The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1894-09-18
EQUEL SUFFREGE.

men to vote and act in govern
ment affairs; but believing in the
old time doctrine that any great
change in the political policy OF
a people is well submitted to the
legal voters, our state conven-
ton after exhaustive delibera-
ton, concluded to ask that it be
submitted to vote, and let that
decide it. There was very
considerable number of delegates
that asked, further, that in this
submission the women of the
state be authorized and invited
to vote for or against the propo-
sition. This was reasonable and
right, and we have no fears but
that, if this privilege were given,
they would decide in favor of ex-
ercising the right; at least, this
would give the choice of both
men and women, so that we
would, after that trial, know
what was the true sentiment of
our citizens. The suggestion of
the submission of this question,
however, came from the side that
believed that women would de-
eide, by their vote, against law
for further exercising that privi-
lege. We favor the right of wo-
men to vote under the same
rights and restrictions with men.
Sex should bar no right. We
hold that in the education of her
children she has as good right
to a voice in the matter as a man ;
that in taxation upon the results
OF her labors there should be no
difference; and for what shall be
a guard for her liberty the law
should be even more tender in
watching for her protection than
for that of man--if there should
be a distinguishing difference. A
right to vote in any government
where that act has any influence
is certainly guard protec-
ton. 1t is power to direct,
which includes all.
The Messenger has always adj
vocated this doctrine and always
will; it is elementary; it is right.
And should any suggestion or
word or line ever appear in the
Messenger in opposition to this
doctrine it may always be taken
by our readers simply joke on
the editor. For we assure them.
once for all, that it shall never
be laid at our door that we en-
.couraged SO great wrong
against them in this matter. If.
however, we hardly favored this
granting of the right to women,
as a populist, we would be bound
TO aid her promotion in that di-
rection. She has, undoubtedly.
done valiant work for our cause.
Without her aid we very much
Tear that we would not have
carried Kansas in 1892; and, if
her aid is discarded in that state
this fall, we look for defeat, and
O falling back into the hands of
the corruptionists and looters
and Shylocks, which, in our es-
timation will be a strong arm in
establishing q few million more,
soup dishes-for the poor.
We believe that women are
more in our favor than in that
of any other party; and we see
no reason to refuse aid, let it
come from every source it will.
We are always willing to receive
the support of even a poor, peni-
tent and formerly misguided re-
publican to our ranks; then why
not woman ? And it appears
that we have even gone so far
as not to refuse the support of a
man who had formely stopped so
low as to support Mr.. Cleveland.
Oh, we are forgiving party:
and we are having to forgive
them for the past and to welcome
them into our fold by the thous-
ands daily. Bless the forgivers
and heaven bless the penitents-