The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-06-15
Negro Suffrage.

them 10 their work in the traces; and is
strongly urged as means, we Judge, of all
others most likely TO resuscitate the vitality
of the party rapidly dying from an overdose
of its own folly.
The gist of the argument is, that 1t is dis
graceful to allow the ''American Citizen OF
African decent" to exercise that dearest OF
all The prerogatives of a freeman, the right OF
ballot; and the proposition is more particu-
larly condemned because, they alledge, the
next sure-to-follow step would be the eleva-
! ton of the darkey TO full social and polical
standing with the white man. Where men
sufficiently ignorant are found in their ranks
to take impression without why or where
fore, the doctrine is limited at thatthe negro
is not exactly human-that his status lies be-
tween man and the ourang- g-outang-that he is
good deal less than human, and but little
more than brute. This argument, however,
is not pressed where intelligent thought holds
sway; but even here we do not see that the
opponents ofnegro suffrage better themselves
any, for the length and breadth and heighth
and depth of their argument revolve them
selves into questions of "smell" and of pre-
judice against caste. They have particu-
lar dislike for the scent of the darkey, a
dislike which has increased not little since
the object of it has shown himself possessed
of the most intense loyalty, and capable of
bearing arms right humanity in defence of
the governmental to which he owes allegiance.
Indeed it seems to US that because he is 10y
al, and was willing to shoulder his musket
and fight for the preservation Of the govern
ment, while they were at home on their
backs believing most Justify for such peace
as the rebels might chose to give us. they
have greater dislike for the ''nigger' than
ever. Nor should we much wonder at this.
Patriotism, just now, is above par; and the
leaders Of democracy may well take shame
to themselves at having allowed the darkey
to eclipse them in all that constitutes the
good citizen; but there is no reason why
they should hate the darkey for his better
display of sense.
But say these solons, ''only think of big
Niger walking, side by side with white
man, up to the polls, and depositing ballot
which counts just as much in the scale as
the white mans vote" And what, pray,
is there out Of the way in that, so that the
colored mans vote is cast intelligently-
We remember the time well when to advo-
cate egro-sufFrage" was considered ortho-
dox democracy. Upto 1887, when some one,
who thought his political aspirations snubbed
by the colored vote, procured a decision that
none but white males over the age of q
years could be legal voters, no one thought
of calling the right IN question. We have
seen Honest Frank Skunk" whose democ-
racy no one at this day will dare dispute,
walk up to the polls, on more than one occa-
sion, not along side of darkey, but with
darkey hanging on each arm, and stand by
to see that their votes were properly depos-
tied. To US it appeared as though it was
Mr. Shunk's special province to see that the
colored vote was all got in. And to come
nearer home we have seen the democratic
leaders of old Northampton marshal the
fragrant Primes, and Lippenses and Rays to
the polls, without so much as the curl of
nose to indicate that the job was a nauseat-
ing one. As the colored vote in those days
was orthodoxy democratic, it was orthodox
democracy to sustain the right; and the par
ty indulged no trifing amount of profanity
when the decision of the Supreme Court de-
priyed it Of some thousands of colored votes.
And yet, in those days there was 10 nearer
approach to social and political equality than
there is now; nor can there be unless the
democracy, forgetting itself, takes step
farther in She way Of wrong doing than even
we consider it capable of.
But why should not the right of suffrage
be granted the colored man? He has showni
that he knows the right of loyalty from the
wrong of treason; he has born arms most in
tellIgently and effectually in defence of the
government against its rebellious enemies
in the midst of the dependency and gloom
which occasionally seized upon the people,
he furnished the information which enabled
our generals to lift the curtain and let in the
sunshine of victory; in the march of our ar
mics he has always been ready to lend a |
helping hand, and to point out the way
when guides and scouts were at fault: in |
the escape Of Union prisoners from those
charnel houses Of treason, the rebel prisons.
there was no one so ready to sustain the
fugitive, and lead him to place of safety, as
The oppressed slave. Among the faithless
be has remained faithful; and we see no
reason why, with the light of freedom resting
upon him he should not make Just as good
and just as safe voter as are those who
reVellng in the sunlight of educated intelli-
gence' attempted to destroy the government
tai fabric reared by our fathers, and change