The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-05-07
Universal Suffrage.

malignant in their abuse. Traly. inagrathade
is not confined to organized Republics.
Universal Suffrage.
Gri111ke, one of the most astute critics on
the tendency Of Free Institutions in America,
reflects with much earnestness and sagacity Oh
the question of universal suffrage. Distinguish
ing clearly the difference between caste and
class, he suggests that the true rule IS to pre-
vent no one who is citizen from becoming, in
terested in the affairs Of the government, from
want of property or lineage. Indeed, caste
eannot exist in Republican government forlt
lis essentially aristocratic or. monarchic, and
classes are formed according to the good indi-
vidulls, free to act for themselves, achieve.
Mas GOOD conduct and intelligence are the
dominant facts which elevate them. in the scale,
and in the ratio that they fail to possess these,
they should be reduced down to an inferior stan
dard Grimhe regards the bastowment of the
right of suffrage. 81 even the most ignorant, as
calculated notonly to bsnetit themselves but to
promote the best interests of society. His the
orv is that to make a man interested in the gov
ernnr ent as an active affirmative agent, and not
merely passive subjects creates or rather calls
into Vitality energy, the pest attributes OF his
nature, He becomes proud of his franchise,
and feels it a boon which he should exercise for
his country. lie becomes attached to his
country, because:it has given'to him privilege
andla power.
If the government,she argues, enfranehises
some for any reason, and DISTINGUISHES others,
the disfranchised become discontented at their
| ostracism, and indignant and rebeilant at the
government which does not trust and contidc
| in them. In place of converting those disfran-
chised into citizens, in fullest sympathy with
| the grandeur and glory oEtales Commonwealth,
there is established force militant against the
| State, rocking not and caring not for its flu
ture veal Or woe.
Grimke wrote when negroes Wereln bondage,
and perhaps, had not their being in conltempla-
tioll-yet we do not know why, unfess it is true,
as it was at one tI1e contepded, that slavery is
a negro's natural state, if the proposition to al
low the atsigcrsaI bales shoullsnot apply to
black mentoo, if they have once become in
vested With freedom. We, too, perhaps, have
! The custom and habits of ancient times, fasten-
| ed upon us SO that we can hardly do the negro
| Justice in this We are determined, however,
Ito make the effort to be JUST and We present
the thought of the distinguished political plilos
opher we have quoted for the consideration OF
our readers. Thee republication OF its truthful
ness is at least had in the case of England and
her elections There franchises are not univer-
SAL yet the most ylsgFacefui and riotous scenes
are witnessed at every election. Ireland, too,
where slavery cotter tenancy exists, shows out
darkly in all her social ppsarances and polti-
cal. Civil, religious, and political liberty are
| all stifled i'll a great degree, and Ireland is
| volcano whose uladdened heart ever and anon
breaks out in the fires of instruction and re7
bellion. LII America voters representing o,0O5,
/ 900 of people cast their ballots, and as peace
fully as if they were deposing i'll court OF laws
and all vote. And no grander sight has ever
been witnessed, than the moral beauty reflect
ed in a general election IN the United States.
The popular pulse vibrating and beating to one
key note, that of freedom and universal good
presents spec tacleanore glorious than the
pageant of the crusaders, marching to battle
against the infdal & 49,
"WI5a all t;reir banners wtving eravalv,
+ AnI all their arnlou III lsaihg hign."
We merely allu5le to this subject, generally,
at this time, in view of the recent extfaordias-
Try action Of the Legislature, in appointing a
commission of ~sseven' to- revise the State CON
stitution. It is possible--aye, quite probable,
from the partizan complexion. OF that commits
sion, that q change may be attempted In the
qualification necessary to franchise. To reach
tie negro they would willingly strike downtle
I poor white man, by establishing property ard
education as the basis Of veeing, did they think
they could fasten such a proposition upon the
organic law OF the State. 1t is we'll enouglnto
watch the turns and twists OF partizan tricks
tiers. The Petersburg ssllHasser, INDUSTRIOUS in it
self and more monstroiis' III the evils that would
have followed from its passage, an indication
OF what may be itteifpssd. Constitutions
pledges and pssblie faith amt to- naaght
When they stand in the way Of party ends, with
Mren who regard the ambitions OF power and
place, higher than the welfare Of the people
4,ss,