American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-10-04

judging from the grounds of his OPP
position To the registration law, We
imagine that he does not differ from
bis illustrious predecessor touching
the other. But whether we are
right or wrong in tins conjecture,
Mr.. Levy, in ssenoHncing the regis
tratiOn law, as an impeachment to
eolorel men in their march to the
ballot box, has shown himself unfit
for the duties and responsibilities
of law>giver. All such impedi-
ments are beneficent cOntrivances.
The training necessary to fit men
for the intelligent exercise Of the
right of suffrage is not impaired by
striking off the chains of slavery
and passing an edict of universal
emancipation. France tried thar,
and humanity has not yet ceased to
weep over the blood and deSolation
of demented and rampant JacObin,
ism.
Instead of trying to excite the
prejudices of his brethren against
the authors of this law, so full of
beneficent contiivances to restrain
the incapable, he should have hailed
it and treated it as blessing in
disguise. AS he IS engaged in the
useful and noble occupation of
teaching the young idea how to
shoot. it would seem to have been
appropriate in him to have told
them in mOnitory terms and cau-
tionary manner, that there is a class
of people who should not be per-
mitted to meddle with edged tools.
He should have reminded them,
that wise and careful parents do
not permit their thOushtless little
ones to play with sharp knives.
A christian philosopher and
occupying Mr.. Levy's
place before that audience, instead
of trying to revive the ancient ha>
treds and prejudices of slumbering
Ra,licalism. would have risen to
the true dignity Of glorious man
hood, and speaking in the interest
of humanity, would have taught
them, that while the elective irap-
chise was a blessing in the hands of
a virtuous and enlig hrened people,
it was a curse in the hands of the
ignorant and vicious. He would
have spoken in terms OF b;tterest
and deepest Indignation
of the hell born policy of recon>
that siupendous scheme
of folly and wickedness, by which
the central desrOrism at Washing
ton trampled State sovereignty in
he dust, and a mighty mass of
slaves were suddenly
con 7erted into an army of voters
upon this act as fraught
with evil and that only, instead of
joining in the cry of this new-light
Democrat against the authors of
the registration law, he would have
in elevated tones, that
it was the part of wisdom, by every
legitimate contrivance which the
wit of man could devise, to hinder
and delay, check and impede, the
newly enfranchised and uneducated,
thus forced upon us by tyranny and
until, in the providence
Of God or the progress of time, they
should become sufficiently enlIght-
,ned, not only to inform the board
Of registrars where they lived, but
to exercise the right of suffrage in
such a manner as not to make that
glorious privilege injurious to them
selves or destructive to others.
How happily and forcibly could
ne have illustrated this first lesson
u political philosophy by referring
% the history eff carpet-bag rule
the conquered South |!
In that reign of diabolism, we have
presented to our view high minded
md cultivated people, in few
ears reduced from prosperity and
happiness 10 poverty and misery,
Numbered and oppressed, insulted
md deinOralized; late proud and
glorious States shlngled over with
Iebts and borne down with taxas
ion, whose blighting influence will
70 felt long alter we are slumber-
ng in our graves, and our children
nd our children's children shall be
adhered to their fathers!
Descendants of the men of 70
lorious boys of '75-hold fast to
II the conservative principles OF
he Registration Actl Guard we'll
he liberty giving ballOt-box from
ne surEIng waves of ignorance,
ice and corruption.
"
Special Announcement.
We take pleasure in announcing