The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-11
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.

Ihere appears TO De very little OPP
position among the members of the
convention, and also in the committee
having the matter in charge, to the
proposition to give the women of Utah
the right of suffrage. The Democratic
party is pledged to woman suffrage
in the new state, unequiYocally and
without any ambiguity or attempt at
evasion. The Republican party is also
pledged to it in a weak and Watery
and shifty way. But it cannot go back
on the proposition without violating
its Understood if doubtfully expressed
declaration.
1t is a singular condition of affairs
which exists on this question in the
State of Massachusetts. The lower
House of the legislature has refused
to pass "a woman suffrage bill. And
yet the majority of women citizens
over men citizens in that state is re-
markably great. It has not been for
lack of effort on the part of the adYo-
Gates Of equal suffrage that this denial
has come. They have appeared many
times and on many occasions, but have
met with failure. The first step in the
formation of the American Women
Suffrage Association was taken at
Boston, Aug. 3, 1863 The call for the
convention was signed by Lucy Stone,
T. ". Higginson, Caroline NJ Sever
ance Julia Ward Howe and George H.
V1bbert. Mr. Hfgginson and Mrs
Howe have seen nearly a generation
pass away and the cause, except a
limited school franchise, IS as far back
as it was then.
The opposition to the equal suffrage
movement in New York, where the pro-
position to present it to the vote Of
the people has been defeated, like that
in Massachusetts,, has come chiefly
from Republican sources. One of the
principal arguments (?} against woman
suffrage in both states is, that the
women do not want it or are utterly
Indifferent about it. That is to say,
the women who do want to exercise
the rights of that citizenship which
they hold in common with men. are
to be debarred from it because some
other women do not want it or do not
| care about it.
/ That there is no justice or sound
reasoning in that must be clear to ev-
cry thinking person. There are mil
lions of male citizens who stay away
from the polls. Is that any reason
why others should be deprived of the
right to vote? The women who do
not want to have the duties of the
| elective franchise imposed upon them
need not worry about it: There is no
! law or rule or custom which makes vot-
/ ing compulsory.
/ 1t is singular that any woman should
| object 10 obtaining all the liberty that
is possible to the citizen. Opposition
| from women to equal suffrage must
proceed from that spirit of contrast
ness which often actuates both sexes.
I If d sensible woman does not wish to
vote herself, she ought not to play
! dog in the Manager and try to prevent
I others Of her sex from enjoying the
! liberties which they earnestly desire
and to which justice entities Them.
| We can understand why there is
hostility to woman suffrage in the
South. where there are so many ne
/ groes not sufficiently educated to fit
them for the responsibility Of voice
in governmental affairs. The increase
of the colored vote naturally proyokes
a dread among the white folks, and
| therefore it IS not surprising that it
should be very unpopular to advocate
| anything that would lead to that I'M
/ desirable condition But in Massa-
chusetts, the seat of learning and cul-
/ ture, with its preponderance Of women
citizens, where anything that would
favor the cause Of woman ought to be
promoted it is a marvel that equal
suffrage should be so persistently re-
fused. That state sends Senator FIoar
repeatedly to the seat Of government
to represent it in tho Upper House. and
he is one of the staunchest woman suf-
fragists in the land.
In Utah where women citizens en-
joyed the right of suffrage for about
! seventeen years. it will be simply an