The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-14
THE GRANGERS AND DE uOCR sCY
m ELRCTIONS.

Democracy runs mad. Then it is agra
archy is its supreme development. Ameri-
can democracy in government is not of this
sort. 1t is freedom absolute, regulated by
law and shaped Tor the maintenance first
of order, aud then for the perfect protec-
tion of property rights. Whatever endan-
gers these is restricted by American demoo-
racy. There is no sent;mentafism about it.
Wherever danger to rights of person or
property arises from exeesses of freedom,
Democracy interposes to restrain and re-
strict and repress. Universal suffrage, as
society is organized under the amended
Federal Constitution, becomes, in many
places and in all cities, an intolerable pub
lie calamity, and American democracy, true
10 its instincts and traditions, impelling
good citizens to,interpose in behalf of en-
during and endursble government inter
venes to lessen public burdens and prevent
excesses. A true Democrat loves his State,
and would make its SWAY, easy, its burdens
light, Its forms simple, its privileges the
broadest posslble. But none of these aims
of patriotism are possible if the ballot-box
be' polluted by vice for overwhelmed by
ignorance The ,balIot-box, in iDemocra-
cy,' is the source of all power, and if this
fountain be poisoned, Democracy, in all its
uses, becomes lntolerabe. To preserve
itself uncontsminatedf is the first law
of its existence, and to preserve it
self it maintains, at all cost, the
purity Of thea ballot box. e DAmoc-
racy is impossible If, suffrage be pol
iluted and voters unworthy. Freedom
shrinks from it in disgust into the en-
braces OF despotism, even as 1T this hour
American freedom, hesitates and may yet
lapse helplessly into imperialism. Unless
the ballot box be purified, New York City
is doomed. Philadelphia owes countless
millions, and robbery and wrong and foul
corruption are incident to the reign of an
archists which men. especially foreigners,
ssrr's 's.i------e--a.-
mocracy. If the exercise of the right of
suffrage had cost each voter five dollars,
Boss Tweed would never have stolen six
millions and his foul sspals'' thirty millions
more. Property in New X York would not
growtvalueless and iagrarinnism would not
startle Astors and Stewards With visions of
coming supreme lawlessness. Democracy is
conservative and just. 1t deems the. suf-
frage concession made by the, State to the
citizen, and onsueh terms as the State, for
the safety of life and liberty and, property,
may prescribe. 1t is never, safe, as shown
by the experience of all States and nations
everywhere, to concede the fghtof suffrage
to the whole population of q country, nos
even where all ARE of the governing race.
1t is given In no American State to red men
or Chinese, and only to negroes because, af-
ter a needless and unwise and costly con-
fiict, the hatred of the victors for the van
quished sought expression. In fthe whole
vocabularyof acts significant of hate there
were no terms SO terribly expressive. where
Africans abounded as those involved in the
ghastly words ''uhiyersaf suffrage" It
was the conquerors last blow leveled at the
self-respect and at the civilization Of the
South. a. aasai 3tlI 81 nJiJtoa tnHt D