Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-06-27
Speech of Fred. Hassaurek.
Concluded non First Page.

educating and civilizing influences and
protective virtues of the ballot. IL con-
finually reminds those who form the
apex of the pyramid that they are de-
pendent on, and responsible to, those
WHO form its base. It recalls rulers, apt
tD forget themselves in the sweet enjoy
mcnt of power, TO "A sense of their true
position. 1t has remarkable tendency
10 make those polite and afiable and
friendly whom u little brief authority in !
clines to be rude and overbearing. Ii
the clerks In Dickens circumlOcution
Office had reason TO fear Alr. Clennam's
vote, they would have treated him much
better. Suffrage is u powerful corrective
of official insolence, abuses, and ineffi-
cheney. It ,is a great lever of impartial
Justice. 1t elevates the lowly and the
humble, it checks the naughty and the
influential. It provides an important
safeguard for the public peac and
teaches n wholesome respect for the
rights and feelings of others. thus LESSEN
ing the necessity of solti q to courts of
justice. 1t is, of course, Liable to abuse
and corruption; 1t may have its imper-
fections and dangers, like every other
human institution, but nevertheless its
effects are wonderful.
SUFFRAGE AZ THE GREAT MEANS OF
SELF-pRUTECrION.
Relying on its efficacy, we have made
ii the basis of our institutions. 1t is the
great assimilating agent in our social de-
Nelopmcnt. Let me illustrate this pro-
position by an example. How different
would the position of foreigners be,
fraught with disadvantages and draw
backs, if it were not for their right to
vote. The ballot is worth more to them,
and to the peace and prosperity of the
country, than armies of policemen could
be. Russia may continue for ages TO OPP
press the Poles, and cndeavor to extir-
pate Polish spirit and nationality, and
yet that spirit and nationality will live
OF and be cherished by its children in
spite of the Cars DEGREES and institu-
tions. In our country, however, we see
pcaceably and spontaneously accom-
plished in one generation what in Poland
the dreadful power of n mighty empire
has failed to accomplish during three
years. And, il is the ballot to which we
owe that rapid and harmonious assimila-
tion of so many different nationalitieS
which we behold in the United States.
SUFFRAGE AND OUR CITIZENS or FOR
EIttN BIRTH.
In the abstract, we are all agreed as to
the necessity and beneficial effects of
foreign immigration whose useful labor
increases the wealth Of the nation and
opens new fields of activity and profit to
native enterprise. But the foreign
lnborer, apparently, enters into compe-
titiOn with native labOreis among whom
feelings of jealously and ill-wll are fire.
quently aroused. Dislikes ARE cngender-
ed Thousands come TO our country who
are unncquaintcd with our language OF
who speak IA dialect which jars upon our
ear. In every nation great many peo-
pie are prejudiced against strangers. For
eign dialects will be mocked; broken
EnnIish uill hn ri linulnl
and quarrclS are apt to follow and end in
frequent breaches of the peace. And
now we should see the foreigner, Il stran-
ger among strangers, unable to obtain
redress even where he has been wronged
and outraged. Unable to give IL proper
explanation of his case to court of JUS
tice supposed to he in the wrong because
he appears to he ignorant exciting rdi-
cule by his broken attempts to make
himself understood, without influential
social connections, what justice would
he have to expect, what protection
safety, and comforts would he enjoy, as
sailed by the prejudices, ill-will, dislike
violence or injustice of those with whom
his business or labor has thrown hin
into competition, and of their friends
relatives and followers, II that wonderful
and civilizing genius of our institutions
Ind not invested him with magic want
position, his comfort, his peace and hi
happiness. Invested with the right tt
vote, lac ut once becomes his own protcc
tor. lie at once ceases to be u "bloOdy
red-mOuthed Irishman" or "stupit
Dutchman,n and becomes one of Ou
"liberty-loving and intelligent German
friends, or one of our "industriou
Irish fellow-citizcns. Can this differ
cnce he without its effect? The harsl
%,
have alluded, would have depressed an,
discouraged him, and he would hav
continued to be u subject and helot
but the kind treatment which he owe
to his vote, at once encourages and clatC
him; it brings out the better points |
his nature; 1t arouses his spirit of emuli
tion; 1t makes him strive and struggl
zealously in the battle of life; 1t max,
him n citizen infinitely more useful tina
if he were DISTINGUISHED.
SUFFRAGE As A ciVIIIZINd AGENT SEt
OND ONLY 10 THE INVENTION OF GUN
POWDER.
| do not propose to discuss Wheth6
suffrage IN II national or vested right
whether Ii IL u right or as John Stual
Mill seems To think, u political trust
What are philosophical niceties or al
stractions In the stormy arena of n grei
political contest? But let me say as
DOWcTI I'll rcIOTlIler anu clNlllIcr, SllII rug
IL second only to the invention of gun
powder which demolished tho stronl
holds of the feudal lords and destroye
their perniciOus power. The medievi
robbcr in his fortified and impregnab
castle was scourge and terror 10 IA
fellow-men. He proyed upon commcrC
and industry, aud enslavod agricultur
He robbed peaceful commercial caravan
and defled the authority of law, of king
and of emperors. He reduced the coul
try TO beggary by his everlasting prlva
wars with his nelghbors, bequeathing
his children and children's children
legacy of hatred and revenge. Hepilla
ed and ravished and murdered with IN
punity, mocking In his inaccessib
stronghold the impotent outcrles of ou
ragged humanity. What could be doi
against him? A knight clad in an IL
penetrable armor Of steel, and skilled
the use of the sword and tho battle-ax
was q match for dozens of churls al
peasants. But, sir, the invention of d
German monk turlod the tables at one
Cannons and mortafs battered down q
castles which had deiied the assaults
centuries Of war. The muskot In q
hands of the plebeian churl took Il