New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-13

4
ihere are people ready TO swallow every
stNy that is told tlem-like sharks, boil
every thing that falls into the water nea,
thea. they vii! BE- nisled into believing
absurd things.
SUFFR AGE, REFORM NOT RESTRICTION
! We have not 'contradicted" the Bee,
not having the discourtesy or temerity to
| do such :. thing with such eminent all.
| thority upon American; law. We stated
that the right OF suffrage was Al Amer
lean right, which VII, never o. aban.
| doned.' We understood the position of
the Bee to be The reformation OF suffrage
ly excluding from the polls persons inapt
TO execute it. This seemed 20 us like
curing the smallpox by picking off the
scabS SO We undertook 20 show TIA. the
reformation of suffrage could be only
| effected by industrial and ;ntelligen: i'm
provemeut of the people. Of course, we
| could not controyer: the proposition that
! the people can restrict the exercise OK this
right
The Bee has discovered that :he voters
of Massachusetts, have themselves re-
stricted this right by requiring certain
| condition OF scholarship precedent to its
exercise. The suffragans Of Virginia at
one time imposed the condition upon
suffrage of an ownership or occupation of
real estate. while the voters of Alissis-
sippi. Georgia. and OF almost all the
Western States imposed no conditions
upon suffrage except Of age. and exemp-
tons from infamous convictions. The
right Of the voters to limit their own right
TO vote is only qualified by the late re-
striction upon their power imposed by
amendment Of the federal constitution.
Even this is in one sense q condition i'm.
posed by the constituencies upon their
own power of limitation.
The Bee demands the same guarantee
prescribed by Massachusetts,. and we
wish besides the exclusion of the fugi-
tives (epriS) from justice. vagabonds, and
Of those unworthy to exercise the rights
of citizens" If such reforms could be
obtained by "a demand" Oh Che part of
any. however authoritative. it would be Of
great convenience: but. unhappily. this
right to restrict resides in tho hands of
those who are ignorant. and perhaps of
many who are vicious. Does the Bee
deem it reasonable TO expect that the
colored voters, not one il fifty could, per-
haps, write his own maine. would consent
to the Massachusetts qualification. They
would by no means surrender this
right. Could it be taken away by
'demand?" Not with the present consti-
tuition and laws enacted hereunder. How
then to prevail upon those who. as part
of the legal people. is aquestion not easily
solved. 1t will be the old puzzle Of the
Scottish conspirators. "Who will bell that
cat?"
Our argument upon the two PROPOSE
lions of reform proposed by the Bee went
to prove: !. That periodical exclusion of
voters from the polls was an inadequate
remedy. ,. That this self restriction be.
ing in Louisiana III the hands Of ma
iority who deemed it essential to the pres
eryation Of their rights. it was imprac-
ticable to expect its surrender. We as
sumo that one intelligent and respectable
citizen OF Louisiana is as much opposed
to the admission of ''yagabonds" and
"those unworthy to exercise the rights of
citizens, as any other citizen. The ques-
ton is how to purify the polls. We un-
derstood the Bee to say that it is
by such means rs Massachusetts, has
adopted. and by making offices perma-
nent. It interpolates that "these two sug-
gestions by 10 means exclude other rene
dies. and are by no means tending to
diffuse education and improve the condi-
ton of the laboring classes" With these
last explanations we are TO expect in
future the aid of the Bee in those matters
which relate TO the moral and industrial
employment Of the people. This done.
and the restriction. or. what is better.
the publication of the registry. will fol-
low. We look now for aid in bringing
immigration from Alsace. improving our
intercourse with foreign countries. open
ing schools tor teaching trades to the
children. and workshops for the grown
people Of New Orleans. We shall be
happy to find ourselves i'll accord with our
neighbor. and viii be pleased to &C.
operate in the reform Of suffrage by i'm
proving the intelligence and increasing
the wages OF all who may be called to
exercise it.