Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-10-22
Universal surf rage.

ways are invented 10 AVOID the real Is
sue Mr.. O'Meara says ho does not
espouse or favor the views Of any par.
ticular party, bat proposes to treat this
question as the greatest political ques-
tion of the day. and from an independ>
ent standpoint This spirit We admire
in any man. either as Journalist or
pnhlic speaker but at the end of an ar
ticle Of Columns length the writer
concludes thpt the only true rule for
the exercise of suffrage, as regulated
by law, should be intelligence aud good
marals aud tn n adds, "upon this prin-
ciple all the Indians. Chinese. and the
majority of the African race should be
excluded" This, he remarks, violates
the principle on which he started out
in this discussion. but he is forced to
the conclusion from the conviction that
the elective franchise is not a natural
right and its exercise by all would not
be safe How is it that the editor comes
to the conclusion that there is no intelli>
gence or morals to be found among the
Indians, Chinese, and the majority of
the Africans in this country is not re-
vealed In the article referred to. IF
the principle of universal suffrage is
wrong and incorrect, then there must
be qualification. and the great ques-
tion is, what shall that qualification be ?
We maintain it cannot be based npon
intelligence and morals, except you
draw the line against those persons who
arc known in community as actually
insane or idiots on the one hand, and
moral prostitutes and outeasts on the
other. This would embrace number
so few that it would amount to uoth>
ing, for that class of people are not now
permitted to exercise tina, right, bat for
fear We may misrepresent the writer,
we give his own language: "The only
true rule for the exercise of suffrage,
as regulated by law, should be a suf-
frage among persons competent to un-
derstand and exercise Alright the great
right Of citizenship"
1t is very easy for men to speak OF
the great right to exercise the elective
franchise in general terms, and say that
none should vote but those who are
competent to vote Alright; but it is not
so easy to define the qualification or as.
certain who is competent to vote Alright.
How would the gentleman ascertain
whether or not a. man possessed the
competency to vote Alright? Would he
appoint board Of inspectors to exam
inc into the qualifications of person
to vote at every general or special elec-
ton and would he ascertain just how
u man intended to vote, so as to deter
mine whether or not he was going to
vote Alright? or would he leave the
whole question to the judges of elec.
ton, unrestraincd by law, tr examine
each individual offering to vote, and al
low only those to exercise the right
who, IN their Judgment, was then and
there competent to exercise it Alright ?
IF this is to be the mode of ascertain
ing the proper qualification, how beau
tifully the rights of the American peo-
ple would be secured? We contend
Won cannot make this the test, and that
the conclusions Of the writer has no
solid foundation on which to lest. But
others say the proper qualification is
intelligence and property combined
Others again say property alone, be-
cause they say it is the property hold
ers alone who are directly interested in
the Government, and consequently a
man or woman should be required to
accumulate certain amount of prop.
erty, either real or personal, before
he or she should exercise thatrig ht and
we think there is much more reason in
this than in the qualification Of intelli-
gence and property, for We have never
yet known man possessed of wealth
Who, ia the eyes of community, did
not possess plenty Of Intelligence, and
tic whole thing would result in fixing
the qualification upon tho line of money
disregardina ali other considerations
and when that line shall be drawn and
permanently established, then the hope
of the poor man is lost forever, and ht
and his posterity will become poorer
and gradua'y 60 into slavery, while
Aha rsnh v-slf hono,.,a :, nhor osnd nor.