The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-09


sSThc Sssstee NTH Arscadnienf. ~ s
No measure of the Republican party Is of--
tener misrepresented than this. democratic
papers are never tired of asserting that by it
the States are rendered powerless to protect
the purity Of The ballot box by adequate re-
: strictions. The Pacific States are terrified by
the bugbear Of indiscriminate Chinese suffrage
as other states are-by negro voting. Any one
who will read the amendment viii see how
entirely its import is misrepresented. .t.,.
The amendment reads as follows: "The
right of the citizens of the United States to
vote Shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State, on account OF
race, or color, or previous condition oil sefVl-
tude" 1t no more says that all Cinnamon or
al negroes shall vote than that women ard
Children shall vote. 1t does not say that
man may not be excluded fhe is ignorant, il
he is vicious or if he has failed permanently
to identity his interests with those of this
country. state may require an education
al or property qualification, even tests on ac
count Of, nativity and religion as well as many
Others. In respect to all judicious and neces-
sary restrictions and many that are neither
necessary nor judicious the whole subject is
left to the discretion of the States as it al
ways has BEEN. The, amendment does pro-
vide that neither the accident of being born
of particular race or of particular color,
nor the misfortune of having been oppressed
by Others, shall be cause of political disa-
bility. Itprohibits such restrictions as afford
an opportunity only for the indulgence of
prejudice and malevolepce This NAV be a
serious objection with demagosues whose only
stock in trade is to influence one rate against
another But judicious and rejecting pee
pie who consider the mixed nature of our
population, and how great theatre for the
exercise of the jealous passions our country
may for that reason become, cannot regret to
see so powerful weapon as that of political
prescription kept permanently beyond the
reach of all races or parties. a ls.-Hr
Anation like ours, filling up with immi-
or lnts of every race and nationality on the
globe, must shape it's laws so as to fuse these
diverse clements into an organic whole. To
blend into one so many diverse nationalities
is among the most gigantic undertakings in
tle history of civilization. Only aliberal and
comprehensive policy is adequate to the occa
sion. Nothing can be more suicidal Than BY
political distinctions to magnify and perpetu-
ate differences that are already sufficiently
marked to produce serious complications. Re-
publcs are proverbially jealous about admit
ting strangers to the privileges of citizenship.
and it isprudent thus seasonablyto guard by
suitable restraints against the indulgence of
this Jealousy. IF jealotsies are allowed to
ripen and affairs come to a crisis, it may then
be too late and will certainly be more diff
cult to provide an effectual remedy. Before
the thunder storm is the time to erect light
ning-rods.s EftuSsai-s1 bHH <gls~u-s5
The amendment seems to have gone just
far enough and none too far. While it pre-
vents arbitrary distinctions, it wisely leaves
much to the discretion of the States in MAJ
tiers where discretion can be employed for any
useful purpose. Ia SO doing it recognizes the
fact that the ballot gives the voter a power
over the destiny. of others which may be used
for good or evil. 1t is the right, it is the duty
of the State 10 protect its citizens against the
use Of this power by persons who, ON account
of their personal character or their circum-
stances, would be likely to use it to the detri-
ment rather, than for the benefit of society
The amendment, as it should, leaves every
State at liberty to take such precautions as its
circumstances may require to preserve the pu-
rityf OF the ballot-box and to make it represent
the intelligent judgment of her people. The
principle on which ignorant persons are ex-
cludedd is the same as that which excludes
children. 1t is an infrmity of the intellect
that excludes them. Such an exclusion is
not arbitrary; it need not be permanent. The
young can NATURE and the ignorant can
learn. But the African cannot change his
skin nor the Chinaman his race. While no
one who is accountable to law should be per-
manently deprived of aavoce in determining
what the laws shall be and who shall execute |
them, all may Justly be required to qualify |
themselves for the duties and responsibilities
attendant upon the exercise of political pow
er. Justice demands that these qualifications
shall be determined by the same or at least
by equivalent tests. % 'a.. " .na.3as 'ii
The rule upon which the Fifteenth Amend
ment Is based is one that will work both ways.
If without 1t the Chinese should ever be al |
lowed to vote and should get the ascendancy
in any State, they could then disfranchise
other races and set up an exclusive rule. Such
a proceeding would be no more fagitious |
than the exclusion of the Chinese from po- |
litical power simply on account of their race |
andnot'on account of their character. With
the amendment nothing of the kind could |
happen, and men of all races and complex
ions would have chance to work out their
own destiny. -@ g