The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-04-01
PROVO CITY. APRIL
It's AFTER EFFECTS.

UQIll IU0 u6Ddbt III bu6 CObSblIu-
tional convention on female suffrage
occurred, we have been impressed to
the effect that the One-sided nature Of
it's advocacy would have the effect to
array against Utah the old howl, SO
effective in the past, that as the Nor
mon people are practically an unit for
suffrage, therefore some ulterior and
darkly concealed purpose OF Mormon
ascendencY was in contemplation, with
perhaps polygamy associated, would be
heard again in the land, to the hazard
still of our constitution, and thus would
statehood be again lost. But since
Roberts great speech that lear is COM
pletely d1ssipated. We can now make
our constitution with this PROVISION
contained, and if we are met by the
charge that by this provision the vot-
ing strength of the Mormon church is
increased from thirty thousand to forty
thousand votes we can say of truth,
our people are divided on this PROPOSE
tion as upon all others. That it is not
a scheme of the Mormon church, be-
cause the Hon. B. II. Roberts who Op.
posed the measure so strongly, so ably,
and so eloquently, is also one of the
leading men in that church, and his
able, strong, polished and eloquent op-
ponent, Whitney, is also one of the
leading men in that church. They
have been associated for years in the
work of the church and are both known
and recognized as among the ablest and
mo devoted men in its ranks. This
would effectuRlly meet the charge Of the
enemies Of UtOnian statehood, 10 the ef-
tect that the measure was due more
to the desire to add to the voting
strength of Mormonism, than TO honor
the women. 1t may not be believed,
but just as sure as that our constitu-
tion goes to Washington for the GOV
ernmental appreciation. that very
charge will go with it. We are glad
that if suffrage really goes into the
onstitution-which sIl can now see it
WILT will be accompanied by the
circumstance we have named, and this
ought to be competent antidote,
This circumstance more than ally
other which has occurred since division
on party lines was effected, will teach
the outside world the entire sincerity
of the move on the part of the masses
of the people. We do not abate one
jot or little of our opposition to the
measure because that is based entirely
upon other grounds, but we do rejoice
that coming as it does it cannot be
used at Washington to defeat the ac-
ceptance Of the constitution. All that
is to be done is to give the matter a
fair trial, an honest and faithful trial +,
wholesome, if it does tend to, and
really does elevate and purify politics,
why, well and good. But if this fond
hope is blasted we can reverse action,
although there is no instance on record
in the political world, where an en-
franchised people have ever had the
franchise taken away.
We see men voting in favor of the
enfranchisement of women every day,
whom we have heard assaulting the pro-
position with great emphasis and
earnestness. These men are of that
class that cannot stem the tide, who
can do nothing unless they have the
backing Of vast majority. These are
not they who plant themselves, as the
brave Roberts has done, upon princi-
pie and who do not count the enemy.
The Roberts order of men fight upon
principle and, win or lose, they are still
true, tried and reliable. Roberts will
be beaten on the proposition, but he
has won more in defeat than the beaten
usually acquire. His bitterest oppon-
ents dare not call in question his mo-
hives. These are as high, as noble and
as nnselish as ever beckoned the
heroes Of old, to deeds of high emprIse,
And it will not be many years ere
Utah will determine that Roberts was
not so far wrong as they believed he
was. Experience is great teacher.