Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-17
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE NO. Q.

three weeks ago, returns to the sub
ject under the title Of this article
According to his views, universe
suffrage is but the cry Of the dema
gogue. "Why," says he, "are no
women. and children allowed to vote
too?"
The query is easily answered: Mel
are the stronger; they are the natu
raj protectors Of their wives and chill
dren. TO defend them against th'
armed invaders Of the country, it il
among the men only that the tax o
human blood is levied. When mel
consent to allow the weaker sex tt
WELD the ballot they will also permit
their wives and sisters to stand elbow
to elbow with them in the front o1
battle. Then will modesty and the last
vestige Of clivalrous impulses disap.
appear from the earth!
Girls says further, that suffrage has
become SO cheap, that votes are pur-
chased for a trife, and political trick
sters gain the asccndency by promises
Of office to bummers; SO, that tho re-
spectability Of the country show their
utter Indifference by abandoning the
polling places to the rabble.
Theabove contains some truth, and
it is well, under such circumstances,
that the rabble should govern those
who either lack the patriotism or the
manhood to exercise their rights Or
the influence of wealth and superior
intelligence powerful levers - to
place in power the most virtuous and
competent citizens. We have no
sympathy for that class Of men who
fear to catch fleas by mingling occa-
with the humber classes in q
political campaign or on election day,
to counsel with, or, at least, deposit
their ballots in the same box as the
other.
We have had enough Of the theory
Of restricted suffrage by seeing how
the moneyed corporations, tho ma
tional banks, the monopolies, the
manufacturers, bondholder, and
others, in one compact body, have
'eld the Republican party in power,
Is their instrument to live and pros
,er upon the labor of the masses.
Dcmagoguery though it be; in a
government, money should
neither exclude nor exempt the citi-
en from the performance Of his civic
luties. Aye, let the favored class
lescend from the marble steps Of The
mansion or the armoried carriage and
lon the uniform of the soldier in time
f war, and in time of peace go to the
'allot box to aid in restraining, when
ecessary, the unreasonable demands
f the multitude.
We are for protecting the citizen in
he enjoyment of his property, but
1e are bitterly opposed to the idea
hat the wealth or tho property own
rs shall constitute themselves the |
1lers of the dcstinics of the Nation |
y depriving any class, no matter
ow humble, of the right to cast their
allots for the men of their choice.
It was the "rag-tag and bob-tail |
(ement," as Girls styles it, who, in
lc last war, fought the battles of the
orth and the South, displaying a
alor and hcroism of which America
i'll ever be proud, while the bulk Of
le would-be patricians of to-day, at
le North, were cnriching themselves
ling army contracts, at the same
me that they were represented by
aid substitutes in the camps or on
lc field of honor. And at the South,
any were pcrmittcdby law to remain
home by virtue Of an owner
Zip of fifteen slaves.
We would tell Girls, thatrights once
ven arc not easily withdrawn. The
vilization of to-day recognizes the
luality of all men before the law,
ID laughs at the idea that some, by
vine right and Inheritance, arc
accd OH earth to govern nations.
ature creates noblcmcn not ances-
J or dollars. We admire the style
his we'll written communications
d the evident honesty Of his motives,