The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10

chised. IL this fair, free or equal1 Is this
the enjoyment OF life. liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness? or is 1t not rather a species
of despotism and downright tyranny which
says mo ,rdges or $40 rot" thus forcing upon
him the bitter alternative Of non-employ-
ment or Acknowledgement
Or, take the man of like means and cir
cumstances, the young laborer or journey
man in the city, residing in the garrett Of a
third or fourth story, wishing to move across
a street, ever 80 short distance into another
ward, where his lodging may be more coy
or comfortable, or more convenient to his
work. Now, he may do so-but adopt this
amendment and he is held fast-a fatal spell
forbids locomotion; 1t Is only 80 days to
the next election; he must stsy where he is;
or, If he moves must loose the right of
suffrage. Would it not have been much
holder and better for the enemies OF equal
rights, at once. to have established voting
rats Of $500 or 81 900, than by such bald
faced obliquity as this, to attempt the dis
franchisement of 30 large body of our
fellow-citizsns1 The present constitution
provides that a man may be disfranchised
upon conviction Of an infamous crime, and
1t is the only cause now known. But this
amendment makes poverty this infamous
crime. Under Its provisions the felon and
the poor man are classed together, and are
both deprived of the right TO vote.
The unfair and compulsory influence OF
employers upon their employees has, in
many sections of the country, In the matter
of elections, given rise to gross scandals and
serious com plant The pretended amend
ment tends to increase that influence and 10
afford additional opportunity for its exer-
cise- The vindictive, partisan employer
will, under its operation, have no need of
showing his hand in the affair at all
He need not say, Vote my ticket,
or will discharge you" "vote my ticket,
and it will be batter for you; or you will
lose nothing by IT." ne n BED only wait until
the iftieth day, turn off his men, aud their
power to vote is gone. Under the present
regulation it requires soma degree OF cour-
age, or, at least, effrontsry, to effect his OBJ
ject, but under the change proposed any
skulk or coward may attain his base purpose
in comparative silence aud secrecy.
Popular indifference as to elections has al
ways, in free governments, been a sign OF
decay. 1t has been thought best that all
citizens should have the right and discharge
the duty of the elective franchise. The non
voting class OF citizens in Indiana has
been heretofore very small Ali
of us have bean hitherto direct
ly and personally interested in the
government and management of our public
affairs. But pass this amendment and there
is an end of all this. There is not town
ship or ward in the State il which quite
number OF citizens will not ind themselves
suddenly disfranchised. And this condition
of things will GO on from year to year-from
bad to worsG--ultiI we shall have large
portion of our people wholly without inter
est IN elections and disqualified from taking
any part in them.
The whole scheme of this amendment is
plOnsiOerGcy, government OF the rich, or the
comparatively rich, at the expense OF the
poor-to the loss and disparagement of the |
rights of the poor. We earnestly insist that the
old text shall stand: "All elections shall be
frse and equal" We do not think that in |
been a more nefarious attempt TO rob por- |
ton of our people OF their rights than is |
made in this amendment, an attempt which |
seeks to make means, not mind; bullion, not |
brsinsi property, not rrobity, the test for |
the exercise OF manhood suffrage; right /
which has been hitherto accorded to all and /
denied to none, except for crime whereof |
a - hoe I,,lrv
voting class of citizens is always dissatisfied |
class, a revolutionary class; and any restric-
ton upon the right of suffrage based upon /
property, either directly or indirectly, has
tendency to nurse and excite condition OF
lawlessness ana violence-the worst enemies
of free State.
We have heretofore discussed this PROPOSE
ton without any allusion to the registry
law with IFS long train of machinery and
expenditure, which is clearly indicated in
the amendment.
We are aware that Senator Reeve and
other supporters of this amendment, while
they argue the propriety, deny the necessity
Of such law, in case OF its adoption. But
other quite as good lawyers express q differ
ent opinion, and the text of the section pro-
posed plainly requires it. Why, We ask,
should a measure OF such grave character,
now approved by the action of two Legisla-
lures be so doubtful in its terms as already
to suggest the necessity of an amendment to
the amendment
Upon such an important subject as the
change of the organic law OF our State. there
certainly ought to be a clear understanding
as to the effect of the change proposed. This
amendment is so faulty in its structure as to
leave its own authors and advocates In the
dark as to its meaning. We think that such
a stealthy, treacherous trap and pitfsll
ought to fail, If for no other reason because
of the duplicity and double-desling of the
terms in which it is submitted TO the free
people whose approval it courts
PIsH CULTURE VS.. AGRICULTURE.