The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-21
Impartial Suffrage.

When those who talk loudest about univer-
cal suffrage are taken seriously at what they
say, they betray the hallowness of the dogma
and the insincerity Of their professions by at
once abandoning both. 1t oonld not be ex-
peosed of them in reason that they should do
less. Impartial suffrage is guarded by prop
er restrictions, so that the fountain of polite
al power may not be polluted. Universal
suffrage means throwing down of every bar
rier, 10 the shape of qualification and condi-
slon, by which the source of authority rs kept
from proianation. and tossing into the tram
pied arena of party strife the very safe guard
that permits such contests in popular govern
ments at all.
Impartial suffrage is strictly according to
democratic theory and rule; it is impossi BILE
to conceive from what other it derives sup
port. But lts very name implies the exist
ence of some sort of qualification that for
instance, its enjoyment shall be put upon al
impartial obedience to some requisition that
is standard. To establish no standard is de-
bssing the very authority derived; the aban.
Comment OF ell conditions is an outright ami
hilation of the value of the franchise When
the founders of our republican government.
laid broad and deep their plans, they had
much to say on the purity of the ballot, and
the due protection of the franchise. Ali their
discussions of the subject 60 to prove that
they thought the stability of the structure
was to depend en- tho soundnssa of sfoun.
dations, and that chief among those founda-
tons was the protected ballot. They did
hold that all power WAS derived from the con-
sent of the governed bus they had never
learned TO stultify themselves by claiming
that all alike possessed the right to vote be-
cause of their level qualifications.
This subject has been left, all through our
history. with thu ats ptS for sba1r
own management; and there alone it belongs
to-day. We realize that new school of ex.
perimentalists has emerged from the chaotic
style of thinking generated by the temporary
tumulss of war, who seem to believe that the
holder their assumptions the better chance
for them TO obtain foothold and whose lead.
lag tenet is that the war for the Union under
the con 'situslon has been successful only %
1t has overthrown union and constitution to-
gether but they advance no reasons and en-
pioy no substantial argument that can SUM-
plant the solid work of the trainers of opr
system. The most they can say is thasshipps
are changed. Bu. the purpose of thu war
was nos to revolutionize, but to eshahliah ne.
Is not more competent tor congress 70 no into.
the several states now and dictat be the te,,hf
OF suffrage than it was before the wal. he
1t be, then 1t can be shown recorded al, Tbe
programme OF the purposes of the war Do
say That 1t grew "a a results out of the work
of war, is merely to admit that the war has
wholly broken up and destroyed our republic.
can system.
There can be no valid objection to the nrsv-l
alenoe of the impartial suffrage principle.-
Based it as here in Massachusetts on citizen.
ship, taxation, and q certain degree of intel
Hgenoe, and no reasonable man will question
the fact that it is calculated to strengthen the
political character Of every state that adopts
it.
These three simple and comparatively easy
Qualifications are perfectly fair and do not
dsrogate from the value and dignity of tho
elective franchise. They bestow ii with free.
dom enough, and still surround ii with safe.
guards that are calculated to enhance il ia
Che popular esteem. Those who acquire il
feel that 1t is an acquisition ; to be without il
after coming to manhood would mark the de.
MED individual unsnviably. And from such
considerations it becomes possession that
speaks the general authority with an sappre-
ciable emphasis.
These qualifications which we have named
az peculiar to Massachusetts, VIC should be
glad to SEQ adopted by every state in tho I'm
ion. They are just bscsuss they are Impair
tial. We would like TO see them set up rs
. common standard Of suffrage, 10 which men
Of all conditions and colors should duly re-
port themselves for examination. Color