Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-23
merce with foreign Nations, establish

post-ofhces, &c.
This little State, which at the last
Presidential election gave but 26,627 as
her entire vote-but sol more votes in
the entire State than Charles Reemelin,
as q candidate for State Auditor, receiv-
ed fast fall in Hamilton County alone,
and 3 S45 less than that given in any
Ohio Congressional district, Rhode
Island is entitled to two Members of the
House OF Representatives in Congress,
and to two Senators being, in the latter,
the equal of either OF the great States OF
| Ohio. PENNSYLVANIA or New York. Her
two Representatives she gets on her
pOpulation-her DISTINGUISHED citizens
counting just as much as the legal vo-
tiers.
Rhode Island, in territory as in popu-
lation, is among the smallest States in
the Union, and probably possesses more
ml.lionaireS than are to be found, when
the number of voters is considered, in
any other State. Her m~illionaires, gen.
orally manufacturers, " vast tracts Of
land which they refuse to sell, and it is
almost impossible for the naturalized
citizen, even if he had the money, to
| purchase the land necessary TO make
him a voter, particularly ii his vote
would be given against the ~ollgarchy
that rules the State.
A Congressional Committee that in
vestigated the matter gives estimates by
reputable witnesses as TO the number OF
naturalized American citizens dlsfran-
chised, ranging from 5000 to $1,000.
Ex-senator Sprague testified before
the Committee that while Governor OF
Rhode Island, at the beginning OF the
late civil war, the State needed soldiers
to fill up her quota. He asked the
Legislature to propose an amendment to
the Constitution To give those OF foreign
birth, when naturalized, the right TO vote
without the property qualification. The
Legislature passed the necessary law to
submit the question, and, on the pledge
that it would carry, large numbers oil
the DISTINGUISHED class enlisted. When
this was done the party in power voted
down the amendment. James Moran,
who in the wal rose from Second Lieu.
tenant-promoted for bravery and good
conduct-lost his real estate and can not
vote because he is a naturalized citizen
OF the United States. Hon. Thomas
Davis, anaturalized citizen oil the United
States fOrty-ive years, served IN the
Legislature as a Member, was elected
and served as a Member oil Congress in
1858. "a, failed in business and assigned
his property-all OF which went to pay
his debts. Then he ceased to be- voter
because he owned no land. Property is
so high in the State that no mau can
buy a house suitable for a residence I'M
l. 49,. 90 tlran thnnsanI dollars
Small pieces OF land sufficient to make a
voter can not be bought for five times
the SlS4 necessary to make an freshman
or a German competent to cast a vote.
Thus does the State of Rhode Island
nullify such portions OF the Constitution
as conflict with the prejudice or the ill.,
terest OF the men who rule the State.
A naturalized German or a naturalized
Irishman, ~Scotchman, Englishman or
Canadian, is by the Constitution OF the
Republic a citizen OF the United States,
and as such is entitled to all the rights
| and privileges OF a citizen: but in Rhode
| Island, If he he born in the land OF De
Kalb or Steuben, Pulaski, Kosciusko
| or Montgomery and Robert Emmett, he
is debarred the right OF a free man,
| although he has proved by witnesses,
when naturalized, that he is attached to
the principles OF our Government, and
that he makes solemn oath that he re-
nounCe all allegiance to any country on
Q nth, except that OF his adoption.
The right of citizens OF the United
States to vote shall not be denied or
| abridged by the United States, or by
n State, on account Of race, color or
previous condition OF servitude," is the
language OF the Constitution, which the
State OF Rhode Island gave a willing as
sent to make it a part OF the organic law;
vet while she gives the negro the same
right TO vote that she gives TO other citi-
zens. she denies il 10 the German and to
the Irish race; and by doing this she is
kept in the line OF the politics OF her
leading men.
In the better days OF the Republic
"Old-Time Politics would fail II the at
| tcmpt were made to show such an utter
disregard of constitutional duty on the
part of n State or any people. Every
infringement or disregard oil Constitu-
| tiOnal duty, on the part OF the State or
| of the people, weakens the love and re-
spect the people OF the United States
have for that instrument which bears
the name OF George Washington as one
OF its signers and as President OF the
Convention that made it.
''Can such things be,