Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-06-25
MIR. BAYARD'S ARISTOCRA TIC
LIE-THE BALLOT A "PRIVI-
LEGE" NOT A tRIGHT"

l
We do not blame men for their respecta-
bility, for their wealth, for their refinement.
We do not account it fault in our fellows
that they are ambitious and enjoy the exer-
else of power. But we do denounce the
aristocracy which claiming all rights and
host of privileges for itself, denies not only
the privileges but the rights to all others.
Such an exhibition of the bascness OF po-
Iitical selfishness is shown in the Democratic
platform of Dover. Was the author OF it
Mr.. Bayard, whose careful but dictatorial |
hand swayed every movement of the CON
vention? Was it Mr.. Bayard, whose chosen
seat, beside, and not much lower, than the
nominal presiding officer, permitted him TO
deity manipulate the wires that moved his
puppets2 If it were not Mr.. Bayard, let
him be acquitted of the crime which we
charge and shall prove upon the individual
who conceived the cold and selfish political
frauds embodied in the Dover platform.
This State is agitated upon the Suffrage
question, and well it may be. If the citi-
zens of this nation have no right to vote, and
do not enjoy the free exercise of that right,
this is no Republic, but an oigarchy. II
only portion of the people possess voice
in choosing the rulers and framing the laws
Of the State, here is no Democracy. Let,
then, the voters of Delaware tremble, when
they are told by the dominant party, that =
Resolved, That the elective franchise is II
, political privilege and not natural right,
and is to be granted OF withheld by the sew
: eral States to their respective inhabitants, as
q in the free, sound judgment and discretion
: of each State shall be deemed best for the
n public interest and welfare.
"a priuiiege, and not natural
right" you hear that, poor men, III.
$, learned mem You vote, now. You vote
u because the Trainer of thar resolution grants
W you the privilege He kindly fayors you
sh His smile is turned upon you. Your ballo
i'll comes from his graciousness. You vote be
cause he pleases that you may.
Is that true, Democrats of Delaware? d,
: you really hold the ballot as a privilege? /
it not your natural right? If so,ean you tel
- how long you may enjoy your privilege, an
4 whether the time may not come when
will be taken from you? Mark, this dicts
tor of your condition, this dispenser an
ID, almoner of ballot-use, tells you it sis to
Ike "grantcd or withheld" as ''shall be dcemc
he g best for the public interest and welfare.
ID AT present, Irshmcn of Wilmington, it
eo ''granted" you, but eau you tell whether
Ho will not be, sometime ''withheld' from yol
The hand that gives can cease giving
zee you derive your vote FROM another sourt
,;a than yourself, you may cease to receive it,
PC This declaration of the idea OF the preseI
. falsely-called Democracy, is only too clea
ri. 1t is shameless and bare faced insult to Il
no name of Democratic principles. 1t is bio
y a in the face of The People. 1t is the spirit
m. despotism, of kingship, of aristocracy, Of a
mr.. rogant selfshness. 1t is Grab for Myse
he 1t is no more Democracy than there is in Il
shark. 1t is no more the spirit Of Repub
can institutions than there was in Nero.
lee Fellow citizens of Delaware the bla
ur- men do not vote. Why not? Becaus
on says the Dover resolution, suffrage is pri'
eri- lege, to be granted or Withheld as the Sta
ark may see fit. Now, can you be sure that Il
/, OF principle will not be further applied? y
, in can not. The like rule and the same spi
ates live in Maryland. The dominant pal
the there utter the same doctrine. They ha
ton applied it not only to colored men but
lun- poor aohite men! Mark thai. They la
II OF passed laws regulating town elections, a
requiring that man must hotd real est
!, or he cannot uote.
az" Do you assent to such doctrines as the.
~, Do you intend by your votes to support
49,, resolution which denies you the right
800 to vote? The logic of such declaration
plain. You must accept or you must rel
it. You must endorse or you must repudi
~ it. If you endorse the aristocratic lie ut
~. ed in that resolution, and consent that y
49, vote is only political privilege, which I
49,. be granted,o may be withheld,we warn
~. that such doctrine will not only disfi
- chse negroes, bit disfranchise you