The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-08
MUSCLE AND MANHOOD, BONE AND BLOOD.

The Chicago Timss gives brief abstract OF
the proposed amendments to the Constitution
Of the United States, as set forth in what It
designates, the new plan of President John. |
son, and adds:
aBesides these propositions, which are to b
incorporated in new constitutional article, 10
proposition embodying the principle Of impartial
outrage, to be incorporated in the several State
Constitutions. The latter is really the important
feature of the plan. All the other propositions
excepting the 6th--are merely dsclarstory OF gen.
orally conceded facts or recognized principles.
The principle of impartial suffrage is not less i'm
portant This great and truly democratic princi !
pie constitutes the life and soul Of the new sd-
mnstration plan Of adjusting our national
troubles. It will be especially gratifying TO all
who recognize the great truths of the pure demo-
cratic creed that principle which democrats ana
democratic journals all over the country have
lately so earnestly advocated should at last have
compelled recognition by the national administra
ton.
THAT the new plan will receive approval in
the Southern States, there can hardly be doubt
1t may be that the democratic journals
all over the country" will earnestly advocate
the principle of impartial suffrage, as set
forth in President Johnson's plan, and con-
CURED in by some of his treason and blood
dyed Confederate States Governors, but the
public will remember that, when the Times
announced the doctrine some months ago, it
was received by these same Democratic
journalists with bowls of dissent, derision
and disgust. And that earnest efforts were
made, not only by the Democratic journals
Of the county, but by the leaders of the
Democratic party in Illinois and elsewhere
to kick the Chicago Times out of the party
But to let that phase of the matter pass;
we take issue on the assertion that the doc
trne Of impartial suffrage, as set forth in the
Presidents plan, and endorsed by the Times,
is, in any true sense, a Democratic principle.
On the contrary we hold It to be essentially
and to all intents and purposes, thor
oughly aristocratic principle, which excludes
men from an equal voice in the Government,
on the grounds Of poverty and lack Of ed.
ucation. This plan Of impartial suffrage pre-
clude poor men, and ignorant men, who
are required TO fight for the Government,
and TO shed their blood for it, from the exer-
else Of a voice in the selection Of its legisla.
tors aud rulers. 1t places higher estimate
on dollars and cents, and reading and writing
than on the patriotism, the blood and the
life of the poor men upon whom the Govern.
ment calls 10 shoulder their muskets in de,
fence Of the country.
1t is not the poor negro alone, that this
Democratic principle excludes from a voice
in the Government, but it denies suffrage
equally to the poor white man, for that is the
very trick of impartial suffrage. Hence, the
poor and the ignorant negro, and the poor and
ignorant white man, ore put on an equality
by this boosted Democratic principle; and
the rich or well to do and intelligent white
man, and the negro Of like qualifications are
put upon political equality, and allowed a
voice in the control Of the Government So
that by this Democratic principle, the rich
negroes are placed on platform of superiori
", and with higher political privileges, than
poor white men; and it follows that if this be
the true Democratic principle, the Demoera
cy fa7ors not negro equality, but negro
superiority.
How would this Democratic principle work
In its practical application in keokuk .
Would it secure equal rights to all men in
keokuk? How many men are there tina,
have not the Presidents qualifications OF
reading and writing and dollars and cents
Can that be o sound Democratic principle
which creates inequalities Of political rights,
and discriminates to the prejudice ofthe less
favored portion Of he community?
inequality ofrank, and inequality or rights
are characteristic features of Monarchy ang
Aristocracy; but equality before the law
and equal political rights, is the fundamental
and vital principle Of Democratic Republi
can Institutions. Our fathers repudiated tht
divine right Of Kings to rule, and the pre-
scriptive privileges Of the well-born to lore
ii over the humble and they proclaimed, ii
their grand declaration of human rights, tn,
equality of all men, and the equal right of al
to voice in the Government, as self,eviden
truths. In their views, the true prsncipl,
Of Democracy" is
"That all men are created equal, and al
endowed by their Creator, with certain in
alienable rights, amongst which are life
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Ant
" that to SECURE THESE RIGHTS, Government
are instituted amongst men, deriving the
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned.r
That is the great Democratic principl,
enunciated by our revolutionary forefather.
as one of the great truths, which they pledg
hfe and honor to support.
There is the broad and just criterion of tn
exercise of the right Of suffrage, covering al
cases, subject to no changes, or yacillation
from popular excitement or popular preju
dice based upon no casual or incidental cir
cumstance, but permanent as time, and Jus
rs eternity. The governed, are entitled to
voice IN the Government; not the rich, no
the Yirtuous, nor the intellgen. alone, bu
the poor, and the ignorant, and the v;c;ops a
well. 1t is government of the people, an
Tor the people, and all the people are en,i,le
primarily To- voice, an equal voice. At III
ballot, in the matter in which ali ara into,
ested.
Now, every other theory Of the rich,
suffrage Is anti Republican and anthem,
cratic, for it rests upon the presumption II,
inequality Of wealth or Of intelligence ,
whAt-not, creates inequality Of rights: an
hence, that the rich and the intelIigen, =,
entitled to govern the poor and the jgnor.n
with or without their consent OurFa,ba
announced the 7iy possible just founda,;c
Of Free Repub Government; and 6 ~
principle is false wrong, then there !. :
principle upon n Free Gorernmon.
possible, and ou' Rep ,blic, like those ~
have gone before, mus! be perverted into ,
Ariseocracy or monarchy. Without .on
/ rights, al d An equal voice in the Co..
Nment, by The governed, our country c.nn
stand on the great platform of free nr;nc
pies, constructed by the founders of the R
public.
And whenever We prove disloyal to IN
principle, we are aaoat without char, or ~,
pass, to drift wherever the waves of preiud;
ND NF.