New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-16
THE RIGHT oE SUFFRAGE.

The N T. Times discusses the recent Democratic
demonstrations in favor of Manhood Suffrage in a
spirit which we regret II says:
Universal ignorant suffrage has fairly broken down u New
York City We openly admit IT, Every knows that the
only portions OF our municipal affairs wisely and honestly ad
minsered those which general City suffrage has no
control but only share while every department managed
corruption and inecency SO conspicuous /. the truth
OF this, that open effort will be made this
Winter in the Legislature control OF the City almost
entirely hands Of ito ignorant II something DO
1ene Sei IN Il viii BE- but few years before the Popa
Wards Of this City crowded with ignorant multitude
legislation II this be the result here Of ignorant
White suffrage what different results should we expect from
the suffrage combined White and Black Ignorant population
MANY intelligent Southern dread this; and many
Northern Conservatives share in the fear
why should not have basis Of reconciliation an
impartial Intelligence lqgs for ool North and south tae
20 the satisfaction Of the Judges and all other tests OF color and
An amendment OF this kind adopted by the North and in
coporaed also in the State Constitutions would tend at once
10 a great reform In cities and though II could not
dsnchse the existing ignorant masses, 1t would check their
continual accession by the addition Of Ignorant and degraded
youth"
Remarks By The Tribune.
II is exceedingly desirable, no doubt, that voters
should be intelligent. Bat is it not equally desirable
that they be vrtuOus and patroticl Yet let us not
be misled By distractions. How We 10 distinguish
unpatrote votersl They have done their best 10 ex
cude disloys voters in Maryland, and the attempt
utterly broke down in the late election. Do you say
That vas because Gov. Swami turned renegade
well Gov. Fletcher did not; yet the attempt to dis
franchise Rebels failed very nearly emphatiealy in
Missouri as in Maryland. Let us not butt our heads
against notorious facts.
Surely it is as vital that voter should be vrtuous
as that he should be intellgent but how will you fix
i'll Even wheu, in Puritan days, only church mem.
beers in good standing could vote there doubtless
many knayes who joined the church in order to vote
and get elected 70 Office We heartily wish all voters
were virtuous; yet we know not how to make certain
tba. they shall be.
Now as to the "intelligence" test: There are a
great many ignorant and quite as many rascally
voters in our City; but the rascals are not all gno
rant, nor the ignorant all rascas, by considerable.
Thousands of our most hardened desperate, danger
Gus yillans could stand any Intelligence" test that
could safely be applied To require that each voter
should know bow 70 read and write would hardly
improve the quality of our City Suffrage. '4'
Bat who shall apply your intelligence" test Just
look at the grist our Naturalization mill grinds ont,
and then think Of Five-PointS Registry Board de-
Gliding on the adequacy of the intelligence Of thou
sand would-be voters. Ability TO read and write is
not definite absolute, ncontestibe: il is relatives
and one board would pass hundreds which another, in
| perfect good conscience, would reject. Then
| think of the endless jcalouses, disputes and
! heartburnings. touching the political bias ci