next day I sent my impressions to an eastern paper,
declaring myself convinced that woman's presence at the
polls would elevate the tone of public sentiment there as it
does in churches, the social hall, or any other place, while
her own robes are unspotted by the transient association
with evil characters which she is daily obliged to meet in
the street or dry-goods store. My observation at subsequent
annual elections has only confirmed my opinion in this
respect.

Without reference to party issues, I noticed that a majority
of women voted for men of the most temperate habits, thus
insuring success to the party of law and order.

After three years' absence from my old home, I could not
fail to notice in the elections of 1877 and 1878 that both
parties had been led to nominate men of better standing in
moral character, in order to secure the female vote.

I confess that I believe in the idea of aristocracy--_i. e._
"the rule of the best ones"--not by blood or position, but
the aristocracy of character, to which our laws point when
they declare that prison characters shall not vote.

The ballot of any community cannot rise above its character.
A town full of abandoned women would be cursed by the
application of woman suffrage.

We need to intrust our State interests to the class most
noted for true character. As a class, women are more moral
and upright in their character than men. Hence America would
profit by their voting.

D. J. PIERCE, _Pastor Baptist Church_.

The next general election occurred in September, 1871, for
members of the second territorial legislature. The usual tactics
were employed and considerable sums of money were given to the
drinking saloons to secure their influence and furnish free
drinks and cigars for the voters. But no one thought of trying to
buy up the women, nor was it ever supposed that a woman's vote
could be secured with whiskey and cigars! Election day passed off
with entire quiet and good order around the polling-places; the
noise and bustle were confined to the bar-rooms. The streets
presented no change from an ordinary business day, except that a