confront it. We do not expect the
millennium Immediately, as some of our OBJ
ponents say OF US, but we do believe that hope
! Tor ultimate improvement in the condition of
| things can only dawn when the thought and
experience OF both men and women can be
united in q practical way. Our country has
| progressed to the point where in every other
! sphere men and women confer and act to-
| gether to their mutual benefit, and there is no
logical reason why progress along these lines
should stop at tie threshold of political life.
| Taking up the subject as to whether uniyer-
sal suffrage is the best for our form of govern
1nent, Will quote from the younger Garrison,
who expresses clearly the principles upon
which the Republic was founded. Every one
| must decide for himself whether the fathers
were wise or not in their generation. The
! underlying principle OF our GREET experiment
| OF selt-government is that governments de-
\ rive their just powers from the consent of the
governed which includes the humblest
| member OF society. Not from the consent of
the rich of the educated, of the strongest, but
1 OF the governed. 1t was q mOmentous ex-
pertinent, based upon an abiding faith in
| human nature, conviction that the average
! wisdom OF all is safer thar that of q portion,
| however favored. 1t took into consideration
1 poverty and ignorance, trusting to the innate
| desires OF humanity for order and good gov
1 eminent 1t was assumed that, although the
principle might be severely tested as en-
nghtenment increased, fostered by popu-
lar education, government would improve
and the responsibilities of the ballot have an
| eleyadng effect. Nor can the virtue
! and intelligence of the country afford not to
| representatives to speak tor them. They are |
The warning dial that Indicates to all eyes the |
| magnitude of the degradation in our midst |
We cannot afford to overlook or forget 1t. In
l asmuch as the diaPs hand shows its increase |
so much more has the alarm to be sounded |
and regenerating influences set to work to
rescue society, which otherwise InI!eu 1 ~
| tancied security might awaken too late. Upon
| the walls OF our representative GovernmenI
| let the whole Nations figure be thrown ana
the shadows be as prominent as the Lgnts:
! Repubicanism can only bear the trial, ont
cannot spnre 1t. We too far on the voyage
| to put back. The ship has incurred its chlet
dangers, because too many OF It's crew ase
| kept under the matches. Let them up INTO the
day. Welcome woman to the rights ana
| responsibilities OF an untrammeled ballot.
ELIZABETH SARGENT