The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-11-11
THE cOMIAG QUESTION.

ThgPhiladeIphia Press and washing
Ton Chronicle have come out in bold ar
ticIes since the election advocating an
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States establishing equal suf-
frago in all the States of the Union.
The Pres figures ont nineteen States in
which negroes now vote and which it
regardsas sure TO ratify this amend
ment. In this nineteen 1t includes
West Virginia. The PreSs Is mistaken
In saying that negroes vote in West
Virginia. The Cincinnati EHqufrer,.we
believe, has fallen into the same error.
Our Constitution permits only the
"white male citizens" over 81 to vote
and of them excludes paupers, dement,
ed persons, and persons guilty of GER
tain crimes. The Press figures out elev-
en- more States which have Republican
Legislatures and thinks, these thirty
States would DO sure to ratify. This
would give one to come and go on, as
% are thTee-fonrths OF all the States in
Guiding Texes, Mississippi sand Yir-
Einia, and 20 OF all now recognized as In
the Union.
Far more significant OF the drift of
popular sentiment, however, Is an
article ON this subject which appeared
some days ago In the Cincinnati Com.
npereiaL. II IS no req thing to ind Col.
.Forney advocating equal suffrage. but
It il new, and significant, to ind
the Cincinnati oopgmereial doing it.
The Commercial has long been SO con-
SENTATIVE In its RepublicanIsm that
many OF It's Republican readers were
doubtful whether it was not as much
Democratic az Radical. When the
question OF striking the word white"
from the Ohio Constitution was submit
ted in that State last year our recollec.
ton Is the Commercials influence was
strongly against 1t. Now mark what
a change. Here Is its article of last
week.: IA
THE QUESTION OF UNIvHRsALsUR
The people of the States of Iowa and
Minnesota have taken hold of the ques-
ton Of negro suffrage, and disposed of
It finally, by abolishing all absurd dis
CriminGtions. We say finally, for there
10 retTogTession where prejudices un-
supported by reason and common sense
go down in the march OF enlightened
progress.
these States there il any particular af-
lection or adniiratIon for the negro, nor
Is IL likely that there will be greater
danger OF the social equality of the
races than In Ohio and Minnesota,
where II has been thought necessary
for the yindication OF the superiority
OF the white race, to continue the poll
teal disqualification OF men OF color. a
One has but TO attend the polls on an
election dhyt 10 witness the pitiful and
powerful farce enacted under the viHi-
Bile admlxture system of Ohio. When
q man OF mixed blood presents him
BelftoiYote, the judges Of ELECTION arsl
constituted y committee of investigR-
tion of his lineage. This Is necessary
to determinate the exact amount of
negro blood that courses through his
veins and bushes into his lace as the
customary questions are put to him
under oath. II, in the opinion of the
Judges, the white blood preponderates,
THE IL more than a quadroon and less
than mullatto, his vote Is received; II
the black blood is in excess, he Is de.
MED privilege that, on the sound
Democratic principle OF NO taxation
entitled to.
funreasoning prejudice ever drew
more absurd and imbecIle line of
distinction between man and man. we
have yet to hear II. Il is a reproach TO
the intelligence OF the people OF Ohio,
Were the distinction founded upon
property or education, and made with
out reference TO race or color. 1t would
be tolerable; but there Is absolutely no
dsfense whatever to be made for sys-
tenn that determines political qualin-
cation by the presence or absence of an
ounce more or less of African or eau
caRiAn blood - - = s - 49,.
We speak OF this now, when the,
elections are over and when no politi-
cal motive can be Imputed. 1t Is desi-
rable that the people OF Ohio should
consider iIdispassfona aud NO tune
II more favorable that the present,
when the criais Ia past and the voice OF
partsans silent. We appeal to their
good sense, their Judgment, their sense
ofequity; ought not this absurdlty to
go the way of the Black Laws and other
relics OF 2 barbarian that were wrench
ed out OF American soil by the violence
oIthegreat civil conflict > z3.t5 -siz5ss
We shall never rid ourselves of this
Ironblesome question till we have the
courage and the manhood 70 take hold
OF and deal with n az the people Of
IOwR and Minnesola have dealt Win II.
neylng ourselves, in impartial suff-
Sages anuIegaGdlngR al gIiiBcriminntfons
passed upon rRco and color as abomina.
Aons, Creating inequalities that are not
H5se W utAnushould not beal-
lowed TO exist in State that processes 10
zeal fairly and justly with its citizens.
We Lnslat upon reconsideration of the
~ ss..Aon-by- the good speopls or Ohio
In. - NOT now yet twill come. \ The
s.9t n y questions sprfnkink rom
ine9ae nv rights and pEivfleges win
sI sHsr Inv ~ avs set never % cease, TN the
white or black, are recoeSS1Sts ss ~ ~,
ly entitled % all civil and poiiticst in
munities. the fulhllment 81 me cell, ,t1-
lions thereof being left 70 their nS-,,
energy and enterpr Make the CON.
bear imparfiRlly upon all. To mr.
scribe men born into the world under 4
ban which no EFFORT OF their own can
poa1thle remove, Is an Injustice that
must be done away with II we hone TO