The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-17

says
"Our adversaries have adopted some
declarations of independence, in which,
unlike the good old one, penned by JET
ferson, they omit the words all men are
created equal Why? They have
adopted a temporary national constitu-
ton, in the preamble of which, unlike
our good old one, signed by Washington,
they omit we, the people, and substi-
tute we, the deputies of the sovereign
and independent States Why? Why
this deliberate pressing out of view the
rights of men and the authority of the
people? This is essentially Peoples
contest. On the side of the Union it Is a
struggle for maintaining in the world
that form and substance of government
whose leading object is to elevate the
condition of men; to lift artificial weights
from all shoulders; to clear the paths of
laudable pursuit to all; to afford all an
unfettered start, and a fair chance in the
race of life. Yielding to partial and
temporary departures from Necessity,
this is the leading object of the Govern
ment for whose existence we contend. |
am most happy to believe that the plain
people understand and appreciate this"
On the subject of suffrage, Mr., Lin
coins guiding principle was that ''no man
is good enough to govern another man
without that other mans consent"
Thus we have from the lips and pen OF
Mr.. lincoln, the great leader and repre-
sentative Of the Union cause in the most
solemn and authentic form, complete
statement of the issues of the war. He
held that the Union is perpetual; that its
Government is national and supreme. and
and that all of its inhabitants should be
free, and be accorded equal civil and po-
litical rights.
These are the great fundamental prin-
ciples, affirmed on the one side, and de-
niod on the other, upon which the
appeal was made to the God of battles. |
do not undertake to review the debate as
to the nature and powers Of the Govern
mentof the Union, and as to the doctrine of
State rights, which began with the foun,
dation of our institutions, and which was
continued until it was hushed by the
clash Of arms. 1t is enough for my pres
cnt purpose to say that, as matter OF
history, all Of the political parties Of the
: past, when charged with the responsible
, ity of directing the affairs of the Govern
{ ment have maintained in their practical
. administration of it, precisely the same
, principles which were held by President
r Lincoln. The principles as to the powers
, of the National Government which were
acted upon by WASHINGTON and Jackson,
and which are sustained by the decisions
of Chief Justice Marshall, and by which
Lincoln and the Union armies crushed
the rebellion and rescued the Republic,
are among the legitimate and imeversible
results of the war which ought not to be
, questioned.
1 Touching the remaining important con-
, troversy settled by the war, the public
t ayowals Of opinion are almost all in favor
: of the faithful acceptance of the new con
f stitutional amendments. On this subject
, the speeches o! public men and the creeds
and platforms OF the leading political par
ties have for some years past been eX-
, plicit. In 1872 all parties III their re-
| spectivc National Conventions adopted
t resolutions recognizing the equality OF
? all men before the law, and pledging
: themselves, in the words of the Demo
+ cratic National Convention. "to maintain
Q emancipation and enfranchisement, and
G to oppose the reopcning of the questions
. settled by the recent amendment:
? to the Constition." ln 1876 the
4 great political parties again, il
n the language of the ST. Louis
y National Convention, affirmed their "de
!, votion to the Constitution of the United
d States, with its amendments universally
r accepted as final settlement of the con
J. troyersics that cngendered the civil war.
d Notwithstanding these declarations, w
IS are compelled to take notice that, while
Is very few citizens anywhere would wisl
e to re-establish slavery if they could, anc
d no one would again attempt to break N
5. the Union by secession, th.re still re
d mains in some communities dangerous
l. practical denial to the colored citizens o
he the political rights which are guaranteed
Is TO them by the Constitution us it now is
10 In the crisis Of the war Mr.
n Lincoln appealed to the coloreC
Y, people to take up arms. About twC
u hundred thousand responded to the call
If enlisted in the Union armies, and Tough
v for the Union cause under the Uniol
e flag. Equality OF rights for the colore'
.c people, from that time thus became on
NJ essential issue of the war. Genera
It Sherman said, "when the fight is oyel
e the hand that drops the musket can no
! he denied the ballot" Jefferson said lon
e. before "the man who fights for the cour
n try is entitled to vote" When, with til
If help of the colored men, the victory wa
e. gained, the Fifteenth Amendment fo
is lowed naturally as one of its legitimat
rs results. No man Can truthfuliy clml
W that he faithfully accepts the true settle
l. ments of the war, who sees with inditiel
10 ence the Fifteenth Amendment practica
ly nullifed.
he No one can overstate the evils whic
in the country must suffer if lawless All
I'd violent opposition to the enjoyment {
lis constitutional rights is allowed to be pc
manently successful. The lawlessne
W which to-day assails the rights of the &C
no ored people will find other victims t.