The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-04-02
SUBMIT 1T SEPARATELY.

The proposition to submit the female
suffrage proposition in an article sep,
arate from the constitution was first
formally presented yesterday. This is
the only safe policy to pursue, and THE
DISPATCH ardentlY hopes it will pre-.
vail. While opposing female suffrage
upon conviction, yet we are keenly i'm
pressed that its adoption in the consti-
tuition would procure the rejection OF
that document. We feel sure that it
would endanger it, if it would net ab-
solutely defeatit. People in Utah and
who spend but little time in the states
can hardly understand the horror en-
tertained by the outside people for the
practice of polygamy. The only fear
now is that the addition of $4,000 Nor
mon votes to the already large Mormon
majority will so operate upon the pub
lie mind as that MIR. Cleveland will be
bound to listen to the storm of dissent
and we will miss the only fair chance
we have ever yet had of admission.
There are men in Utah now who have
honestly striven for forty years IN the
cause of statehood, who would now
wreck the fair chance we have TO win
the poor triumph of securing the
presence of this female suffrage pro-
uic,Op That foo in tho varv, faa+b IF
the fact that the proposition can be
submitted just as well in one. two or
three years without the least hazard.
1t must be very pressing exigency as
well as darkly concealed one to war
rant such haste. The republic has ex-
listed over a hundred years and Utah
for forty years without female suf-
frsge and it can certainly liYe one. two
or even three years longer without
bringing upon the new stats irremedi-
able evils, a lot Of sixteen year old
girls and boys might be willing to
place the hazard of admission upon
such bagatelle as this, but it passes
human understanding that men of
mature age, of great intelligence and
of acknowledged patriotism and ability
should take such risk without the pres.
ence of the very gravest neces-
sity, we say it frankly, we
cannot see. When the heat of
this debate has had time to cool and
reason has reasserted itself, the in
temperate zeal exhibited now by the
advocates of the measure will be
deeply regretted, wondered at and des-
pissed. The whole question in its en-
tirety is very grave one to this peo-
pie. 1t is the upsetting of the long
established, the well-tried and the
venerable plans of both God and man.
1t is the injection Of new and un-
tried influence into the government.
1t should be done only after the mat
urest consideration, the smplest dis
cussion and the most exhaustive ex-
animation,
1t is well known fact that ambition
induces men to take great risks, but in
order to vault at one effort into the
highest position within the gift of a
people, we cannot see how any patri-
otic Utonian can be willing to hurry
the state into the presence of a risk
such as this constitutes. Not to be
assured every vote Of the newly en-
franchised and their earnest but too
enthusiastic supporters and advocates
for all the balance of life, would we do
it. And there are men in that con-
vention who have lived in Utah forty
years and who have worked as men
have rarely done for anything, for
statehood, who Low daringly hazard
everything upon the very threshold of
the admission of the territory. 1t is
inexplicable. 1t is marvellous.
Separate submission is bad and Dan
geroue enough under the circUm-
stances, but incorporated in the body
of the constitution it is far worse.
Even submitted separately and elected
by big majority, the purpose to COB
BILE $4,000 more Mormon votes would
imperil the new constitution quite as
much as the friends of Utonian state
hood care to see. Now let reason be
enthroned and have her sway and let
us not have it said of US that we had |
fought our way brsvely to the very |
portals of entire success and then
thrown all away by simple devotion to |
an untried and shadowy fad in the So
called progress of the age.