The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-02-02
turn own and control the readers.

turn own and control the readers
Newspaper information is not edu-
been acquired through this channel
alone actually units him for the sacred
duties that is enjoined upon an elector.
AT present the absence of character
in our voting population is plainly
evident, and the old story Of what
comes cheap is seldom highly valued.
Again there are among the voting
population too many who are Oh the
make and only look upon the ballot
as so much merchandise to be hawked
about and knocked down to the lowest
bidder. How often we hear it said
that the right to vote is cOnstitu-
tional right. This is a mistake. Our
constitution defines who shall be re-
garded as citizens of the United States,
and all such are declared by it to be
also citiZeEs of the state in which
they reside. 1t declares, GAIL persons
born or naturaliZed in the United
States and subject to its jurisdiction"
to be citizens. Now the right to vote
does not belong to all citizens. Regu-
lation for the exercise of voting pre-
rogative was not assumed by the
constitution nor was it delegated to
congress but conceded to the govern
ments of the several states. The regu-
lations in the states, however, are not
uniform and in only four or five do
women vote and in none where minors
i vote. AS to. the restrictions of the
right to vote I will not here enumerate,
further than to say the time Was when
property qualifications was quite COM
mon, but in no state today of which l
lam aware is such qualifications re-
lquired. While it is the generally
accepted doctrine that it is safe to
trust the people with their own inter-
ests, prudent regard to possibilities
should not be neglected We should
not forget that those who founded
American liberty ran great risks of
, anarchy in the eyes of their contempo-
raries.
The right of suffrage when extended
, to the ignorant and degraded has
, seemed to provide the general effect
of destroying dangerous class by
raising them gradually to certain
, degree of intelligence and self-respect
, and respect for law by making them
the political equals of those who are
: socially and intellectually far above
/ them. In referring to the question OF
8 extending the suffrage to women, il
: not, why not? Many women are
Q property owners, pay taxes and as citi
Q zens of the United States should
Q possess the right of suffrage. The wal
q that made US nation was begun be-
4 cause we refused to be taxed unless We
s could be represented and have a vote
: in the body laying the taxes, and wha,
;, we fought for then should not be de
q MED now.
p 1t is not to be denied that the righ
d of suffrage is the great primary law
It making power and they who WELD il
q have an indirect influence over ever!
Q law enacted. If the ballot is good fo
y men where is the logic in denyin.
,- suffrage to women? It's the old say
o ing reversed-what Is sauce for tn
q gander is sauce for the goose.
o The right of suffrage is in fact {
n question of citizenship, and as sucl
10 ought not the character of citizen b.
e taken into consideration before b
IL can become possessed with election
n franchise? We say that any man VIII
10 will not make good citizen should b
y unwelcome as an immigrant, and
If law providing for his exclusion woul
g. be no more than justice to ourselves
" If we exact a certain test as to tn
ID moral tendencies of Immigrants woul
ly there be any injustice in demanding
le like certificate of character from on
N native born? 1T would seem that th
N desirability of an immigrant hinge
% on the definition of ''good citizenship
I'd and likewise ought the right to. vote b
ID determined in the same manner. Ho'
a to serve these ends is question, an
in lyet give to every one his just due.