The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-30
Enivsrsal Suffrage.

'publicans, in Massachusetts even, believe In
this doctriue? In our opinion not one III
ten. If they believe In il, why do they not
srouse the people of fhis state to adopt III
Hero we have fsaalt Fed Suffrage a man, ma.
live born, who may pay large taxes aud
own much property, cannot vote in Massa-
chusetts unless he can read and write. A
man may be able to read and write, nay,
may be learned and eloquent, but he cannot
vote unless he has paid his two dollar poll
tax. State and town paupers, land there
are hundreds Of them in this state
cannot vote even ifthey can fnl6ll both these
other requirements. The same is true of
persons under guardianship Now, if Sab
solute justice" of which we hear so much,
requires that universal suffrage shall be the
rule, and if as Mr.. Sumner declares, unless
state adopts this principle as her fanda.
mental law, she has not "a republican. form
of government" is not the state Of sMassa-
.chusetts in Q position which, an Summers
theory, should exclude her from "represen-
tation" in congress, and place her people I'M
der martial law, to be enforced by military
satrap, until she has adopted the dogma of
universal suffrage?
.sS The most distinguished citizen ola neigh
boring state, native and to the manner
born" moving into Massachusetts, cannot
exercise this right of suffrage until he has
resided here one year and paid his taxes.
We know of no set of men or party In this
state except the radicals, who are opposed
TO the Massachusetts doctrine that "EDUCA-
TIoN IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE A
man should be able to read the ballot he
votes, whether he be black, white or gray.
Why must this principle be overthrow
Why must the people of this Union be kept
in the present terrible state Of doubt and
uncertainty, borne down by taxation, cursed
with an inflated paper currency unredeemed
and irredeemable, simply because q fewde
agognes have seized on the government,
and WELD its power, to crush, rather than to
rebuild, the shattered fabric Of our once hap
py, prosperous and glorious Union7 Four
million black slaves loosed from bondage
demand an unqualified ballot. Four hun
dred millions of Chinese are pouring on our
western shores their surplus population, who,
also wish to participate in the universal SAT.
frage. All ignorant of our form of govern
ment and institutions, yet the balance OF
power to fall into their hands. Is this the
basis on which the wise builders Of our gov.
ernmental. fabric 4oandedf this Union
crude invention of modern innovators, who,
to secure temporary power, would overthrow
the main pillars which support the temple Of
our liberty, and bury beneath its ruins the
best hopes of mankind. Ours is not TEN.
pie of ignorance; this country cannot afford
to relapse into the hands Of semi barbara.
ans, to be ruled by ignorant fanatics,
whether they be black, white or yellew; un.
der our present government, composed as it
is of white native and naturalizad citizens,
there is want of Craftsmanship, waste of
public treasure, and incapacity enough
without additional ignorance being forced
into the federal and state governments.
What became Of the absolute Justice
principle at the Chicago radical convention?
Could ranker injustice be attempted than
that adopted in their resolution on the snf-
frage qaestion? In it they say they propose
so leave the question of suffrage 10 the
states in one portion of the Union, while In
another section they demand universal suf-
frage. For the first time in a national party
convention sectional and unequal laws are
demanded by the party in power. But does
even this outrageous proposition mean
anything? Already Sumner, Yates and
Phillips rebel against it; they 60 step fur.
Their and propose by act of congress, under
their 18th amendment, TO declare universal
suffrage iR all the states To accomplish
this was the primary object of those who
brought forward and passed the l4th amend
meni to the constitution. True, this is not
vet adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the
states, but 1t Is made imperative on the
southern states that the first act of their
new legislatures shall be the adoption of this
18th amendment. When that is done and
those states are represented In congress,
their representatives and senators will re-
pudiate the Chicago platform, and joining
with Sumner and his radical fanatics, de-
mand that Massachusetts and all the north
ern states, shall adopt universal suffrage
If they refuse, they, too, must be ''recon-
structed.n Of course. on this subject, as on
all other questions of craftsmanship, Gen.
Grant has mo policy" he floats along on
the waves made for him by the congress
sional agitators.
q Opposed to all these heresies stand the
grand historic democratic party Of the
Union, who recognizes the federal Union as
composed of independent sovereignties, CO.
ordinate and coequal; each entitled to fix
the basis of suffrage within its own limits,
Beyond our state limits we have nothing
whatever to do with the basis Of suffrage,
neither do we admit that the general gov
eminent, or any state, has a right TO dictate
to Massachusetts that she shall change her
laws in this respect, and for this reason We
claim no right to interfere with the decision
OF other states.-BoSt0n Post.