The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-11-19
Che Uribunc.
WITH SUPPLEMENT.
IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE.

The Republican party has adopted as
its watchward equal rights, and with
this grand theory it vent out before the
people on its merits. To protect the
colored citizens of he South from the
barbarlty of their late masters, repub
lican congress has conferred the right to
vote on thousands Of that dispised race,
thus carrying into practice their theory
and what has been The result? The par
ty has won an unprecedented victory
conclu>lvely showing that the people
believe in giving to aU men equality before
the lrtc
Such being the case would it not be
we'll for our Congress to follow out this
principle, which the people have approx
ed, to its legitimate end, and propose a
constitutional amendment making In
partial Suffrage national? We notice
that such action is being urged with great
force by many of the leading journals of
the day and we believe it is a good thing
to do. Nor do we lack reasons for the
faith that is in u.s. First, it is necessity.
In no other way can the weak and de-
tencaless secure that protection which
the constitution and laws vouchsafes to
every citizen, native born or naturalized.
In no way is a man protected who cannot
vote. Second, what is good for one To-
cality is good for another The American
people express themselves satisfied with
Impartial Suffrage at the South and con-
sistency demands that the North should
not ask Others tc do what it is unwilling
to do itself Third, the reason against
negro suffrage at the South would not
hold good at the North, viz, want of
intelligence. The colored people of the
northern states are generally Of average
education and have as good knowledge
of the laws as other people, their proper
ty is not exempt from taxation, and,
above all, they cherish the rights of
citizenship as highly as any other class.
Fourth, all this talk about ''nigger equal
ity'' is the most absurd bosh that an
intelligent community was ever called
upon to believe in. Demagogues have
exhausted the subject and what have
they been able to prove? Simply this
to Use the words Of another Social
equality does not and can never be made
to depend upon political equality, nor
can it be enforced by statute Each man
and woman in the country is at liberty
to select his or her ii associates. so social
quality--inc!uding the maria &c of your
daughter er-to-a-nlgger depends upon the
consent Of both parties, and it can be in
than it can between whites of the various
artificial grades which exist in society. y
Therefore we claim that Congress
should propose this amendment the com
ing winter for ratification by the State
Legislatures, because, every American
citizen should stand on the same footing
politically, in order that the liberties OF
the poor may be safe from the transgres-
sion of more highly favored class, land
the National Constitution should assert
this SO plainly that no State could evade
it) and because our nation can never
make any great advancement In Civlliza-
ton as long as it willingly tramples under
foot the weakest of its people, and because
We should especially seek to lift up those
who long to become civilized and enjoy
the freedom of the greatest, most favor
ed country the world has ever known.