, 1862-09-11

4lATTQ0At Gept. .. 1907.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
In your fridays issue, q very important
question is raised in regard to the right of our
citizen solditry to vote at the approaching
election. It would be q tlagrant violation of
tie spirit Of our State government which in-
ttnds to invest every white man of the State
With the right Of suffrage, if by any over scra-
pulous regard to the letter Of the law, one
third Of the rightful voters should be dis
franchised, and it is too evident to admit Of
question that some provision should be made
for giving expression to the wish Of the citizen
so1diery concerning the principles and the
men into nhose hands the State government
and thtir representatives at Washington shall
fall, unless the organic Law Of theState forbi1s
it in absolute terms.
Section one Of article six of the constitution
Of the State declares tnat t'In all elections
every Write male citizen above the aye OF
taenty-ore years, having resided in tn. State
one year next preceding any election, shall be
entitled 10 vote at such elect H."
Se.tlon f1re Of the same article provides
that mo t1tctor seal be deen1ed to hare lust
bis residence in the 8 ate By reason of his ab-
teuce in the business Of the United States Or
OF this State"
As at the time Of the adoption Of our con-
stitntion no provision :ouid have anticipated
the t21s1ipg state ofatIairs in the con atry so
distinct provision could have been made tor
| its emeTgen.les.
| Th.ee two sections. however, bear the
anlplest testimony that the fr4mers Of the
| constitution were primarily seeking no F they
might most efertually extend The franchise so
US 10 embrace all men who had any 1eglt.m ate
Interest in the conuuct OF the government,
Adisli1ct section mo. 81 is even introduced
10 guard the rights of the fer dozen citizrus
whom it might reasonably be supposed would
be wishuut the limits OF The Safe in
the eml luyment Of The United States OF
Of this Slate. This section aoundAntly testl,
tes 1hst could they have toreeeen an eventa
alI1y By which one-th,rt OF oue-hait the voters
Of lhe State would be called beyond its limit:
III defense OF the country, while the most II q
issues were pending at home, they would nave
made such provision for the Possibility as t.
Dave LETT the question Involved in no amDi
But let us look at the letter of the law
'No person shull be deemed to have lost MI
residence, nc. He may have been il
Nova Ztnhla or New South Wales, but ii ht
has bt tn there in the service Of the countr,
his abfence shall not prejudice his rigat t
vote If be hss expatrtAteu himself in pureu
. il 2 his individual good or pleasure, he T.
: ! 1,}aced motives purely personal before the In
1e1es1s Of his country, aud MS residence ma
lspse; but If duty to the country, even In 1t
! civil service, where no exiyency existed, h
called him abroad, all his franchises rem al
9 entire, eyen fer life time.
, LII 1be first and fifth sections OF this ar:fc1
. {No g different forms Of the same word c
the verb resided, and the noun residence, a.
used touching the same subject, the right OF
t citizen TO his franchise. the one dem Ind
that citizen shalt hare "residcd' in tt
State one year in order to be entitled to til
d right Of vo1ipg-'he other provides that
"shall not be deemed 10 hare lost his res
| depceH through absence In the service Of tt
IS country. Can there be doubt that thus CO
t. | tfguopely used the verb and the noun a
. +Ltitled TO the same length and bread
then lie constitution itself ab.
~ lntely secures the right Of voting in II
e approsching election, to our soldiers nov
L. tie field; and 1t only remains for the Sta
Il government to provide the machinery
~bi,h The exercise Of this right is re1der'
J. But there ia another difficulty. which is pe
haps RATHER faucied tlan real TAG Last c!ah