The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-28
..CoLOREDs PERSONS.

The Chicago Post, speaking of negro suf.
frage, &c., &C., says:
The negro race is not the only race of "col. |
ored" persons found in America, The Mon |
polian race is represented on the Pacific slope |
by more than one hundred thousand inhabit- |
ants, nearly ell of them males over 81 years
of age,-yet they are excluded in the most
positive and determined manner from all par
ticipation in political privileges. The Malay
race is represented in all the territories and
in many Of the states by great numbers OF
men who were born here, they and their an
oestors to a period far beyond the arrival OF
the first African or European. Yet the usur.
pers of their hunting grounds not only deny
them political privileges, but in most special
manner refuse to grant them civil rights
For them there is certainly no such thing as
equality before the law" or as Mr.. Greeley
phrases it, call rights for ALL" And yet we
do not near of any congressman overlooking
with indignant wrath on account of the gross
injustice of excluding Malays and Mongolians
from the rights of freemen." The question
of political franchises-for white men or for
men of different colors-is one which cannot
and ought not to be adjusted by the general
government or by the whole people. 1t is
matter which cannot be regulated by uni
| form rule or made to conform to q general
| principle. In Massachusetts, it may be best
and we believe it is right and proper that the
| negro shall be admitted to the ballot box
| We believe it is right and proper in that
state, because the people of that state have
| 80 decided But in Illinois it may be best
/ that the franchise shall be regulated differ
emily, and the people of Illinois, who best un-
I derstand their own social and political inter.
ests, are the proper judges as to what the
rule should be. Whatever way they may de
eide, that way for them is right. And SO in
every other organized political community or
state. 1t might be that the people in one
state would find it best for the interests of
their state to exclude not only the blacks. but
certain classes of white men. as gamblers,
drunkards and bigamists while in another,
the people might find it BEST that all these
classes should be admitted to the ballot box
Whatever way the people decide. that way is
right, because the right of deciding belongs
to the people of that particular state alone
The elective franchise is not a right to any
person, white or black it is simply a priv
lege which the state may grant, regulate ex
tend or ourtail, as the people shall decide
1t is impossible to say that upon principle
there can be no discrimination between class
es because, while in one state there NAV not
exist any reason for such discrimination, il
another the people may find that a reason
does exist. California finds reason TO dis
. criminate against men OF the Mongoliar
race. In none of the eastern states coulG
such a reason be found. Massachusetts find
q reason to discriminate against Irishmen-
Illinois does not. But Illinois finds reason
} to discriminate against men of the negro and
Malay races, while Minnesota Ends it prope
to exclude the former. but not the latter, pro
vided the Malay blood has been slightly adul
terared New York finds reason to max
money instead of blood, the line of division
I by excluding men of the negro race who d
not pay taxes on valuation of $3.50, Will
negroes who do pay taxes on that amour
: are admitted to the ballot box. Rhode Is
land finds q reason to exclude all men, with
= out respect to color but with respect to an
other line of demarkation, the line between
rich and poor, admitting the former and cx
Guiding the latter. In Illinois, we shout,
say such distinction is very wrong in prin
ciple; but we cannot say it is SO in khod
Island. because the people of Rhode Islam,
have decided that for them it is right. Th
! history of the ''Dorr War" would be an in
structive work to read Just now in congress
Senator Sumner Sumner did not even men
4 tion it, though he read from nearly all othe
Y books that were ever printed
The principle, and the only principle
which underlies all this hubbub about tn
= suffrage is this: To the respective states be
3 longs the right to regulate their local affair
an thar opn scay This principle lies at tn
very foundation of our government, and
cannot be removed without endangering tn
stability of the structure.