Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-03-10

stitution Of 1880. No thoughtful man can
iail to appreciate benefcent effect upon our
institutions and people. 1t has freed us
from the perpetual danger of war and
dissolution. lt has added immensely TO
tho moral and industrial forces Of our peo.
PIC. Ithos liberated tho master as we'll as
the slave from relation which wronged
aud enfeebled both. 1t hos surrendered to
their own guardianship tho manhood of
more than 100000 Of people and he's
opened to each one of them career of free
dom and usefulness. 1t hos given a new
Inspiration to the power of self-help in
both races. BY making labor more honor
aoIe 70 one and moro necessary to the other
the iufiuenco of this force will grow greater
and bear richer fruits with coming years.
NO doubt this great change he's caused
sericns disturbance to our Southern COM
nunities. This is to be deplored, though
n.y. was, perhaps, unavoidable; but those who
resisted tho change should remember that
under our institutions thero was no middle
ground fer the negro between slavery aud
equal citizenship. There can be no per.
mauens disfranc6ibed peasaotry in the
United States. Freedom can never yield
its fullness Of blessings 80 long as the law or
its administration places the smallest OBJ
staoIes in the pathway Of any virtuous
I citizen.
The cmancipated raco has already made
remarkable progress: With unquestioning
devotion to the Union, with patience and
gentleness not born of fear, they have fol-
lowed the light rs God gave them to see light.
They are rapidly laying tho material foun-
datons of self>support, widening the circle
of intelligence and beginning to enjoy the
blessings that gather around tho homes of
the industrial poor. They deserve the gen
erous support of all good men. So fur as
my authority can lawfully extend they shall
enjoy the full and equal protection of tho
Constitution. Their full and free enjoyment
of equal sufrage is still in question, and
frank statement Of the Issue in the main will
aid the solution. 1t is alleged that in mony
communities negro citizons arc practically
donicd tho freedom of the ballot. In so far
as The truth of this allegation is admitted it
is answered that in many places honest locul
government is impossible if the mass of un-
educated negroes are allowed to voto. These
are grave allegations. So far as tho latter
is true, it is the only palliation that can be
offered for opposing the freedom Of the ballot
Bad local government is certainly grea,
evil which ought to be prevented. but to vic.
late the freedom and sanctity of the suffrage
is moro than an evil; it is crime which If |
persisted in will destroy the government
itself. Suicide is not remedy. If in other
lands it be high treason to compass the death
of the king it should be counted no less
orimo here to strangle our sovereign power
and stihe its voice.
1t has been eaid that unsettled questions
have no pity for the repose of nations. 1t
should be said with the utmost omphasis that
this question of suffrage will never give re-
until each within its own Jurisdiction makes
and keeps the ballot free and pure by tho |
strong sanction of the law.
But the danger which arises from igno-
rance in the voter cannot bo denied 1t |
covers field fur wider than that Of negro |
suffrage and the present condition of that
race. 1t is danger that turks and hides in |
the sources and fountains of power in every
State. We have no standard by which to
measure the disaster that may bo brought
upon us by ignorance and vice in the citizens
when joined 10 corruption and fraud in the
suffrage. Tie voters of the Union, who
make and unmakc Constitutions, and upon
whose will hangs the destinies of our gov
ernment, can transmit their supreme au-
thorty to no SUCCESSORS save the coming
generation of voters, who are the sole heirs
nF hai ~
comes to its inheritance blinded by ignorance
and corrupted by vice. the fall Of the Repub
lie will bo certain and remediless The
census hus already sounded the alarm in up.
palling figures, which mark how dangerously
high the tide of iliteracy has risen among
our voters and their children.
10 the South this question is of supreme
importance. But tho responsibility for tho
existence of slavery did not rest upon the
Sonth alone: tho nation itself is responsible
for the extension of suffrage. and is under
special obligations TO MD in removing tho
illiteracy which it has added to tho floating
population. For the North and the South
alike there is but ono remedy: All the Con-
stitational power Of tho nation and of the
States apd oil the volunteer forces Of the
people should bo submitted to meot this danger
by the saving influence Of universal educa-
ton. 1t is the high privilege and sacred
duty of those now living TO educate their
successors and fit them by intelligence and
virtuo for the inheritance which awaits them.
In this benefcent work sections and rnces
should be forgotten and partisanship should
be unknown. Let our people find q now
meaning 10 the Divine oracle which declares
that go Gttla ahild OH II laad 4l,.a., r.