Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-09-15

all intelligence virtue and honor II II hes closed
every avenue 70 knowledge. whether human or
divine: IL IL has produced and fostesed only low
cunning deceit and ignorance; IL such has been
ia chsraeter-snd who viii question itf-shsll
Ne throw open the ballot box 10 six hundred
thousand Of these men. but yesterday liberated
from the degradation and wretchedness Of THE
terrible bondage, and welcome them 10 all the
rights and privileges Of American citrsusi Shall
ve intrust the rens Of govern snt 70 their hands
or ask them to guide our ship Of state safely
through the storms that threaten nsf Are these
men prepared 10 take their stand among ne as
free, independent. intelligent votersf Are they
prepared 10 say Who shall make our laws and
administer our Governnentf IL seems sstonish-
ing that sane men can give any answer but one
10 such q question.
To offer the right of suffrage to the negro
slave, from whose soul We have but just struck
OF the shackles of the most degrading bondage.
IL madness, let who will advocate itl liz is vain
to argue that the African slave is as intelligent
the low Irish. Eren granting il, We demand
Of this foreign element ave years residence amid
our civilization, and refinement, and Christianity.
before ALLOW them 70 exercise the rights OF
citizenship. We do not admit them at once TO
the ballot-boI. Would that We had never con
sented TO admit them Would that they were
also excluded from the right OF suffrage. Such
a delvisrance would be almost the salvation OF
nation. But because our cities are 70 daF
ruled by this mass Of ignorance and degradation,
because our land is already staggering under this
.errible incubus, shall We double the load by add
ing this additional burdent Because the doors
are already open too wide. shall Ne throw them
wider openi May a kind Providence save US
from such act Of folly plead not for
own sskes alone, but no less for the sake OF
this door. degraded race. when | ask every Am
erican citizen. every Christian philanthrophist,
10 oppose this blind and rash policy that threatens
TO involve whites and blacks alike in one com
mon ruin thank God we have President to-
day. who ne have reason to hope. will not 70.
gard the mad cry of the fanatics who are at the
head Of this movement. To him, | believe, We
may safely. under God, trust the settlement Of
this question.
Andrew johnson understands too we'll what
slavery is, to believe that the slave needs no sp
p:enticeship education TO place him on
equal footing with the sons Of the Pilgrims And
bis whole past history assures US that be has too
firm will to be swayed against his judgment by
the current Of popular opinion or passion, how
ever violent.
But the advocates OF universal suffrage many
Of them az least admit all that can be said with
regard to the ignorance and degradation of the
negro. They admit that be is not fitted to vote
that we need his vote to balsn e the Irish Catho
lic element in our country, and save US from the
encroschments of Romanism. Beautiful repub
licanisn this so il is not for the rights of the
oppressed race. after all that We are c0ntending
Oh, no but we want to secure this of
power, this tool, this mighty instrument, to ena-
Die Us to secure our OVID ends A party OF our
nation wishes. in plain English. to addd 600 900
voters to its ranks whom il can twist and bend 10
o,..f ,ta Il / II l.. A.
party, there any political leaders in our land.
pure enough, honest enough, for us to be willing
10 intrust to them such irresponsible powerl Is
this in accordance with the the principles or
theory Of our Government" Is it safel Is it
republican, Can the end sought justify the use
Of such means for ts attainment
But are we sure, evea, that the result will not
disappont u.s. Are we sure that the negro Gle
ment would prove in the end bal ncing power
against the Irish Catholic element? Is not ig-
norance always controlled by the worst and most
INSCRIPTIONS demagogues? Has not this been
proved true 10 all our past history, and in the
history of every nation on earth? Would it be
surprising if we should find Catholic and negro
fighting ander the same banner, uphodng the
same principles. guided by the same leaders in
their unhoiy crusade against all that is true and
rightly l know this may be considered by some
an absurd hypothesis Thew may think it i'm
possible for the negro TO be persuaded to join
hands with the enemies OF our Gov
eminent. | will simply say, In answer,
that | know a case in point here. In one OF
the towns Of New fork State (the name OF
which | could mention were it necessary every
negro entitled to vote last fall cast that vote.
TO a man, against the Administration and for its
enemies. | ask the advocates of negro suffrage
to ponder this fact Ii may be only a straw; but
am very much mistaken if j! does not show
at lesst which way the current may run. II
this wss true in one town, it might prove true
in other towns. Ii il was true in New York
State, il might prove true in South Carolina or
Georgia
Let US not "unehsin the tiger" in the hope
that We shall find in him a useful ally. lest he
prove our most dangerous foe Let us not at
tempt to balance one mass of ignorance by an
other mass, lest we find both occupying the same
scale. and dragging Us down bv their united
weight and power 10 irremediable destruc