Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-09-22


and responsibilities, all these are tempt
ing subjects of discussion, but ] refrain
at this time.
will discuss Federal politics 50 far
only as they directly affect the people of
our own State.
IoppOse the adoption of the Fifteenth
Constitutional Amendment, because ii IS
"a material radical change in our system
of government; because it destroys the
relation of the States 90 the Federal
Union, which the Constitution establish
ed, and degrades them; because il takes
away from the States without their con-
sent that essential attribute of self gov
eming community, the right to deter
mine who shall exercise the right Of
suffrage.
object to its adoption, because il was
intended to, and il will introduce negro
suffrage in Ohio against the Will of her
people. Two years ago, tue people OF
Ohio, without the distinction Of party,
bv an immense majority, refused to
amend the State Constitution. They
did this after full argument-after full
consideration of negro suffrage. l see
no reason to believe they have changed
their opinion. Yet now the attempt IS
to be made to force them to submit to
the system which they SO emphatically
and Deliberately rejected. The COnven-
ton which nominated General Grant
declared, as part of its creed: "ThG qUUs-
ton Of suffrage i'll all the loyal States
properly belongs to the people of those
States.V And vet in one short year the
test of loyalty and patriotism, by this
party, is to deny to the States the regu-
lation Of the suffrage.
object to its adoption, because by the
strongest implication il cOnferS upon
| Congress, and reserves to the States the
right to exclude from the ballot persons
ofOur own white race because of their
nativity or their creed, or their want of
education, or their poverty, and prOhib-
its the exclusion, only of another race.
| And thus if the Interpretation of Sena-
tor Morton and Senator Howard be cor
rect, under this amendment Of Congress
/ the States may exclude an lrishman, or
a German: or q Catholic, or Il Protest
ant, or a poor man, from the enjoyment
Of the suffrage, but may not exclude the
negro or the MOngOlian.
+ | object to its adoption, because it is
part and parcel Of scheme to flood the
I country with q forced importation of an
immense number of ChinGse-Of coolies
and thus for u second time to bring i'll
to our midst an alien race, and to repeat
/ in a more difficult form the social and
governmental questions which have so
unhappiIy divided our people.
The OpeninGOf the Pacific railroad,
/ the demand for labor at the South, the
desire for uimbler hands and less V0rac-
ious appetites in the factories, have
turned the attention of spectators to
/ the teeming populations Of the East.
They find these warm and fertile cOun-
/ tries deusely crowded witha a patient, de-
+ graded and heather race.
"Their skilled IabOrer5 get three OF
four dollars per month, and with this
/ they seem content. They work from
DAYLIGHT to sunset, and have but sin
gle holiday in the year. Their food con-
siSts of rice, salt, few vegetables, and
sometimes fish, The plan proposed i
/ to bring immense numbers Of these peO.
pie here to supply the demand for labor
/ in the fields, and the factories and the
yhops. We, in Ohio, have not appTecia
/ ted The Importance of this movement.
I protest against it now, in time, be,
/ fore it is carried OUt-befOre they come
/ among uS-befOTe we are confronted
with duties, and obligation, and inter
csts growing OHt Of their presence
/ They are an alien, an inferior and idOla-
trous race. They have not our tastes,
I or habits, or manners, or development,
or religion. They are not fit to become
citizens, or to enjoy theright Of suffrage.
AmaIgamation would iniure both their
race and ours. insulation will give rise
4 to great troubles. England, ireland, Ger
many, Norway, France have an over
/ flowing population of our own race SIM
/ liar to us in blood, in manners, in habits,
|and in religious faith-an industrious,
sturdy, seIf-reliant, sef-respecting peO-
] pie. They are fit to become citizens.
/ They will mix with us, and Our COM
mingled blood is purer for the assOcia-
/ ton. Let us invite them with open
arms to come TO us. Let us people our
country with the best races of men.
But the Chinese will give us cheap la-
I bor! Cheap human Labor! dcspise
! the word. It signifies crime and Il
/ shame. 1t signifies squaIOr, degradation,
/ ignorance, vice. Are not labOrers men?
| our fellow men? They have bodies to
cIOthe, and stOmachs to feed, and minds
| to educate, spirits to elevate, and an old
agc to provide for. They have homes
which they love, and wives whom they
| cherish, and children whom they hope
| to make worthy citiZens-the honest
/ fathers and the virtuOus mothers Of q
4 succeeding generation. And can you
remember these duties and see these as
IpiratiOns; can you contemplate the pa
| tient hODefulnesS, of cheerful and con-
| tented, because fairly compensated, in
/ dustry, and talk of cheap tabor? Labor
! is too cheap now. This country needs
skilled labOrers, and honest; intelligent,
unfagging, Jealous industry; it needs
! that such labor shall not be cheap, but
/ thatit shall be most bOuntifully reward
! l.. fol 1,l,.
/ is now mOney-mOney which has nO
/ human affections, OF pathies-gaTns
/ more than labor, with all its sweat, and
/ toll, and suffering. Money combines
with money, and seeks increase and
/ immunity under acts of Incorporation.
! When IabOrers combine for their pro-
/ lection they are in some of our States
| denounced by the law, and everywhere
! looked upon with suspicion. They
should uOtantagOniZ5. They should CO.
/ operate They should be in harmony.
| / do not know that the full solution of
! this great pJoblem has been discovered,
/ but I believe great progress has been
made i'm late years to establish q iUster
and better relation. That progress will
continue.
Itmust command the efforts an adj
vancing civilization, and the favor of Il
/ lust God, until ut last the human intel
/ Iect, and hand and blood, as they con-
stitute the nobIer, shall also be the bet
/ ter paid member i'll the grCatpartnership
OF labor and capital.
/ | hold in my hand the Cincinnati
/ Commercial of the 7th OfSCptCmbCr. 1t
contains review of the markets for Il
/ wCck.-I'hG story Is very significant a;
/ "Trade dull-almost staguant, Sales of
~. rfF.R Frrs