Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-03

spirit and nationality. and yet tbs
spiret and nationality will live on an
be cherished by its children in spite
the Cars DEGREES and institutions
In our country. however, we see pei
eeably and and spontaneously accom-
plished in on generation what in Pr
land the dreadful power of q might
empire has failed to accomplish durin
three years. And, it is the ballot +
which we owe that rapid and harmon
Gus assimilation of so many differe
nationalities which we behold in tht
United States.
SUFFRAGE AND OUR CITIZENS OF FoREIa
BIRTH.
In the abstract, ne are all agreed q
to the necessity and beneficial effect
of foreign immigration whose usefu
labor increases the wealth Of the ma
ton and opens new fields of activit,
and profit to the native enterprise
But the foreign laborer, apparently
enters into competition with natiV,
laborers among whom feelings of ieal
ousy and ill-will are frequently arous
ed. Dislikes are engendsred. Thous
ands come to our country who are un
acquainted with our language or Wit
speak dialect which jars upon ou
ear. In every nation 8 great many
people are prejudiced against strangers
Foreign dialects will we mocked bro
ken English will be ridiculous: Bick
erings and quarrels are apt to follow
and end in frequent breaches of the
peace. And now we should see the
foreigner, q stranger among strangers
unable to obtain redress even where
he has been Wronged and outraged
Unable to give proper explanation Of
his case to 3 court Of justice, supposed
to be in the wrong because he appears
to be ignorant, exciting ridicule by his
broken attempts to make himself un.
derstood, without influential social
connections, what justice would he
have to expect, what protection, safety,
and comforts would he enjoy, assailed
by the prejudices, ill-will, dislike, vic.
lence or injustice of those with whom
his business or labor has thrown him
into competition, and of their friends,
relatives and followers, if that wonder
full and ciVilizing genius of our insti-
tutions had not invested him with 8
magic wand of protection which at
once secures his position, his comfort,
his peace and his happiness. Invested
with the right to vote, he at once be-
comes his own protector. He at once
ceases to be q "bloody, red-mouthed
Irishman" or q 'stupid Dutchman," "
and becomes one of our "iberty-loV-
ing and intelligent German friends"
or one of our industrious Irish fellow
citizens" Can this difference be with
out its effects? The harsh and con-
temptous treatment to which / have
alluded, would have depressed and
him, and he would have
continued to be > subject and q helot |;
but the kind treatment which he owes
to his vote, at once encourages and
elates him; it brings out the better
points in his nature; it arouses his
spirit of emulation; it makes him
strive and struggle zealously in the
battle of life; it makes him o citizen
infinitely more useful than if he were
lisfranchised.
SUFFRAGE AS A CIYILIZING AGENT SECOND
,HLY TO THE INVENTION OF GUEPowDER-
1 do not propose to discuss whether
uffrsge is a natural or vested right +;
whether it is right or as John Stuart
fill seems to think, q political trust.
What are philosophical niceties or alb
traetians in the stormy arena of
'reat political contesti But let me
ay that as q powerful refoTmer and
iYiIizer, suffrage is second only to the
INVENTION of gunPowder which demol-
she'd the strongholds of the feudal
ords and destroyed their pernicisus
,ower, The medieval robber in his
ortifed and impregnable castle was .
couree and terror to his fellow-men.
fe proved upon commerce and indus
~, and enslaYed agriculture. He
obbed peaceful commercial caraVaas
nd dehed the authority of law, Of
ings, and emperors. He reduced the
ountry to beggary by his everlasting
riyate wars with his neighbors, be-
ueathing to his children and child
ems children legacy of hatred and
svenge. He pillsged and Tsvished
nd murdered with impunity, mocking
/ his inaccessible stronghold the i'm
otent outcries of outraged humanity.
That could be done against him2 A
night clad in an impenetrable armor
| steel, and skilled in the use Of the
yord and the battle-axe, was q match
n dozens of churls and peasants. But,
r, the invention of the German monk
lrned the tables at once. Cannons
I'D mortars battered down the castles
hich had defied the assaults of centu-
es of war. The musket in the hands
! the plebeian churl took the knight
: siteen ancestors from his horse, in
lite of his heavy armor, his broad
yord ard his battle axe. All the skill {
. had acquired in the use Of these
eapons during the many hours of his
leisure, went for nsught, /
Id he became the helpless target OF !
le swineheard who laid him low
uantity now superseded quality and
.came important in the hands of able
Intellect now triumph {
over brutal force. Genius took the {
ace of physical power, and, sir, at the
title of Landeu the weskliest and {
,kliest man in each army was proba- g
v the great general who commanded :
The flash Of gunpowder thus help
to dispel the darkness of the middle
es. as 1t battered down the robber
stiles and destroyed the lawless occu-
.tion of the feudal barons. I
Suffrage, sir, has accomplished siml-
r results. It has done away with obi :
Is privileges and degrading distinct '
ns. It has awakened sense of hu- c
an dignity and self respect in the bo- Q
M of the lowest and the humblest. c
has diffused sense of justice. It 9
s swept away the dangerous effects
caste. 1t has promoted political !
and has spread general in I
nation and intelligence. 1t has .
legitimate channel and 3 2
fety valve for popular Indignation .
has provided peaceful remedy for y
pular grievances, and thus, among Z
ose who understand it truly, it has 6
.de instructions and revolutions o
necessary. 1t may. as said before, Y
liable to abuse, and give rise to GER =
n evils, like every other human in c
tuition, but, on the whole, it has done L
nders as an instrument of liberty, G
Itice and civilization. II
NECESSITY WITH US As A PREsERVER :,
OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY. D
altogether from the p
aat;on of RIGHT hut viewed merely as et