The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-17

pected. Your Indiana Democrat is very where
CoppeThead. 10 none ell 9 OF the Northern or
Western States does the breed 80 distinctly
retain it's characteristics. We cannot bs sur.
pIised, therefore, that proposition to thro
around citizenship the guarantee of equality
has aroused in that State the furious hostility
which has displayed itself at Indanapols
So far rs the Democrats there are ooucerped
the nullifyiDg platform of the FOarth .of-July
Convention is still the supreme law They
will not recognize reconstruction, lis agencies
or reeults. They will have no settlement
which implies the manhood and ctlz-nship of
the negro. They parade the worn out dogma,
This is white mau's government as
though IT were q Divine command, and with
a stolid fansticism which shows the necessity
OF placing above the influence Of partisan
accidents the equitable solution of the sut-
frage problem.
Governor Stevenson, Of Kentucky, in mes.
sage counselliDg refusal to ralify the ameud-
ment INDUCES the passion for exaggeration
and untTuth which seems the usual ground
work of Democratic zeal. He treats the
amendment as revolutionary, and its submis-
sion by Congress as proof positive Of usurpa-
ton. 'It ignores the relations of the Feds.
raj Government to the governments of the
States. at obliterates and destroys" 'the
reserved rights of the States" ats pur-
pose" forsootb, sis to snDihilate the State
governments" In this style, the irate Ken
tuokian proceeds to incite the local Legislators
to resist the atrocious scheme. He makes
no mention of the changes which have hap
pened during the last few years. He writes
as though no Rebellion had occurred, and as
though slavery we're still in full blast. He
forgets-if, indeed, he ever knew-that the
war has determined some things, including
the standing OF the freedman and his posses
sion of political power in States whose ex.
ploded theory OF government Kentucky still
cheIisbes.
all this vehement protestation against Fede-
raj "usurpation'' is arrant nonsense. Had
Congress adopted the pretepsion urged by
some in its behalf, respecting the right by an
ordinary enactment TO force universal suf-
frage upon all tue States, this message of
Governor Stevenson might have been in
order. There would then have been good
ground for attrbutiDg to the Federal autho.
rity disregard Of local rights as defined by
the Constitution. But it is folly to talk of
revolution" or "oppressiop," or "usurped
authority" when, as in this case, Congress
has done no more than initiate, in the manner
prescribed by the Constitution, a measure
which depends for its efficiency upon the
States themselves. We presume that Ken
lucky does rot deny the lswfulDess of a con-
stitutional change il the requisite number of
States give it their sanction. And if these
States, through their legislatures, declare
their approval of the fifteenth amendment,
wherein is the Constitution violated, or the
| reserved power of the States "obliterated and
destroyed?' Instead of invading States
rights, Congress has in this mater recognized
them, and the amendment, if ratified, will
derive its force from that very consent which
| Governor Stevenson describes as ignored"
and "annihilated."
The amendment, as submitted to the coun-
| try, embodies the idea of moderation and COM
promise. The presentation of the suffrage
| question in this shape is a triumph over the
ultra opinions which in the first instance
would have made Congress absolute, and in
the next would have enforced universal as
distinguished from impartial suffrage. 1t is
triumph of constitutional reform over that
tendency to usurpstion which at one period
threatened to be dangerous. And it substan-
TALLY leaves the suffrage subject to the indi-
vidusl action of States. They may enact quail
fcations of education property, precisely as
at present, and will thus hold the power of
regulating the franchise as to them may seem
best. The only thing which the amendment
will debsr them from doing is, the setting up
of distinction founded upon color or former
servitude. Whatever tests are to be applied
must affect white and black alike, as indeed
they ought to, If their purpose be to exclude
ignorance or thriftlessness from the exercise
of the franchise. The old test of color is q
relic of the prejudice which the Democrats of
Indiana and Kentucky stupidity mistake for
| principle.