The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-10-01


For Judge-2d Circuit If dh judicial District,
SiLVANUS YATES, OF Cedar county.
County Ticket. D..
For Clerk of the District Court,
VIM. ELLIOTT, Of Center tp. o.
Fer County Recorder, -. -ynL. .Er
JESSE JAMES, of Springdale tp.
The Proposed Amendments to the
Constitution ofIowa. '5' '-'
These amendments which are to be
submitted to the voters of the State at the
election, contemplate strik-
ing the word white" from the follow
ing portions oft Constitution:-Fro
section one Of article two: section thirty
three Of article three, section tliirty-four
Of article three, section thirty-five of ar
ticle three, and section one Of article
six. The constitution with the word
"white' stricken out in tile section.
above enumerated would provide
LIST. That epery male citizen of tile
United States of the age of q Years &c.
&C., shall be entitled to vote at all cleo
tons. .,.-....:-..s,
end. The census provided to be taken
in 1859, 1875 and every ten years there
after shall include all the inhabitants.
,3rd. That the, number of Senators
shall be apportioned among the several
counties according to the number Of in
haf,;tar;s.
4th. In districting the State for SEN
ators and representatives, they shall be
apportioned among the several counties
according to the number of inhabi-
tants in each.
9Th. The State militia shall be COM
re-,A of oil abla hodiea ,noie citizens
between the ages of IS and IS years, ex-
cept &c. &c. $50 -"s.-.,'t r.A rs -'l"- ~
AS the constitution now stands, each
of the foregoing provisions is limited by
the proscriptve word uAac: "White
citizens, white inhabitants, &C., ..,
The vote upon these proposed amend
ments will simply decide this question::
Is the colored citizen of the State of
Iowa to be made a citizen in reality rs
well as in name: Is he or is he not to
) be admitted to political equality with
other citizens under the constitution"
Among many other important issues
of the present political campaign, the
citizens of iowa should not forget or
ignore this one. 1t is an old question,
and has been discussed by the press, on
the stump aud in our legislative halls
from every conceivable standpoint. 1t
would be almost impossible to bring for
ward any new reason in favor of it !;
and arguments against i. are and have
always been built ofiglorance and pre-
judice from turret to foundation.
DO yon now ask why should we vote
i'll favor ofthese amendments: Because
they are right, just and honorable, and
to refuse to do SO would be wrong, unjust
and dishonorable. Every one who will
admit that the negro is a man, created
like other men in the image Of his Max
er must, in his heart of hearts, feel the
truth Of this. TO those who, in this day
and generation, persist in calling the
black man an animal, and refuse to ac-
! cord him any place in the human fami-
ly, words or arguments on the subject
are pearls thrown before swine.
In what degree does it affect the ques-
ton as matter of right or wrong to saw
that the negro is ignorant, and generally
poor Arc not many white men also
ignorant and poverty stricken The
question Is not concerning any qualifi-
cation OF property or intelligence; but
only whether the color of the skin shall
decide ifa man is to have the rights of a
man in the government, or shall he live
under its laws, and assist in its support
without those rights. 1t is self evident
that no arguments can be used against
the extension Of certain political rights
to the negro, that are not. in common
justice equally applicable to every citi-
zen, white or black. ........
The Republican party of Iowa to-day
stands pledged by every consideration
to this measure. Blythe platforms Of it's
constitutions both State and, National /:
by the words Of its. speakers and the
voice OF its press; by tlic ACTIONS of its
represen tatiye5 in the National Congress
and State legislatures it Is pledged in
all honorto extend these political rights
to its colored citizens. Therefore, every
Republican. yes, every lover and con-
tservator Of the eternal principles of JUS
tice and liberty, by whatever party
name he. may designate himself, must
cast his ballot next November for, each
and all Of these amendments. Let the
Republicans oftlis State see to it that
Iowa is true to hcrselfand her high po-.
si!ion among hersister States in radi-
calism and patriotisia; and ihat she, in
this as in everything which makes a
government powerful, rich and benefi-
cent, takes 40 step backward; but moves
steadily forward III the path Of progress