Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-22

directed In the conversion Of the hosts
Of their own sex who are opposed 70
I voting by women. and the many In
huential political leaders who are
equally prejudieed against the meas
! ure.
Demands" will not count Extreme
| declarations will be regarded as ex-
/ pletlyes. The good, sound arguments
/ that can be put forward IN favor Of
equal suffrage, most OF which are real
| ly unanswerable by reason, sound logic
or political necessity, will win their
way IN time, and as Premier Camp
bell Bannerman said, patience win have
20 be exercised and work win have to
be done Inpatence, covert or open
threats wild declarations and every in
temperate and forcefu measure on the
part Of the advocates OF the change,
win not only fan to the ground, but
VII do harm instead OF good,
We do not know Of any injury to the
country or the community whore equal
suffrage has been adopted that has fol-
lowed It's institution. Certainly 4 has
done no perceptble harm IN Utah, and
the same may he said and has been
expressed repeatedly In regard 10 Wy
oming and Colorado aud Idaho. The
ladies In this country have failed to
accomplish their purpose IN obtaining
Congressional legislation. providing for
woman suffrage, This was quite proper,
because each State has a constitutional
right to provide the qualifications for
the exercise of the elective franchise
II required an amendment to the Ma
tional Constitution 10 establish the
right Of ooored citizens TO vote, 1t WAS
adopted at time when the Negro
question was before the country IN
such a shape that protection was Deem
ed necessary to the cmancipated slaves,
and the maintenance OF their liberties
procured for them by the sacrifice OF
much Hood and treasure. IL the move
ment fer the tdoption OF the constitu-
tional amendment had been delayed
for any great length Of time, II e
doubtful II II would ever have obtains
ed the necessary support. Be that as II
may. lie fact that an amendment to
the national constitution was absolute
ly necessary before the right of suffrage
could be conferred upon the colored
men oy Congress should be sufficient
TO show the ladies' Of the land that a
constitutional amendment would he
also necessary before Congress coul1
take any action In their case.
The term states Rights has become
rather obnoxious to some extreme pat
tisans. but the principle, within certain
prescribed bounds IL fundamental @
our form OF government This has been
recognized repeatedly by the Supreme
Court OF the United States and colncid-
ed In by judges belonging to each Of
the great political parties. one Of
those rights Is that OF prescribing the
qualification of voters. II has not been
abrogated o. changed by the great con-
fiict between the North and the South
t,acn state o, the Union is sovereign
within its own limits, and has the sole
power Of legislation concerning matters
that affect II ms an autonomy. The
national government has power In all
the states TO the extent expressed IN
and limited by the national Constltu-
ton. This is one Of the essential prin-
ciplos of the system established In this
ard the distinction must be
and viii be by every true
lover of his country.
It Is different In the British empire,
has control OF the suffrage
question, and can change or modify the
laws IN relation 20 II. as they affect all
parts OF the nation, They have been
altered In the direction Of ex- |
tended liberty AZ a rapid rate, aud are |
approaching tho point OF universal male |
suffrage that has been attained in this |
,ountr. When II fully arrives there,
Justice. reason and We hope public pol
cy, will include women citizens within |
he provisions Of the law, and estab-
ish that equality which belongs to all
of both sexes, and should be |
without distinction OF sex |
Or party or property, Let the ladies OF |
Great Britain continue their work in
proper spirit, and they will some day
achieve a glorious victory.