The national Republican., 1869-06-11
POLITICAL PREEDeM.

We arc stlcklers for tho largest liberty OF
e oil men before the law, and arc unaltcrably
In favor OF the principle that every man
should enjoy to the fullest extent his politi-
cal freedom. These rights and their enjoy
ment, unmolOsted and unabridged, arc essen
ilal to the maintenance OF FREQ government.
Tho mon who do not concede these rights
10 all and to the same extent that they enjoy
them themselves are unfit for freedom.
One Of two things Is evident, either they
do not comprehend tho grounds upon which
free government rests, or they do not obey
the cardinal principles which must be main
tained and which arc essential to the per
petuatlon and success Of FREQ institutions
and republican government.
We have been led 10 these reflections In
consequence Of occurrences in this city on
election day. 1t will DO understood that we
refer to those eiforts on tho rA.t es q few
colorod mon to prevent certain persons oil
their race from voting tho citizens or Demo-
cratic ticket.
All such violent demonstrations are IN
wise and lnjudicious and clearly reprehensi-
bic. A colored voter or any other man has
the same right 10 vote for the citizens or
Democratic ticket that he has to vote the
Republican ticket. He must himself be the
Judge, and neither his nelghbor nor any
other person has tho right to interfere with
his freedom of choice. 1t may bo said that
the colored man who votes the Democratic
ticket performs an inconsistent act, as 1t Is
exclusively to the Republican party that he
Is indebted for the rights and liberties which
he now enjoys. We do not controvert 1t, be-
cause II Is true. But We must understand
that this question of how freeman shall
vote is not one Of consistency, but Of right
and privilege, and one mans right Is as
good as another's. As we would not allow
nor submit to have our rights in this regard
lnterfered with, so we will not sanction the
least interference with another IN q violent
way.
The ballot is tho frecman's weapon. With
1t he maintains his own and others liberties.
Whenever or wherever the freedom Of cleo
tions Is interfercd with by violence the work
OF destruction has begun, and we have en-
tered upon that downward road which leads
10 our sure overthrow and ultimate ruin as a
nation. Every good citizen must and will
condemn some Of tho scenes OF Monday.
It Is true that 1t must be grief to many
colorod voters to see one Of their race ally
himself with the Democratic party. But,
what thenl He must be tolerated. The
time must come when the colored race, like
other races in this land, will be divided upon
political issues and party questions. Not to
look for this is to look 10 see this race de-
scend to clan, and to become in the pollt-
lCal community mere make-weght, to be
used by demagogucs and politicians for the
attainment Of their own sinister ends.
We confess We do not see how colored
man can vote for the Democratic party as
at present organized but we most cheer
fully concedc his right 10 do SO II he choose,
and to do 1t without molestation or inter-
ference.
Tho right to vote within the pnrvlnws nf
the law is an lndefeasible right, and each
freeman must elect for himself how and for
whom he will cast his ballot.