The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-11-16
SALTWATER, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 16

IA, NOVEMBER 16, 1898.
to vote for their own interest; thing
which all people should do, for the bet
ter they serve themselves, the better
they will serve their country. The good
not, that which is bad will be recOg-
nized as the good. The majority will
always rule, and rule to their best in
terest. All hail! to universal suffrage.
SUNOL.
The possession of the right to share
in the government, by the exercise of
the electoral franchise constitutes one
of the essential elements in the equality
of the people of the United States. The
very fact that they possess this right
should give men all added sense of their
responsibility. power and the duty
which they owe to society and govern
ment. That certain abuses have arisen
is not to be denied: but these cannot in
any way detract from the value of the
right itself. 1t is always within the
power of the people to correct, regulate
and control. But to the Intelligent ex-
erciSe of this right of franchise; mini
mum knowledge of the language, Of
the form of government, and the man.
ner of its operation is absolutely neces-
sary and should be eXacted of all citi-
zens or would-be citizens, irrespective
of their wealth or position. Political
ignorance and instability are always a
source of weakness and danger to the
forces that maintain governments.
OBSERVER.
Xxx
The right of suffrage is dearly and
sacredly cherished by the white man,
and because of this / wish to see it eX-
tended to every moral man without re-
gard to color, race or creed. | wish no
one to be vessel Of diShonOr or hew-
er of wood. Give to every man the op-
portunity of expanding his faculties
and elevating himself to true manhood.
We cannot carry passengers on this
train and let them live under our gov
ernment with no real vital interest in
its perpetuity. Every man should be
joint owner. We should educate ignO-
rant men white or black. Ignorance is
incompatible with the genius of our
free institutions. We cannot safely
shut ourselves up with ignorance and
brutality; we should educate and elevate
those who are now our social interiors.
The only safe inhabitants of any free
country are educated citizens who vote
Let every one feel that he is human; let
him be trained in our schools, churches
and workshops to support himself, pay
taxes and do as the educated white man
does God has made of one blood all
nations of men. A human soul that
God created and Christ died for is in
every man be he Chinese, Turk, HOtten-
tot or Arab, for without regard to color
or condition all men are children of the
common Father BRIGHAM
XXX
The right of suffrage belongs to every
citizen. Any restriction, educational
or property, of color or of sex. bears in
it the germ of aristocracy Far more
inimical to good government than igno-
rance. are the unthinking reading
masses who are Swayed by every passing
sophism a venal press may perpetrate
upon them. But suffrage is not only
every citizens inviolable privilege; it's
exercise should be made an imperative
duty. In some cantOnS of the Swiss
republic (the government of which is
well worth studying as model of de-
mocracy) it is not only compulsory for
the electOr to vote, but he must appear
at the polls armed with sword that he
may defend the ballot against violence:
and every case of neglect is punishable
and punished too-by fine. Thus,
the honest, simplicity of the Swiss
mountaineers, has, without a press, pre-
served for six centuries purely demo-
cratic government, with no visible i'm
pairment, no thought of restriction of
suffrage, but of extending it still far
ther Must we then talk about diSfran-
chising anyone? Can the American
people with flood of light from pow
erful press thrown across the land, not
do as we'll, or will that press, ignis
fatuus like, lead us from one political
quagmire into another until unread ig
nOrants even may point the finger of