Should Women be Admitted to Full Citizenship f loting and no ballots are allowed outside the polling place. Here then such an argu ment would fail. Fall by its own weight. Indeed such argument borders on the ri diculous. Why is it that the ministerial calling should tend to the production of bigots? What else but bigotry is shown in the repeated refusal to place women on an equality in the church council, where the progress of thought plainly suggests a place for her. But a short time since the State of Mich igan was shocked its whole breadth and ex tent, by the most disgracefully outrageous conduct of the citizens of one of its small villages, aided by citizens of other parts of the county. The affair was the lynching of a man who had committed a desperate crime. The circumstances of the lynching were of the most fiendish and appalling de scription, in which young boys figured, and even some women applauded. Decent citizens all over the county and of the neighboring towns, stood appalled with the sense of disgrace which had fallen on them, when along comes a minister of the Gospel of Christ, and in a characteristic style justi fies the whole thing. Such a fellow is cer tainly a disgrace to the cloth he wears. The women of this country, led on partly «by the grand efforts made by English women, and encouraged by a growing sen timent in their behalf among the men of the class that help to shape public sentiment and policy, have accomplished much that is an honor to them and a credit to this country. It is to be assumed that the large body of the women of this country, as of any other, are engaged in domestic duties, which are more congenial, and fill full the hours at their disposal. This is " the hand that rocks the cradle." This the body of women to whom we must look for endorse ment of any policy affecting woman, if it is to be authoritative. These women form the bulwark of social purity. Names would not be advisable. But there are many good
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women of this class, a type of whom is found in Mrs. Spurgeon, the wife of the noted English divine, who are lending their aid and endorsement to the work of their more active sisters. Many of them may say, " We do not care to exercise the right of franchise." No matter if you don't exercise the right. You shall have the disability removed, which is an everlasting reproach to a domi nant sex, and be placed on an equal footing with husband and brother, whether you choose to exercise this right or not. I have too much faith in the intelligence and good sense of women to believe that they will be entirely subservient to dictation in this matter of casting a ballot. Natural sense of purity, coupled with a fair amount of shrewdness, are elements inconsistent with such servitude or indifference. Besides, whenever an opportunity is given to test this thing the proof furnishes a contrary belief. The women of Kansas have enjoyed mu nicipal suffrage since 1887. In Kansas City 3482 registered. In Leavenworth 3245. In Topeka 4000 and Wichita 2464, and in pro portionate numbers in the smaller cities and towns. The women hold the balance of power in many of the cities and towns of the State. Every grade of society of wo men is interested, old and young. They did not run any " women's " ticket. Through social relations and organization they did just what might be expected of them, lent their aid to the support of the moral ele ment and helped to elect the best men. At the election which soon followed on the heels of registration, most of these women voted. The best women voted. Newspaper accounts claimed that no elements of disorder entered into this election. " To-day no man in Kansas doubts that women want to vote, and will do so if they have a chance. The general result at these municipal elections in Kansas was a complete refutation of much that had been claimed by oppo
