Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-04
They Protest Against the Attempts 10
Extend the Suffrage 10
Women.
the PETITION SIGNED ~ WOMEN
or HIGH sTAaoise.
Women Suffrage, They Hold. VIII Re.
suit 10 the Degradation Of
the Sex.
NJ telegraph to the NEWS
An INTERESTING PETITION.
ladies stand ~ for rheir nirh,. n.
Women.

SpniNofiELD, ILL.,, March a.-An IN.
tcf,siing petition has reached tho
| members " the Illinois general assen,-
BY. IL II signed by some Of the heat
known Of Chlcagp's society ladies. and
u protest against the biil ext.ndlng
The municipal suffrage TO women md
denOuncing ~ false aud p-rnlslou. ali
attempts To secure legislation In that
direction. Among III. slgncr- are MIR.
J.J. i. OiDcll, wife of the well-known
banker; Mrs Caroline Cofblu. wife of
li,utcnant-Co COrbin, LISA:
Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, wife Of Judge
Gray; Mrs. T.. y. Bripgs, Mn. Conil,
McAvny, Mn. George w. Higgins.
Frances |. Higgins, Isabella A. Gait.
The following extracts are taken
nom the petition; busy IN the cares
OF their homes, the women have
neither tho time, strength nor inclina.
ton 70 enter the public ARENA and de-
fend themselves against dolngs which
they earnestly believe 10 he pcrnlclo,I.
and destructive of the tfie power and
Influence Of women In their homes.D
The French Revolution Is reviewed
and authorities cited 10 prove that wo-
man suffrage would result In the deg
radiation u the sox. Instances OF CONF
munisJc societies, etc, are mentioned,
WIN Implied destruction Of the family
relation, aud the petition adds:
"whcn the women share with IN,
bunien OF labor and government, Com.
munism, with all that It implies, IA al
ready begun. We regard the question
Of thepoprlctary rights OF compare
| lively lew women M One Of minor Inn
portance compared with the vastly
greater right Of women In general 10
maintenance and protection In the
home, while they ar. engaged Ia the
absorbing offices and duties Of woman.
hood, and this paramount right Of
women Il threatened with entirs de.
simciion by the sociallStlc doctrines
above cited"
| We exhOrt you 10 remember that
above all human law stand those great
natural laws inherent In the universe,
which no man nor body OF men can
controvcne, aud that these laws hnv,
forever established adiiiercncc between
the powers aud privileges Of tho sexes,
to disregard which IN 10 invoke penal.
ties by which they are rclcntlcr~ly en-
fored. We beg you % consider that tho
Revolution OF France could not override
these laws, but fell crushed under tho
burden; that, In 40 far ~ amy political
bodyin this country has attempted 90
do 20, II has suffered dnicat. aud we
believe that no greater misfortune can
attend the forming u labor party OF
this country In IL attempt 10 secure
legislation In the interests OF the farm
er, artisan aud lahorer, than that II
should c-pouse the falls. aud pernlclous
doctrine " the political rights Of wo.
men.
We pray, therefore, that no matter
what argument 10 th. contrary may be-
urged upon you, n legislators for tho
commonwealth, you VIII stand fast by
that ancient bulwafk Of liberty, the
home, remembering that the same
power which says 10 all men, "Behold,
| God " your Father, and all ye arc
brethren" has Joined also the husband
and wife AZ one flesh for the orderly
bearing aud fearing Of children and
maintenance Of society, AMI has given
10 each their own distinctive and
equally honorable share In the labors
aud rewards Of life.
The ladies, In conclusion, say they
have held communication with many
women In different parts VI the State,
and feel assured the petition represents
tho wishes of an overwhelming maJori-
" Of tho women OF Illinois.