The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-15
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
RELATIVE POSITION OF WOMAN IN
THE PAST.
A Philosophical Consideration of
the Question-Argument of the
Anti-Suffrag ists-As to Separate
Submission.
Ogden utah. April II. 1895.
To the Editor of The Herald:


history and whether it descends to
posterity as monument of genius
and we'll directed craftsmanship is
dependent on weighty considerations
The construction of the fundamental
law of the state is a most serious
| responsibility, calling for the exercise
of the noblest faculties of the mind
and cardinal virtues of the heart.
Shakespeare says, Between the act
ing (enacting) of a dreadful thing and
the first motion all the interim is like
a phantasma or hideous dream; the
genius and mortal instruments are
then in council, and the state of man.
like unto little kingdom, suffers the
nature of insurrection." So it is with
reference to the present situation of
the question of woman suffrage.
If not presuming too much I would
like a brief space in your paper. A
distinguished philosopher remarked
that. 1.-The question of questions for
mankind, the problem that deeply I'M
derlies all others, is the ascertainment
| of mans place in nature and the rela-
tionship he sustains to the universe
of things" But it seems that the I'M
derlying and all-absorbing problem
confronting the people of Utah at
present is whether we will concede to
woman equal suffrage with man, and
though it seems so simple a question
| from the standpoint of right and
moral obligation to allow the privilege
(she has the right, yet it is OCCASION
ing more controversy and perplexity
than the great unfathomable problem
of existence itself. But one thing we
can certainly congratulate ourselves
on, that the solution OF the former
proposition will be a question of but
limited duration. while the latter will
ever remain in the hopeless labrynths
of the unknown.
To one entertaining the philosophy
of the writer on the question of suff-
rage, it appears most selfish, unnatu-
raj and domineering to be in
the ranks of the opposition. but men
do not all think alike. varied constitu-
tional peculiarities gives rise TO the
development of diverse thought; but
as to this question when sifted to its
legitimate bearings. there is no excuse
for the man who denies woman the
privilege to vote, only as anti-suf-
fragists might say. ''he Is her physi-
cal superior. and hence. boss" The
last word precluding in this connec-
record in the history of the world. ex-
tending through all the dark centuries.
taking its inception way back in BIZ
blical times. when the popular concep-
ton prevailed that the husband was
to rule over the wife. During the
many hundreds of years intervening
to a recent date woman has been prac-
tically a slave to man, being compelled
to kneel and submit to all his base
and despotic exactions: not till the
dawn of more humane civilization,
did her emancipation commence, and
now, woman of Utah. you have an OPP
portunity to insist upon absolute lber-
alton from the chains and letters that.
bind you, if you then desire TO exer-
else the franchise. you will have the
privilege, you already possess the right.
1t is as inconteStable in your sex as
your more masculine companions. Hav-
ing the right why not exercise it?
Because man with his might has re
fused it? That has been true in the
past. and anti-suffragists now who are
tainted with the tyranny Of feudalism.
and the spirit of lordly supremacy
would still exercise that same domino
ton, but that the character of our
civilization and tone of Christianity is
against them.
The history of the relative position of
woman in the past teens with the
ties. Even Moses. the law-giver of the
Jews, and who owned an inextinguish-
able obligation to a woman for his de-
liverance from the fury or the Pha-
roah's passed the most strigent ana
severe laws. for the affection of woman
She was placed in most revolving ser
vitude, and regarded as mere chattle,
with all its legal Incidents.
In Athens and Greece, the land of
scholars of SageS of intellectual
giants, crowned with immortal glory,
wisdom and genius, what was her con-
dition? The common courteSan of the
republic, by the force Of custom and
sanctioned by law.
In Rome, Imperial Rome, whose
eagles glanced in the rising and setting
sum-" how was she treated? She was
slave. The Roman citizen was her pro-
prietor, invested with absolute
authority to dispose of her as he saw
fit, to Danish, barter her virtue and
host of monstrosities too shocking to
In England her condition was some
what ameliorated, but still stamped
with a wretched inferiority. The tenn
permanent of her laws were more
humane, but she was always subjected
to the coercion and capriciouS domina-
ton of her lord. Brute force in rela-
ton to the government of woman
among most nations, has been the es-
sence of the laws, and this sense of
physical superiority and consequent
over woman, has become
so deeply imbeded in man, that it
manifests itself in ungenerous hearts,
even in this enlightened age.
One of the great aims of our civiliZa-
ton is the amelioration Of the condi-
ton of woman, and with it's onward
advance, enveloped in the dominion of
harmonious communion, we may look
for her complete universal emancipa-
social and political, now enjoyed by
men.
So far as her psychological capa-
biiities are concerned, she is unques-
tlonaibly the equal of man; though
flights of genius are more common
among the latter (but still rare) it does
not measure intelligence. The intelli-
sence of the two, run in different chan
nels, which is due to varied temper
ament, education and anatomical dis
,repencies. Her intelligence may not
generally be quite so comprehensive.
but it is more subtle and acute.
The pages of history are Illuminated
With the names of illustrious women
whose distinctions along the complex
be admired than mans.
1t was woman that gave birth RI
the God we worship. 1t was a woman
the beautiful Lioba" that in the
eighth century, commanded the admi-
ration of Europe for her learning. IF
was a woman, Joan of Arc, that drew
forth the admiration of the world. for
her heroic deeds, and that immortal
led her sex. Who were Madams Ro- Z
and, De Stael. Rose Lacombe, Char 4
otte Corday? Patriots, statesmen. y
authors, orators and heroes of the no.