The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-15
FOR PRESIDENT.
ULYSSES 8. GRANT,
REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERN

II there is one principle clearly enunciated
in the Constitution OF the United States II 10
this: that Congress "shall guarantee to the
States q republican form OF government"
This the General Government 10 bound to do.
We do not care to raise the question " this
connection just how far this application OF
the term republican should be carried. There
may be, there doubtless 10, an honest differ
ence OF opinion smong Republicans As to the
precise extent that this idea Of republican
form Of government should be carried. Some
will contend that It should include nothing
less than what 10 known as manhood suffrage,
and that any State that stops short Of this Is
not a republican State. Others will afipm
that intelligence or property qualifications
should be insisted upon as the sine qua non to
admit persons to vote; that this should be the
limit OF the elective franchise, and that this 10
absolutely necessary in order to give perma-
nancy and safety to our Institutions. Then
again, there are others who contend that the
franchise should be given to all, Irrespective OF
sex color. For ourselves we think that
that Is a republican government where all the
male citizens are allowed to participate In the
government.
We have been led to make these remarks In
consequence of what 10 being said In reference
to speech Of Senator Yates. His remarks
have been garbled, and he has been claimed as
opposed to the Chicago platform because he
stfirms that the national Government should
adopt In law II not In . constitutional amend
ment equal franchise for all the States. We
shall make no attempt to controvert this
doctrine Of Mr.. Yates, II indeed he has an
nounced 1t. We think, however, when his
speech in full shall be given to the country II
will be seen that he does not oppose the
Chiragn nlaffarm
show. That he approves that platform We
have good reason to know. 1t does not GER
tainly follow that because he believes that
there 10 power In the Constitution to enable
the General Government to establish . uni
form law In respect to suffrage In all the
States that he objects to what IL announced
In the platform In regard to the reconstructed
States.
IT,. se..e.s for the ao,ivn at ohiss,o A..
many and conclusive, and can DO maintained
A. Just against the world.
We know that the objection to this platform
from certain standpoint 10 plausible, but We
know also that IL 10 untenable and unsound.
1t is asserted that the policy Is partial In its
application to the States becauseit applies .
principle for the government Of South Carolina
which 1t does not insist upon In Connecticut
and other States In the North. This objection
tion Of these States 10 the same, whereas the
position is altogether different; South Carolina
has rebelled against the Government, and
Connecticut has not; South Csroliua was re-
luired justly, as all must admit, to reconstruct
her organic law, and In doing II II was impers-
tive that she should include In her policy Of
reconstruction such men and such measures
as were loyal, and that In starting upon her
new career she should provide against all
future rebellions BY excluding the active and
earnest participants In the last attempt to
break up the Union. Her loyal people, black
and white, were the only people to be trusted
Connecticut has not rebelled, and therefore,
1t cannot be claimed that the same demand in
respect to suffrage should be made upon her
that Is made upon South Carolina. The CHI
eago platform recognizes two principles Of ac-
tion, that 10 all.
Our opinion Is that Congress, under tho pro-
vision Of the Constitution which empowers IL
to guarantee Republican form of govern
ment to all the States, can insist that manhood
suffrage shall be everywhere recognized, or, in
other words, that there shall be one uniform
law throughout the Union In respect to the
elective franchise. The power ID In the Con.
stitution-the expediency Of applying It Is an
other question. The application Of this prin
ciple to the Southern States at this time grow,
outofthe rebellion and herein il found the ress
on for the adoption Of this doctrine In tn.
south. No such reasons appertain for apply
Ing the same principles to the Northern States
where harmony with the general Government
hasnever been interrupted, nor has there beer
any attempted Interruption. Then, here Ia
the difference, and to US II appears conclusive
and the argument satisfactory.