The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-10-28

CuARACrERIsTlC OF FREE COW
EHNMENT.
There are three distinct forms OF govern
ment known in history, based upon rs many
! dittinct principles, constituting radical diff
ferenees in the theory and in the practical
development Of government. These differ
ent systems are known as the Monarchiai,
the uligsrcby and the Republic. Monarchy
isbsed upon the idea of the inherent and
divine light Of Kingly family to rnle the
people. 0igarchY upon tho vested and pre-
serptlve rightof > certain limited Number OF
families or class to rule their fellow eitl-
zens. While the Republican Government,
as CLEARLY SET forth by our Fathers in that i'm
mortal Declaration. Of human rights pro-
c1asmed by them, rejects both these
n1riitssctiples, and declares the foundation Of
Gutsrnmens 10 rest upon the great principle
81 &c ECU Al RIGHTS Of al men TO life,
lHssEsty and property. And following this, As
unnecessary corollsry, they assert the equal
right OF all men to voice in the formation
of Government and the choice of their ru-
lers, az an essential security of the funda-
mental rights Of life, liberty and property.
Under these principles Of the Declaration
Of Independence, universal suffrage is an es-
senfia characteristic of the principle OF
free Democratic Republican Institutions. and
my discrimination against any portion OF
class of citizens. is opposed to the principle
Of Free Governments. and in SO far a resort
to The principle Of Aristocracy.
Now We admit there may be difficulties in
tha why Of practical development and cons
ple,e realization OF free Republican Govern
ment in its ideal principle, but it is the duty
of The people tdgrappe With these difficulties
and overcome them, and to attain by degrees,
aud as.speedily As possible, to that condition,
ia which all the men who live under the Gov,
eminent shall have an equal right to q voice
in ii at the polls, and through the ballot box.
All men who live under the Government
have to hear their share In the burdens o.
sustaining it, whether by taxation or bearing
arms in its defense, as q general rule. Then
all ought for that reason to have an enua
voice in the Government, for is mere OPP
preston for one class Of citizens to exercise
the power OF imposing burdens on other citi
zens and denying them an equal voice in the
matier.3 as
Practically we know this is done and ha!
been done, but if we insist on doing SO, We
practice on the principle Of class priv
ilege Of the Oligarchal system Of Govern.
ment, and not upon the principle Of equa
rights the declared and only sound principle
Of Republican Government.
Upon the principle of Republican Govern
mant it is assumed that the weak, the igno
rant and the poor man, who are required te
bare their breasts in battle and shed theil
blood, and lay down their lives for the de
Tense of the Government, need the ballot as
much, or more than the rich, the powerful and
the intelJigent, to secure and protect their
findamsntal rights. It is assumed that in
this respect they shall betheir own guardians,
and not trust to the rich and the learned for
protection, because such trust has been and
always will be betrayed.
We are lin the Same great ship of State.
and il we make shipwreck Of it, We must all
lose our all. And in such case property is
welfare Of our families and our own happi1
ness and lives. Hence there is no just rea-
son why property or intelligence or morality
should be a qualification essential to the ex-
ercise Of the right OF suffrage. Besides,
there is no practicable principle or limitation
upon which such qualification can be based.
How much property qualities man to vote :?
Shall It Be the possession Of Acow or mule.
horse or jackass? Then il is practically
the cow or the mule, the horse or the jackass,
shas entities to vots and not the manhood OF
ciiizenship Of the voter. Or will ron sxalt
the terms and only allow man worth, say
ten thousand dollars or more to vote for If
the amount Of property that man possesses
is the test Of his qualification to exercise
yoicein the Governments, then II follows the
more property the better qualified he will be,
and the richer the voters - better Govern
ment they viii make.
And so of intelligence. IF reading and
writing be recognized as qualification for
suffrage, 10 not thorough common school
education better and quite as legitimate 4
qnalifeationf And having attained that
standard, would not Collegiate course won
dtrfully. enhance the capacity Of the voter ID
exercise intelligence in the discharge Of his
right Of suHrsge2
If it is right TO make property or intelli-
gence the ground Of suffrage, it would seem
that the more you have Of those qualifica-
tions the better; and the higher the standasd
TIN better the Government And here we
think the absurdity of the whole thing b.
comes snffeiently apparent to leave it to tho
deciSi6a 81 the people.