National Republican., 1880-03-12
SUFFRAGE IN THE DISTRICT
Tho Rights Upon which tho Ballot Rests
WASHINGTON, u. c., March II, 1880.

WASHINGTON, d. G., March IL, 1880,
| To he Editor of The National Repnblcan:
SIR Tho success of popular government
largely depends upon right comprehension
of the nice distinction existing between the
two powers Of tho ballot, the protective and
the coerciye, and especially ought this 10 bo
understood by all advocates of universal suf
frage MS applied to municipal government or
rather we will say corporate management; for
by the use of this torn ia this connection arises
much Of tho misapprehenson Of tho grounds
.rcn which .h9 right &c the Gaii1. ough. 50 Gs
based, since it leads all who enjoy. the benefits
or evils Of such management to imagine that
they have an equal and direct interest in II,
| whom the truth is the interest of the resi-
dents Of all large cities is decidedly unequal
aud by far the largo majority indirect.
| The ballot Is cOcrCive rs well rs pro-
tcctive power. A, for the right TO coeree and
restrain 3, under certain conditions agrees to
submit 10 a like coercion and restraint undor
similar conditions; therefore, suffrage is u con-
tract or agreement, and the right TO fix the
condi tions of such contract by those who are
parties to 10 Is reserved, aud these conditions
arc imposed upon those who wish to become
parties TO this contract; instance the right to
limit the suffrage to those who arc of u certain
age or to those who have boon residents of tho
country for a certain number Of years.
Having defined suffrage and mentioned it's
| two-fo!d power having stated that II Is u con.
tract with the rights and obligations incident
to contracts, aud that vested in the parties is
the right of limiting II to certain individuals
of tho community, let Us look ut 1t now In its
application to government.
Government is either national or local. The
national government acting as tho exponent
Of tho popular WILL reaches out to and comes
in contact with every individual; every citizen
is directly interested in all its measures; II
may force him to bear arms, support church
Uftl oh hn haa httts
some excise laws, load him with personal taxes,
deprive him of freedom of thought and action,
and, in short, directly affect his life for veal or
wos-and this be he rich or poor, enlightened
or ignorant. Therefore, universal suffrage MS
applied to national government is just and
ri ght, for there is direct interest, an equiva.
lent obligation or burden for the right en-
joyed
Now for the very reason that universal
suffrage as regards tho National Government
is perfectly just in so much rs there is the cor
responding relation of obligation and privilege
Il say nothing as to the expedcncy of adopting
an educational qualification either as pro-
lection or incentivo--this is collateral
iSSue) universal suffrage rs re CARDS municipal
government is grossly unjust, hurtful in the
extreme and subvorslOn of tho plainest
principles OF civil liberty and popular govern
ment. Consider some of tho functions of
municipal management which arise under the
act of Incorporation granted by tho State; the
laying out, paving and care of the streets,
sewerage, protection of property from destruc-
tion by fire, otc.-in short, whatever is of a
purely business nature. Municipal govern
mcnt in no way comes in contact
with the peisOn-it knows neither
race nor SIX, but takes cognizlnco only ofprop-
erty. Whatever effects or concerns the in
! dividual in his relation to the State and as a
citizen OF such Is under tho supervision of the
State Tho municipality is simply q public
corporation, with, as clearly defined powers,
rights aud obligations as any private corpora
tion, and in which tho propcrty.owners might
DO regarded as The stockholders. Upon them
fall the burdens and obligations on account of
the imposition of the tax upon their property;
to them alone is justly due tho privilege and
benefit of the ballot. Surely, il is perfectly
, clear that to put this coercve power into the
, hands of those who havc no responsibility is
gross injustice. Thero Is no part of the ma
chnery of city government which could not
: with some few exceptions, be delegated by the
State to private corporation just as Is now
dono with the business of transportation and
: tho lighting of the streets, and If this wero
r done no ono of the citizens would feel that his
rights had been inlringed upon or his power
l or liberty lcssened What possible right or JUS
) tice, then, can there be in allowing A, who
will not bear mill of the expense, to order u
a certain street to bo paved and in particular
q manner, and then compel b to settle the bills ?
, the street.-the must use 1t, Very true; he has
an indirect interest, just that sort of interest
, which he has in street railroad line over
which he rides. But will any one contend
that because of this interest he has the right
| to say whether the cars shall be drawn by
! mules or horses, or to fix the number of hours
which the employees shall work, or to inter-
fere in tho management In any way? You
Q might as we'll contend that you have the right
to compel mo to build certain style Of house
i which will better please your eye
The squanderng of the public money has
+ little effect upon those who contribute moth
!, ing. The fact that it must affect them indi
. rectly Is an idea too remote to be appreciated
1t is the property holders upon whom fall the
=. tax, aud who suffer in the possession Of de.
o preciated property consequent upon a mis-
/. managed city, who bear the burden. 1t is for
=. their interest that the city be we'll ordered
and well managed.
, The only right upon which the ballot can
# be demanded is that of obligation. Education
n wealth or sex are no just tests. Tho only
!, proper ono is-can you render service for a
service enjoyed, or do you demand something
for uothing2 Are you a Socialist? Equal
Il rights and privileges without equal obiga
!. tions and burdens is direct violation of the
:, u principle of civil liberty.
Let movement for suffrage be instituted
VI which shall recognize these plain principles
of Justice and the late agitators Of this sub
Z far-mnded persons in the District 1t is moi
n possible that there can be any citizens resi-
II dent here who do not care TO exercise this
$ dearest right Of American citizenship. They
feel that the present system OF government /,
d an anomaly and productive of evil. The
s. daily horror shows this but too clearly, bu
t they prefer to put up with ii rather than b,
. obliged TO submit to such nismanagement ant
o the burden of such enormous debts as most o
our cities labor under. 1t is possible to ostab
v ish system Of government for this Dlstric
Il and city which shall be "or tho people, for tn,
r people and by the people," and which shall bC
/. a government of equal rights aud equal obli
/. cations, and which other communities will re
gard with envy and be glad to initiate.
D.. G.. l.. SCARBOROUGH.
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