The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-18
A Proposed oOu.htuaOnal Amendment.


Mr.. Moses McCoid, Of Iowa, is Re-
publican Of the advanced school, and is
bold if not wise. lie is an obscure mem
Der Of the national House of Representa-
tivcs, and bis last move, il he has made
any important ones prior, is calculated to
give him an uuenviable nOtOriety, and one
that win probably relegate him to the
shades Of private life. On Monday last
he introdueed a bill, proposing cOnstitu-
tional amendment wide in its scope and
centralizing 10 degree never before ad-
vocatsd in this country. Il provides that
elections in all States for president, State
and county officers in presidential years
shall be held on the first Tuesday after the
frst Monday of November Il further
provides that each State shall BY the legis
lature thereof be divided into election pre-
einets containing not to exceed 500 cleo
tors each, Each State shall enact and
maintain free public school system in
organised districts not less than one in
each election precinct, accessible to all
children, in which schools shall be kept
free to children from Eve to twenty-one
YEARS Of age without separation or dis
tinction on account Of race, color or social
condition, the school to be kept open eight
months in each year, No public funds
shall be by the States appropriated to sup
port sectariau schools. No citizen born
within the United States, after the adop-
ton Of these amendments, who has not
attended public or other schools for five
years, and is unable to read and write,
shall be allowed to vote. Failure Of any
State to carry out these amendments as to
election precincts and schools may be
deemed a failure 10 maintain a republican
form Of government, and Congress may BY
act exclude representation Of such State
and the electoral count Of the same until
the required legislation IS enacted. Con-
gress may enforce the amendments by aP-
propriate legislation.
The principles sought to be cngrafted
are in keeping with the objects and aims
of the Republican party. They will not
carry, however, because the Capitalization
Of power bestowed in the general govern
ment is too great stride at once. The
leaders Of the party prefer to move by easy
stages, and Mr.. Nc Cold will receive but little
public encouragement from them, though
secretly sympathiziDg with bis movement.
An that Mr. McCoid would accomplish at
one stroke have been limited at by the
Republican party for some years. They
have been sounding public sentiment BY
casual illusions, aud endeayoring 10 sccus-
tom the people to these radical changes in
our system Of government. Public eduea-
tion was plank of the last Republican
platform. but party platforms have become
to be considered meaningless phrases.
The Fraudulent President advocated the
same, but as no special recommendations
were made, little attention was paid to it.
Mr. McCoid, however, has been honest
enough to put the principles Of the Repub-
licaa party in proper form aud to make a
square issue upon them. The public will
revolt at them, and many Republicans,
sincerely too, will oppose them, but the
proposed amendment embodies the pur-
poses OF the Republican party. II is no
use to deny it, For twenty years the par
~ has been gradually coming up to this
point, First, they freed the eolOred man;
next they made him citizen; then yo-
ter; then they gave him free access to
hotels, places Of amusement, to railroad
cars, steamboats,, omnibuscs, &c. Before
the accomplishment of each of these meas
upes, the party stoully denied their rur-
pose to enact them. Now, they wish to
force him in The public schools, under
governmental enactment The State, for
every Eve hundred inhabitants, must main
tain public school from which it shall be
ualavfal 70 exclude any from the ages Of
FIVE 20. tweuty-one years on account Of
race, color or social condition. Auy State
that shall neglect or refuse 10 do this
may be denied participation in national
legislation or IN electiag president; and
further, Congress may have the power tc
enforce the amendment.
As before noted, this amendment will
not carry ia Congress. Not that it does
not embOdy the objects and aims Of the
Republican party, but because the people
would revolt at il, and it is not expedieni
for party supremacy to press it now. Givt
the Republican party another lease o.
power, and this or a similar amendmeu
viii soon be engrafted on the constitution
and public schools viii either be broker
up or blacks and whites be forced into thu
same school room.
Preparing for Slaughter.
Tie A1ff ranorass will ahosv a maiorit,