The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-10-29
THE KIMBALL GRAPHIC
cLATE r. TINAN.
Official Pausr Of the CitY and Gounty.

CLATE r. TINAN. .
Official Pausr Of the citY and Gounty
The Suffrage question.
The less constitution of common
wealth is monkeyed with the better. It
is much easier to get measure into a
constitution than out Of it. This, be.
cause usually no opposition developes
through the press or the public to al
most any fad agltators and alleged re-
formers may advocate. This was true of
prohibition and is equally true OF the
woman suffrage question. We are
being told over and over again In this
state at present that the sole line Of wo-
mans advancement, and her only hope
Of emancipation from the bondage Of
unjust laws lies through equal suffrage.
Just where and In what manner the
feminine portion Of South Da kota are
suffering through legislation pernicious
to their interests is not apparent. 1t
will be time enough to grant the right
OF suffrage to the great body Of women
when other than an insignificant mum
Der desire 1t aud when those who adv0-
cate it can show good results from the
radical departure elsewhere.
The opening ot q dyko in a dam would
not more surely overflow the adjacent
country with devastation than would
unlimited suffrage bring havoc and dis
cord into the realm of womanhooi.
There are many ignorant to the few cul
tivated, many depraved to the few pure.
women who would rush into the turmoil
Of politics and, with their un wisdom and
lack OF principle, add confusion 10 what
is already chaos. Heaven knows that
we have enough of ignorance now 10
combat with, without adding fresh re-
crults. The unlettered boor, the igno-
rant negro, the non-property holding
refugee from foreign lands, cast quite
enough disrepute upon our country's
glorious (2) freedom of the ballot with
out inviting deeper disgrace.
Suffrage STANDS more in need of cur
tailment than Of extension. Not the
pure woman, the womanly matrons,
sweet and strong in regnancy OF heav-
ems ordained supremacy as queen Of the
beautiful kingdom of home, would flock
to the frcnt in the new campaign-with
all due respect to the conscientious and
intelligent ones who are asking suffrage
for others as we'll as themselves. All
the harridans and 'brazens from Maine
to California would swell the ranks.
Weak women, the puppets worked BY
unprincipled men, would play straight
into Beelzebnb's hands.
The modicum Of reverence which the
average man now entertains for woman
would vanish like puff Of smoke, let her
Ones become his partner In political in
trigues aud tricksry. AS we'll expect
vestal nuns to leave their cloisters and
reyel IN the can-caD, yet still be honored
and adored az saints, as to expect wo.
man TO detile herself in the turbid pool
of latterday politics and retain the
sweetness Of her primal dover.
There are few men who do not hold to
the belief, whether supported by fact o.
not, that good woman is only half
note in The decent from angeIhood. For
heavens sake, let women seek to keep
the belief alive, for when mans idealiz-
alton of the sex flies out Of the window
all sorts Of ugly possibilities marcn In
at the door.
1t is a stock argument OF the advocates
Of equal suffrage that the woman suffr-
agist, however Jealous she might be in
politics, could never be less recreant to
her duties as homekeeper and mother
than Is the woman devoted 10 society,
But granting all this, should it not be a
true woman's air. to be superlatlysly,
rather than comparatively, wiser And
can any woman do her whole duty to
homo and children and if she divides her
time between them and the issues of q
political campaign? Can she be CEN
trail committeeman and home. keeper at
one and the same time? Surely all true
service Is through its intirety. One can
not servo two masters, anyhow or any
where. Either she must give herself up
wholly to what she undertakes OF fail to
reach the high standard for which she
aims. Let w0man's enthusiasm be felt
at home rather than IN the caucus; let
her influence make itself manifest In
the lives OF her children rather than
upon the voters OF her precinct. Let hsI
train up race Of brave and loyal Johns
and consecrated Marys TO make the
world more wholesome as the result Oi
her teachings when she has gone to hei
just reward. Let woman stand back Of
suffrage and shape the coming voter
Instill a loftier patriotism, a v,lrcr yea
and more conspicuous probity into til.
hearts Of her sons that shall tell witt
grand effect upon the coming genera
tions. Give the nation new dynasty D
mothers and its future would be assured
Divert women.from the interests .tha
center in their h6mes and the resul
/ will be much like what would follow III
4 withdrawal OF tho sunshine from al
I orchard in tho mid splendor Of its Dlooiil
ing immature fruit and wormy Ilub
bins. What would be forty votes cas-
by her to her half dozen noble lives sen
spinning on their eternal way, sancti
fed by a pure woman's influence ani
fortified against temptation by her loy.
The world today needs good mother
more than anything else.
4 The GRAPHIC would teach Wona
#iYish all the eloauence. that pen Gan con
iaahdAtbat home is her kingdoD, he
chiidren's hearts her workshop and til