Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-06-17
PROGRESSIVE RIGHTS.


ces, mechanical Improvements and inven-
tive genius, it is safe to assert that the
nineteenth century shows greater pro-
gress than the almost combined years
which have elapsed since the Dark Ages.
And the latter part OF the last century
was remarkable for the establishment Of
a new, or rather a revived form of gov
ernment which its founders must have
felt to be, to say the least, experimental.
The theory upon which republican in
stitutions were at first essayed when COM
pared with its development at the present
day, shows the successive steps which q
more liberal sentiment has found it neces-
sary, from time TO time, to stake. First,
in the election of President, the power OF
selection was not direct in the people, nor
indeed, is it at the present time. The
provision of the constitution regulating
the election OF President and Vice Presi
dent remains as it was inserted by the
trainers of that instrument, but is now
construed, and given effect in its most
liberal form. The manner in which
Presidential Electors should be chosen
was left to be regulated by the legislatures
and several States, for years afterward,
chose electors by the Legislature itself.
So late as 1886 there were a number Of
States which chose Electors in this man
ner, though all, with the exception of
South Carolina, ultimately had them
chosen by direct vote OF the people. In
South Carolina, the legislature continued
to exercise this prerogative up to the time
Of the rebellion and subsequent recon-
struction of the State government. But
South Carolina may be fairly said to
have been, under the slave holding re-
gime, less progressive and less disposed
to grant away any Of the privileges exer-
cised by the higher classes, than any Of
the States. In tact politics we're SO one
sided in that State, that it mattered little
whether its choice was expressed by one
man, or by the people collectively. In
1852 the legislature was convened TO vote
for Electors, when 12S straight votes
were cast for the Pierce and King ticket.
Under the present practice the choice Of
Electors Is given in all the States direct
ly to the people, a step which is at least
an sckn owledgment Of their rights to
make the choice without the Intervention
of third party. And there is q growing
sentiment which will doubtless ere many
years take the form OF an amendment to
the constitution, in favor of doing away
with the Electoral College and permit
ting the people to vote directly for Presi-
dent.
In the matter of the elective franchise,
we stand far in advance Of the practice in
vogue at the beginning Of the century.
When each State regulated the exercise
of this franchise by local law, the quail
fications Of an elector were essentially
different in the different States. A per-
son endowed with all the privileges of
citizenship in one State would be stripped
of these privileges and reduced to the lev
ell Of his class upon change ofresidence.
gressve, and the path to citizenship up
on the part of aliens was made palmer
from year to year. 1t was not, however,
until the Republicans party came into
full power that the bigoted distinctions Of
creed, castle and color were swept away.
In the work of reconstruction, it was held
necessary, RS matter of expediency, to
invest with the elective franchise all citi-
zens. This policy ofexpediency has been
justly questioned. 1t resulted in placing
political rights and power in the hands
Of a large class of people who were too
ignorant to always exercise it wisely. And
now we are engaged in the exercise of
duty called for more imperatively by the
accession Of this large class Of voters
So long as education and intelligence
characterize the masses, The privileges of
the ballot cannot be too widely dissent
mated. But in the hands OF ignorant men
it becomes dangerous power, for which
we must apply the only rcmedy-univer-
sal education.
We do not regret this wholesale en-
franchisement-it was necessity Of the
hour and we only regret that the necessi-
ty existed. Such privileges should not be
given through expedency except in un-
avoidable cases-they should be bestowed
as matter of right. The theory Of Re-
publican government is in the enfranch-
isement Of the whole people, and il this
high privilege is denied to any large class
Of its people its becomes republican in
name only. But the value OF the privi-
lege is nothing unless it can be wisely ex-
ercised. We must take steps to compel
this, by adopting standard of education
al qualifications which shall be national.
Wc cannot deprive any man or class of
men Of the right conferred, but we can
regulate its exercise SO after given time,
that the generations which follow will be
compelled to acquire education, or forfeit
the rights which were inherent, or grant
ed to their fathers. And then, when all
distinctions Of caste go for nought, and
intelligence becomes the standard by
which citizenship is judged, we shall have
reached the highest grade of true repub-
lican government.