Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-09
A REPUBLICAN, REBUKE OF REPUB-
LICAI LAYS

LICAg LAWS
UnwittinaIy, without doubt, the New
Hampshire Republican convention admins
tered keen rebuks to the Republican State
administrations of Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island. In the third resolution adopted by
that body it declares 'That if any State shall
attempt to limit or ahridge, directly or in
directly, the freedom of citizen, or his un-
trsmmelled right to provide for universal ed
ucation, or shall impede or destroy, by legis
lation, intimidation or fraud, the exercise of
the right Of franchise, either for national or
State offices, We demand the
active interposition of the federal govern
msnt to furnish the citizens of States pro-
lection and those benefits which State action
fails to supply" Probably the trainers of
this resolution did not know or had forgot
ten the fact that in the States of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts there ara thou
sands of citizens who ars deprived of the
right of suffrage by legislative enactment,
and Of course for this set the New Bamp-
shire Republicans demand the interposition
of the federal government.
In Massachusetts law prsscribes that no
person who has not paid his poll-tsx shall be
permitted to vote at any election, State Or
national. On account of this law it is esti
mated that hundred and fifty thousand
persons who are otherwise qualified as cleo
tors, are deprived of the privilege Of a voice
in the administration of the government. In
Rhode Island the State constitution pre-
scribes that every qualified voter shall pos
sess at least $3.50 worth of real estate, and
failing to be so possessed be shall suffer dis
reimbursement. By this provision
more than one-half of the adult
male population of the State are kept in the
condition OF aliens, with no interest in the
manner in which the State is governed.
The New Hampshire Republicans perhaps
did we'll in calling attention-though they
did it inadvertantly-to this infraction OF
the Fourteenth amendment to the constitu-
ton Of the United States. That article
says
When the right to vote at any election TO,
the choice of electors for President and Vice
President of the United States, Representatives
| in Congress, the executive and judicial officers
| of a State, or the members of the legislature
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabi.
| tants of such State, being tWenty-one years OF
| age, and citizens Of the United States, or IN
any way abridged, except for participation In
rebellion or other crime, the basis of represen-
tation therein shall be reduced in the proper
| ton in which the number of male citizens
| shall bear to the whole number of male citi
zens, twenty-One years of age, in such State.
1t liz manifest to all that under this provis-
| ion Of the federal constitution the represen
tation in Congress Of tbs States of Massa
chusstts and Rhode Island should be reduced
in proportion to the number of male inhabi
tants disfranchissd by their oppressive ant
unjust laws. Sauce for the goose is sauc'
for the gander. Though the amendment wa
adopted with view to securing the coloret
men of the South in their right to vote, i
should not be construed Is permitting tn
disfranchisemant OF white men at the North
That would be discrimination against tn
whites that should not be tolerated. If Geor
gia and Mississippi are TO be punished 70
dis T, pchising the negroes it is manifest tina
NJ 10 acbusetts and Rhode Islan'
should be punished for diafran
chising white citizsus. The New Hamp
shire Republicans are deserving of publ
thanks for protesting against tie diseriuina
tons and injustice practieed upon the whit
citizens of the two most prominent of tn
New England States. They are in the posi-
ton of "a Daniel come to Judgment