Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-01
Negro Suffrage.

The question OF extending 10 negroes
the right of suffrage, especially In the
Southern States, is now the all absorbing
topic ia politics. Papers. politicians and
statesmen are discussing this question.
Our own opinion upon this subject is
briefly told. We would neither allow
negroes to vote nor refuse them that
privilege, because they are Negroes.
The color of a man 10 no way affects
bis rights. Ifwhite men of all classes
and conditions. without reference to
their education and intelligence. are to
be trusted with the ballot, then should
all Negroes, with equal justice, be allow.
ed the same right.
Bnt we do not believe the Negroes of
the South as . class, should at present,
be allowed to vote. They have none of
the qualifications so essential to an en-
lightened discharge of this sacred trust.
They ere unlearned and ignorant, with
no just conception of the duties of citi-
zen, or the principles of free government,
and if admitted, in their present state,
to the ballot box, would be largely u1der
the control Of designing and unprincipled
men.
Neither are we in favor of allowing
oil white men 10 yotn. 1t is not neces
sary to GO out ot cur own county, town,
or ward to fad a0hite msn no more quail
fed to vote, than thu most ignorant of
Southern Negroes. In almost ever pre-
cinct in the North, are voters who are
ignorant, prejudiced, unable to read the
ballots they vote, and who know no mora
of the issues involved in the election
they help control, than Hinioo. They
arc entirely under the control of Imprint
pied men, who are even ready to pandsr
to their ignorance and prcjudices, or by
direct bribery to secure their support.
Such elements in free popular gov
ernment are dangerous. We believe in
Free Government Democracy lib
sral enough aud broad enough 10 admit
to full citizenship all intelligent men of
whatever nation, caste or color. But the
ballot box needs some protection.-ln it
are preserved the rights of the people
Through it Freedom, Humanity and
Good Government should find intelligent
voice. Around it should be thrown safe
guards 10 protect it faom the assaults OF
ignorance and corruption.
We have but just emerged from the
darkness of four bloody years. brought
on by the influence Of ambitious, wicked
men, IN melting to treason and war the
ignorant masses of the South. Lst the
ballot box be opon to oil, and our politics
will continue to 10 controlled BY evil in
tluences, tho government become corrupt
ed again, and revolutions follow. The
ballot box should be guarded by apply
ing reasonable educational test to every
voter, whether black or white. Then
will the foundations of the government
DO fixed upon the principles Of enlighten-
ed and impartial justice, never to be
moyod.- Hudson Times.
SO when | sit thus idly. and smoke
my dear old pipe, and look out upon the
world through the flmy smoke. look
more generously and tenderly than at
other times, when there is nothing to
obstruct my clearer vision; and, by and
by, after ! begin to feel its deIicately
soothing influences, see in my smoke
clouds beautiful visions of the past slowly
unfolding, and as fast as one dissolves
another takes its place, SO imperceptibly
that scarcely realize the change. Anon,
gauzy curtain drops suddenly; and,
when j, lifts again, it is the future | see,
,,cfa IS H. tai o,1Ir Al
en-, full Of all bright and sweet things.
So thought becomes reverie-reverie
dream and | am, for the noncc, an
inmate of a realm fnirer than mortal eyes
ever looked upon. "You are too much
dreamsr-life is not practical enough
to vou," somebody said once. Pray
what is life that it should be all hard,
earnest, practical realitys A few days
a little while--we walk about among
oar fellows, then some unseen fnger
touches our foreh,ad never so lightly, a
mutied shadow bears US struggling in it's
iron srms to the bauk of a shadowless
river, whose awful depths no sounding
line can fathonl, We are ferried across to
Tint Other shore, for one sure glimpse
of which we would erstwhile have given
world; and before we are out of sight,
the ears flat were wont to listen for the
music of our voices are filled with other
sounds; the eyes that dwelt npon us ten.
DERBY have dried their tears; the cheeks
that flushed joyously at our coming flush
as joyously at the approach of other steps
the lips that boarded their crimsoned
sweets for ours lavish them upon others;
the arms that c'ung around us so fondly
shrink away from voiceless ghost; the
hands that caressed us with touches thrill.
ingly tender nestle in warmer ones than
ice; the hearts that throbed so buoyan;ly
for us make little grave within them
selves and seal it up tightly; the little
circle wherein we moved, and were
known and loved; perehance plays with
our memory for an hour and then throws
il aside; the world that never knew us
has no need to forget; and the great
ocean of Time sweeps on in its terrible
majesty. Alas! did we believe that the
smoothing out of single tiny ripple
would stay it for an Instant
ARREsrED.-Mr. Isaac Pierce. a re-
cant sattler here was arrested last Tues