Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO In
THB STAR,

A very brief dispatch printed in The
Star OF January 80. 1871. announces
the occupation Of the
The Fall of Paris forts by tho Ger
~ man troops, thus mark
ing the fall OF the
French capital after q struggle OF 1877
days. The Star OF that day says:
The defense of the French capital.
hopeless as it was. will I'LL a noble
against odds. battling against famine.
contending against the evil influence
of malcontents within. while from
without the rain OF shot and shell
brought terror and CONSERVATION to
the people. the struggle was main
and sickness and disease tho Parisians
still hoped on, looking to their gen.
erals outside for succor. Depending
on the armies in the provinces. they
had been disappointed. and the only
alternative Of unconditional surren-
der was left open to them. We con-
slider the armistice the end OF the war
and trust the conQuerors will be mag
unanimous in dealing with q gallant
but unfortunate foe. Broken and
spoliation of her territory II the Ger
mans persist in having territorial as
we'll as q money indemnity for the
losses incurred by the war. and there
is absolutely nothing to prevent them
carrying out any designs they may
have. unless the neutral powers should
intervene"
Both houses having passed the bill
to create a territorial government for
the District OF Co
The Districts lumbia with some
differences in detail.
uo'ernoI. the measure was
sent to conference for adjustment.
The Star of January 81. 1871. says:
we learn that efforts are being
made to induce the conference COM
mittee on the District territorial bill
to change the feature of the measure
requiring that the governor shall be
a resident of the District. 1t Is UNDER
stood that this amendment IL urged
in the interests OF certain members OF
Congress who. failing of reelection.
would not mind having some snug
government position: and the list Of
aspirants who want the bill changed
sons who have been industriously
fighting for cabinet positions. bureau
ships or diplomatic appointments and
who. failing thus far to find a berth.
are willing to come here and govern
the people OF this District. We sup
pose the committee is not likely to
reconstruct the bill for the benefit Of
chronic office seekers. The whole OBJ
ject and end of the bill is to make a
reform In the administration Of ais
it is imperatively necessary that the
new officers should be men Of energy,
character and intimate acquaintance
with District matters"
Fifty years ago the women who ad-
vocated acknowledgements were not
only intent upon Sc
Congress and curing constftu-
a., tional amendment.
INC 0unIaee. but they also hoped
to obtain q construction Of the four
teenth amendment which would de-
clare them to be entitled to the fran
chise. In The Star Of February 2.
1871. Is an article as follows:
"The report of the majority Of the
judiciary committee Of the House
upon q memorial of Victoria c. Wood
hull, asking the enactment OF q law
declaring that women have Q right to
teenth amendment, is not. as some
of the papers represent it. a death
blow to woman suffrage. It grants
that women are citizens. with all the
rights of other (male) citizens. but
holds that 1t is not competent for
Congress to establish by law the right
to vote without regard to sex in the
several states of the Union without
the consent Of the people of such states.
and against their constitutions and
laws, and that such legislation would
be violation of the Constitution OF
the United States and Of the rights
reserved to the states respectively
by the Constitution. But at the same am,
the right Of the people of the several
states so to reform their constitutions
and laws as to secure the equal exer-
else Of the right Of suffrage, with
out regard to sex. and As public opin-
ion creates constitutions and govern
ments in the states 1t 10 not to be
doubted that whenever in any state
the people are Of opinion that such
a reform is advisable, it will be made.
This leaves the matter in more
favorable condition than even Its
warmest advocates claimed for 1t only
a fAu ynonthS ainCAo