The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1896-05-16
IRRESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

A~SAOAS0@
Citizenship without the ballot, is
irresponsible citizenship, hence our
profsssed form of republican govern
mont in its practice contradicts it's
theory, because one-half of her citi-
zens-save i'll three States-have no
responsible voice in the ele ction Of
those who frame the laws by which
eve the people of the United States"
are governed. The taste, Judgment,
and reason # women citizens should
be expressed through the ballot on
equal terms with mon ci liens, that
tho voice of the whole people might
echo the mandates of the laws. This
is the vantage ground upon which the
irresponsible citizens, or women slff-
ragists of Nevada, ask to bs made re-
spensibls citizens, and to the accom-
pl shment of this, they are applying
their best thoughts and best energies
They have reason to rejoice that the
suffrage sentiment is gaining rapidly
in the Western land of silver and
sage.
Public opinion is beginning to ap-
preciate that tho womanho III of the
several States and Territories, is not
an organized band of fabulists or ro-
manccrs in search Of the ideal Euo-
pia's depicted BY Plato and Tom Moore
but are Intelligent, abiding citi-
zens seeking only for responsible par
ticipat.on in the principles of self- gov
ernment, which has made us a Nation
distinguished above all others for the
versatility of mr. national character,
and the fsxibility of our social bonds
which permits tho humblest citizen to
as pire to the highest position in the gift
of the psopl-, Such is the theory of
our government as applicable to the
responsible citizens, or the men cti-
Zsns.
Is it not then truely eonsistant with
the fundamental principles of self-go
ernment as defined and established by
the American people, for the women
citizens to unite in the resolve that
the VOID male, before tho word citi-
zen, in State constitutions should be
elinin ted; then the word citizen
would imply the full responsibility of
citizenship-the right to protect per
son and property by law-through the
ballot. No country hs, ever 'reed d
so many privileges to her women as
America, simply because of the free
dom loving spirit of her women, who
have proved themselves worthy of
every privilege, or right, conceded.
The Advancement of the race, and the
attainment of the very best our in
stitutions afforI has always been the
idea aspiration of American women,
and the conflict they have had to en-
counter (for this alta nmeat) has de-
veloped an intellectual status, not at
tainabla under any other conditions,
and this prepares than for res ponsible
citizenship which is the basic founda-
tion of good government
Two generations ago, many brave
woman had reason to lame~t over the
great disadvantage Of being born a
woman, because if she sought the high
or sducation-free to msn in our col
leges and universities, she was the re-
buff of tho classroom, and often the
target for tobacco guilds in the hall
ways, but by her indomitable perss-
verance she has lived down those mis-
taken ideas of her male peers, and
they ara now willing to acknowledge
her equality in most every calling.
Hence the women of to-day may well
rejoice at the advantages Of being born
= woman, and a sutfragist.
Continued on third page.l