The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-30
TO the Women of Utah.


suffrage last year when the constitu-
ton OF the new state of Utah conferred
upon you the right Of franchise, the
GROWING pledge and symbol of full
citizenship, with adj the duties and re-
sponsibilities thereto belonging. A vic
tory gained for a great principle, IL
barren of results, is more to be deplored
than defeat-for defeat leads TO re-
newed effort, while victory followed by
apathy and Indifference, is like Dead
sea fruit and the apples of Sodom,
that turn TO ashes on the lips. If the
women of Utah, who one year ago
We're earnestly demanding and striving
for the right Of suffrage, now sit down
sup9nely and fold their hands and say,
I'VE have the ballot, we will vote but
beyond that viii take no further in
terest in politics." they are unworthy
The right of citizenship in a growing
state and a great nation. The accept
ance of the position and privileges of
cifiZen carries with it the obligations
and responsible of citizenship, and
in my opinion, it is every wolnans duty
lot only TO vote, but to inform herself
on The vital issues Of the day, and ac-
quaint herself thoroughly with the
great principles that uplift and benefit
The human race, and underlfe all cor
rect legislation, good government and
true prosperity. Having done this for
herself. believe she is then bound by
her duty TO the state and nation, to
disseminate these principles, and to
see, as far as ner influence ex-
tends, that all other women vote, and
understand what they are voting for.
In a. few weeks you will be called upon
to exercise the right of suffrage at a.
most important crisis of our nations
history Tho aiapti ion coon IN Ike
place is fraught with momentous re-
suits to the people of the United States,
and on its final issue depends the hap
pdneSs5 or misery of millions of our
fellow citizens It is a renewal of the
struggle of 1776, but the battle will be
fought with ballots instead of bullets
The old spirit of liberty is enfhusfng
the masses Of the people and it's bea-
con fires are blazing on every noun
tain top, and in every valley and ham
let of our once prosperous and happy
country. The financial question is the
paramount question of the hour. be-
cause it affects SO seriously and direct
ly the entire life and business of the
people. Next November the voters OF
the United States must decide at the
ballot box whether the sovereignty of
free people shall be usurped by the plu-
tocrats OF Walq street: whether Ameri-
ean freemen shall be haruesaed as
slaves 20 the gilded chariot of Dives.
and the dignity of American citizen
ship be trampied under foot by the
shyiocks OF the east: whether a ma
tional honor as eternal as the stars
shan be held for barter and sale by
the crowned heads or effete Europe,
and instead Of the eagle, the proud bird
Ct freedom, being the symbol of a free
nation, a golden calf is to be set UP as
he Of 7.a5
people, whose life blood is being drawn
by gold usurers and leeches till human
endurance has no alternative but revo-
luton. In this conflict so pregnant
with mighty results, the conflict of
might against right, of gold and greed
against patriotism and prosperity, of
the industrial toilers and wage earners
on the one side and the gold gamblers
and privileged classes on the other side,
you, the women of Utah, are entitled to
take part, and by your enlightened and
conscientious use of the ballot deter
mine whether Utah, peopled by many
of the descendants of Puritan patriots
and the heroes of 1776, shall assist in
restoring TO the country the money of
the constitution, in driving out from
the temple OF liberty the money chang
ers and Insurers, and in substituting
for a proclamation of human servitude
~ gnu power py Eng
ESh syndicate a. new declaration of in
dependence, which shall declare that
I'VE the people of the United States"
seventy millions strong, are competent
to manage our own financial affairs,
and demand the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver at the pres
ent legal ratio of 16 to /, without watt
ing for the aid. or CONSENT of any other
nation" thus opening the door for the
return of that prosperity that blessed
our country during eighty years of BIZ
mefallism. in contrast to the depres-
sion, low wages. poverty, idleness and
suffering that has characterized the
reign of gold for twenty years Utah
expects every woman to do her duty,
and may you SO act and vote in this
hour of the nations peril, that the
blessings Of a free government may
not perish from the earth, and the
juggernaut Of a gold despotism be no
longer permitted to crush beneath it's
wheels the lives and liberties of the
children of this great rerublfc
ELLEN 3. FERGUSON.