Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-10-23
CLEVELAND AND SUFFRAGE.

CLEVELAND AND SUFf RAGE.
For some time past, ex-President
Cleveland has been the object OF cut
ting criticism on account Of the stand
he has taken on the woman suffrage
question. And no wonder! For he
boldly states that ~ every woman
should exercise the suffrage the votes
Of the thoughtful would almost certain
~ be outwelghed by those Of the dis
reputable, the ignorant, the thought
less, and the coerced." II Is but natu-
raj that this attack on the sex should
be resented And It Is surprising that
Mr.. Cleveland should put It that way;
for, Il cannot escape his observation
that a similar objection can be raised
| against universal male suffrage. Dis
roputable. ignorant, thoughtless, and
coerced voters are certainly as com"
mon among men as among women.
| What rs sauce for the goose, In this
connection, should also be sauce for
the gander. and on Mr. Clevelsnd's rea-
! soning the suffrage should not be de-
MED the women, but should be restrict
ed to the reputable, well Uniformed,
thoughtful. and Independent citizens
Of both sexes. That would follow from
his logic, His argument would draw
the line, not between sexes, but be-
tween those qualified and not qualified
10 vote. To intimate. as Mr.. Cleveland
seems TO do, that all ignorance. etc, Is
found among the women. Is an insult
we cannot believe the distinguished
writer Intended to psrpetrate,
In the further development of his
argument, Mr. Cleveland points to
Utah as a proof Of the assertion that
the influence Of women in politics is
neither elevatins nor refining, THE
r"s Of UTAH" he says, have elected
through their legislature to the United
States senate a man (who Is Nor
NOM whose fitness is now the subject
OF senatorial Investigation"
II Mr. Cleveland were as well post
ed on Utah affairs as he might me- he
would not have quoted the election OF
Hon. Reed Smoot as an illustration of
his position on the suffrage question.
The choice Of that gentleman for the
exalted position mentioned is one OF
the clearest proofs OF the power Of re-
fined and elevated politics In Utah, and
the women OF the State are Justly
proud OF thrir uart in the management
Of public affairs by which that solec
ton was brought about. The women
Of Utah, through their legislature. sent
o. gentleman 10 the United states Sem
ate. whose moral character has never
been. and never can be- assaulted truth
fully; a gentleman against whom not
even suspicion Is held They
have sent gentleman who Is tenn
perate, sincere, chaste, honest, and t,
whom womanhood Is sacred. The,
have sent man who Is independent h
thought and action full Of patriotism
and love Of flag and country, loyal /,
It's government and Institutions, an,
whose only fault" as his enemies see
49, Is that he fears God. II IL tn
fault of Daniel In Babylon. whlcl
brought him into the lions den. Sure
~ the selection of such o representa-
tive cannot prove AN objection to wo
man suffrage. II proves the contra
ny.
II Mr. Cleveland wants an illustration
Of the alleged undesrabllty of woman
outrage iu politics, he can find It In tn
peculiar onu."Mormou" antics Of East
| crn women We have seen them re
ceiye with open arms seducors Of wa
men and 3enlers Of homes, and JON
their lead in 90 crusade which has 70
its ultimate aim revenge and robbery
the preparation ot Injustice, ana IN
violation Of virtue. We have seen thtr
worked up 10 enthusiasm, not TO sp
frenzy, by hollow phrases, containing
no kernel of truth but only rotten false
hoods We have seen them join per
Becutols and swell the hoarse chou
of Cruelty" without any more under
standing Of tho facts than had IN
b poor. misguided women who helped car
ny faEgots 10 the pile on which th
] noble Huss suffered martyrdom In IN
- cruel flames. Such exhibitions Of I'm
b consistency would make any one quea
- ton the wisdom OF universal suffrag,
4 but IL must be remembered that eve
q these anomalies do not prove anythin
- against woman suffrage. They onl
I prove that some women are easily le
e astray by agitators, who may be prop
3 erly classed among stoundrels. Bur
. nlas' many men are just as easll
turned IN a wrong direction by slmila
e influences II, therefore, one sex is Z
P be denied suffrage on account Of tn
g folly Of some, the other sex should b
& dealt with IN a similar manner