Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-05

| av0ldable; out thOse VINO resist
ed the change should remember
ii q. under our institutions there was
no middle ground for the negro race
bet seen slavery and equal citizenship.
There can be no permanent disfran-
chise.of peasantry. In the United States
freedom can never yield its fullness OF
| blessings as long as the law or its ad-
ministration places the smallest obsta-
Gle in the pathway OF the virtuous citi-
zen. The emancipated race has already
made remarkable progress with
unQuestioning devotion to the In
len with patience and gentleness.
Not born OF fear, they hsvefliollowed
the light as God gave them to see the
light. They are rapidly laying the ma
terial foundations Of self support, widen
| ing the circle OF intelligence and begin
ming TO enjoy the blessings that gather
around the homes OF the industrious.
| They deserve the generous encourage
ment OF all good men. So far as my au-
thority lawfully extends they shall en-
Joy the full and equal protection Of the
constitution and laws.
The Free Enjoyment Of Equal Suffrage
| is still in question, and frank state
ment of the issue may aid its solution.
| Ii is alleged that in many communities
the negro citizens are practically denied
| the freedom OF the ballot box. In so
far as the truth OF this allegation is ad-
mitted, it is answered that in many
places honest local government is i'm
| possible il the mass OF uneducated ne
groes are allowed to vote. These are
grave allegations. So far as the latter is
| true, it is the only palliation
that can be offered for opposing
the freedom of the ballot. Bad
Local government is certainly a great
evil, an evil which ought to be
prevented, but to violate the freedom
and sanctity OF suffrage is more than an
evil. 1t isa crime which, il persisted in,
will destroy the Government itself.
| Suicide is not q remedy. II in other
lands 1t be high treason to compass the
death OF king, it should be counted no
less a crime here to strangle our soyer-
eign power and stife its voics. IL has
been said that unsettled questions have
no pity for the repose OF nations 1t
should be said with the utmost en-
phasis that this question OF suffrage will
never give repose or safety to the States
or nation. until each within its own
jurisdiction makes and keeps the ballot
| free and pure by the strong sanction OF
the law. but the
Danger Which Arises from Ignorance in
the Voter
cannot be denied. 1t covers 2 field far
L. I, 10, th,N 81 ami IFaF o. N a
| the present condition of that race. 1t
is a 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 be
brought upon us by ignorance and vice
| in citizens when joined to corruption
and fraud in suffrage. The voters OF
the Union who make and unmake the
| Constitution, and upon whose will
hangs the destiny OF our government,
can transmit their suprcmer authority to
no successor, save the coming genera
tion of voters who are sole heirs OF the
sovereign power. If that generation
| comes to its inheritance blinded by ig-
! norance and corrupted by vice, the fall
of the republic will be certain and rem
| ediless. The census has already sounded
the alarm in the appalling figures which
mark how dangerously high the tide OF
iliteracy has arisen among our voters
and their children. To the South the
question is OF supreme Importance, but
the responsibility for the existence
OF slavery didn't rest upon the
South alone, the nation itself is
| responsible iOr the extension
of suffrage AMI is under special ebliga-
tons to aid in removing the illiteracy
which it has added 10 the voting pOpu-
lation. For the North and South alike
there is bnt one remedy. All the Con.
stitutional power OF the nation and OF
! the States, and all the volunteer forces
o! the people, should be summoned to
meet this danger by the saving intiu-
ence of universal education. 1t is the
high privilege and sacred duty OF those
now living to educate their successors
and fit them by intelligence and virtue
| for the inheritance which awaits them.
In this beniiiCent world
Section aud Races Should lie Forgotten.
partisanship should be unknown; let
| our people tinl 4 new meaning in the
divine oracle which declares that little
child shall lead them, for our little chill.
dren will soon control the destinies OF
the Republic. Ny couutrymen, We do
not differ in our judgment concerning
the controversies OF past generations,
and fifty years hence our children will
not be divided in their opinions concern.
ing our controversies. They will surely
bless their fathers, and their fathers
God that the Union was preserved; that
slavery was OverthrowE, and
that both races were made
equal before the law. We may hasten
or we NAV retard, but we can't prevent
the final recOnciliations. Is it not posi-.
ble for US now 10 make truce with
time by anticipating and accepting It's
inevitable verdict. Enterprises o. the
highest importance TO our moral and
material well being invite us and offer
ample scope for the employment OF our
best powers. Let all our people leaving
behind them the battletields Of our
dead issues, move forward and in the
strength OF liberty and restored Union
win the grandest victories OF peace.
The Prosperity Which Now Prevails
is without parallel in our history, fruit
ful seasons have done much TO secure il,
but they have not done il all. The
preservation OF the public credit and the
resumption OF specie payments so sue
cessiully obtained by the adminlstra-
ton OF my predecessors has enabled
our people to secure the blessings which
the seasons have brought BY the eX-
perience OF commercial nations in all
ages it has been found that gold and sill
yer afford the only safe foundation for
monetary system. A confusion has re-
Gently been created by variations in the
relative value OF the two metals, but ]
confidently believe that arrangements
can be made between the leading COM
mercial nations which will secure gen
eral use OF both metals. Congress
should provide that the compulsory
coinage OF silver now required by Law,
may not disturb our monetary
system by driving either metal
out OF circulation. Ii possible
such adjustment should be made that
the purchasing power OF every coined
| 4 III I'll ha axan,l,r nal 20 tta lah,