The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-30


viii leave it TO constitutional lawyers to set
tie the question which has been raised, In
certain quarters, that II the government Ia
to be by commission it must DO elective,
because the constitution prohibits the United
States or any state from denying or abridg-
ing the right Of citizens of tho former TO
vote "on account OF race, color or previous
condition of 'servtude." We may say, In
passing that perhaps the.denial of the right
to all citizens, without regard to race, etc.,
but on general principles, would not be In
conflict with the constitution, but wo hard
ly believe that IL the same rulo was applied
to state or territory, based on similar
petition, congress would be justifled, under
the constitution in acting thereon, or that
state or territory by its individual action
could constitutioualy disfronehso her
whole population.
Formerly Congress exercised exclusive
jurisdiction over the District Of Columbia
and had the sole government thereof as
such, save what might be exercised by the
several municipal governments established
therein. AS a result Of the war, a terri
torial government was established based
upon so-called impartial suffrage. That 1t
was failure, and worse than failure, so
far as it was tried, we freely admit. But
that it would have continued failure for
many years is open to question. The gross
corruptions of the "district ring" and their
| exposure, led Congress to establish the
present commission, temporarily disfran-
chisidg the entire popuation, as well as
to induce the citizens thereof to ask that
such dsfranchisment may be continued.
| That there was great cause for discourage
meut must he admitted but this did not
carry with it the right 70 give up that
which every other American citizen holds
SO dear. This, we apprehend, is the first in
stance of modern times of free people vol
UNFAIRLY and. Unanimously rclinquishing the
right to govern themselves after it has
once been acquired But because they
| have hastily abandoned this privilege, is it
any argument against the principle of i'm
partial suffrage? Because they have been
robbed by ''lings," must the experiment OF
self-govc;nment. based on suffrage with
out distinction Of race or color, be
abandoned? As well might the honest voter
of New York have asked for the dsfran-
bis ring were l0bbing the people by the
millions, and they saw no way of Kidding
themselves Of the old man who was weigh
ing them down. They were not disheart-
ened, although the partisans Of Tweed
seemed to be in large majority; but
rising to the occasion they cleaned out the
Augeau stables, thereby demonstrating
that, even in large cities, the mass of the
voters could be depended upon and good
government obtained solely through theiI
exertions. That was matter of time.
The citizen of New York city had to be
educated to the duties and dangers of The
hour, before they could be made to act
How much more do the citizens of the
District Of Columbia as they
do, so many ignorant frecdmcn--n to be
educated in the duties and responsibilities
Of citizenship. One thing is certain. it is toe
late to establish certain criterion of hon
esty, morality, intelligence and education
before the right Of suffrage can be exer.
ciscd. Men cannot be educated for its use
they must be educated by its use.
1t is somewhat discouraging to ace thi!
voluntary abandonment of the right Of
suffrage, but no more eO than 1t is to SCI
the results thereof IN Louisiana, Souti
Carolina and some of Tie other southern
states. But shall it be abandoned for thes,
causes? Has there not been more of sue
cess than of failure, SO far as the results
are now seen and known? Has the exper
iment had, as yet, fair trial? We asl
these questions, not because we have any
fears that serious attempt will be made
to deny the right to vote 10 any one now
possessing it, either north or south, but be-
l =
mistake made in allowing men to step from
slavery into citizenship without prepare
ton therefor. If there has been mistake
made it should be rectificd, let the oOnsc
qucnccs be what they may. That these mel
and newspapers, who are talking nbou
mistakes" and failurcs," are no
wholly honest IN their utterances, is cvi
denced by the fact that, while so talking
they all the time protest that they do no
desire a change. We must confess tina
we desire a change and change for th,
better We desire to see tie blacks edu
Gated, as rapidly as may, not only in tht
duties and responsibilities of citizenship, bu
also in self-relianco which ought always t.
accompany the exercise of the elective fran
chisc. We want, moreover. to see then
freed from carpet-basgers. We desire fur
Their that we should have impartial suf
frage, such as the word implies--not ncces
sarily including woman suffrage, in refer
encc TO which we have too often expressed
an opinion to need that il should be repeat
ed now. We desire such impartial suffrage
as will prevent Rhode Island from disfran
chsing, az it now does some ten thousant
citizens of the United States. We desire
such suffrage that every citizen of the UNI
ted States, residing IN u state Or territory
shall have the right to vote there, whether
he be merchant prize: or the most mser
able of poor day laborers, We desire sucl
suffrage as shall allow every taxpayer, Of
proper age, to vote on all questions touch