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

llcanlsAl, CnlS uOVernmeDC Will Do Con>
verted into monarchy We are not
now discussing the question of TIE
principle OF universal suffrage, but, tax
ing it foe granted that large majority
of the voters of both parties at this
day are agreed against that principle
and agree that there ought to be quail
ification, the question is what should
that qualification be? We think it
must be one that can be understood by
all, and one that can be defined in such
manner as to place the question be-
yond dispute. Can this be- done by a
law which shall say that all persons
who are competent to vote Alright may
vote at all electlons !? % by a law de-
claring that all persons who possess in
telligence enough to understand the
workings of the Government may vote,
or law saying that all persons of good
moral character may vote? We think
not. for you can devise no means by
which you can impartially and correct
ly ascertain as to a mans competency
to vote Alright or just the amount of
intelligence he possesses, nor as to what
his morals are, consequently q trial to
accomplish this would simply prove a
signal failure. But you can say, By
positive law, that man shall be worth
FIVE hundred dollars. or any othe sum
Of money, before he can exercise that
right; and you can say that man
shall be born in the United States in
order to qualify him to vote; or you
can draw the line nature has provided
that of race-and can understand il.
These qualifications may be made and
khe line made plain, but in the cases
first named, it will be imaginary only.
We are satisfied, and have long
been, that the only rule which can be
established for the qualification of u
voter in this Government. IS the line of
race, if any is to be required outside of
age and sex, aud We are sincere in this
conclusion, for the reason that we
firmly believe that the principle of uni
versal suffrage would have q direct
tendency to destroy our present form of
government, as much so as the doctrine
of State supremacy and peaceable
secession. But, says the objector, why
fix it on the line Of race ? We answer,
because this is the only one which has
its foundation in common sense and
equity. But some ask, is race any OBJ
lection to a mans right to exercising
the elective franchise We answer,
yes; because We bold it would be des-
tructive to our institutions to allow all
races of men to come here and have the
same voice in our governmental mat
ters that we ourselves have. How
could it be otherwise men and women
coming here from all nations by milli-
ons every year. trained to customs en-,
tirely different from ours, strongly
tainted with the idea that no govern
rnent is worth maintaining, except a
monarchy; strangers to republicanism,
and the markings Of our Government,
it must be plain to all that such an ex.
pertinent would be dangerous indeed.
But, say many, il this rule is TO pre-
vail, then Europeans would be eqelud-
ed. This is mistaken idea. Europe
is the country from whence our fathers
came. We are of that race of people
There is between us no antagonism oil
race. We have always intermingled
with the people, and always will and
this is all 10 harmony with the immut.
able laws of Deity. 1t was the white
race that discovered and settled this
country. 1t was the white race that
established this Government, and it il
the white race that ought to continue
to run this Government; and we pre-
! diet right here, that unless that rule
shall be established, there will soon b.
be left here no Government to run
Another reason why we think the line
of race is the proper one is this, If WI
step over that line to extend the ballot
we find ourselves out upon shoreles
ocean, where no permanent stake cal
be stuck, or line drawn, until we hav,
embraced oil races of men and to d,
this, nearly all agree, would be ruin
Gus and to extend it to one iteoppo
race, and exclade another, would b