The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-11


| dowed it With future pgwefs ct self-preserva-
| ton and with ample Authority for the accom-
! pllshment of its great objects. Under this
/ constitution the boundaries of freedom have
/ been enlarged, the foundations of order
/ and peace have been strengthened.
and the growth in all the bet
indicated the wisdom of the founders and
| given new hope to their descendants Under
| this constitution, our people long ago made
! themselves safe against danger from without
| and secured for their marines and flag an
| equality of rights on all the seas. Under this
| constitution twenty-five States have been added
| to the Union, with constitutions and laws
| framed and enforced by their own citizens, to
secure the manifold blessings of local and
/ If governments The jurisdiction Of this
| constitution now covers an area fifty times
| greater than that of the original thirteen
| States, and population twenty times greater
| than that of 1850. The supreme trial of the
! constitution came at last under the tremendous
| pressure of civil war. We ourselves are wit
nesses that the Union emerged from the blood
and fire of that conflict, purified and made
| stronger for oil the beneficent purposes of good
| government, and now, at the close of this first
century of growth, with inspirations of its his
! tory in their hearts, our people have lately re-
| viewed the condition of the nation, passed
| Judgment upon the conduct and opinions of
oAAO pOhtiC0A d1IN udVS registered Ll6lG
! will concerning the future administration of
! Government. To interpret and execute that
viii, in accordance with the constitution, is the
| paramount duty of the Executive.
Even from this brief review, it is manifest
| that the nation is resolutely facing to the
front, resolved to employ its best energies in
| developing the great possibilities of the future
| Sacredly preserving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government during the
century, our people are determined to leave be-
| hind them all those bitter controversies con-
corning things which have been irrevocably
! settled, and the further discussion of which can
| only stir up strife and delay the onward plarch
| The supremacy of the nation and its laws
! should be no longer a subject Of debate That
discussion, which for half century threat
ened the existence of the Union, was closed at
last in the high court of war, by decree from
which there is no appeal, shat the constitution
| and laws made in pursuance thereof shall con-
| tinue to be the supreme law of the land, bind
ing alike upon the States and upon the people.
| This decree does not disturb the autonomy OF
the States nor interfere with any of their neces-
sary rules OF local seIf-government, but it does
| dA and establish the permanent supremacy of
| the Union. The will of the nation, spanking
with the voice of battle, and through the
amended constitution, has fulfilled the great
| promise of 1776, by proclaiming Liberty
! throughout the land to all the inhabitants
| thereof"
The elevation of the negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship is the most i'm
| portant political change we have known since
the adol ton Of the constitution of 1887. No
thoughtful man can fail to appreciate its benef-
cent effect upon our institutions and people,
| 1t has freed us from the perpetual danger of
| war and dissolution. It has added immensely
to the moral and industrial forces of our peo-
pie. 1t has liberated the master as we'll as the
slave from the relation which wronged and
| enfeebled BOTH 1t has surrendered to their
own guardianship the manhood of more
than 100000 people, and has opened
! to each one of them career of free
dom and usefulness it has given new
| inspiration to the power of self-help in both
races by making labor more honorable to one
and more necessary to the other. The influence
of this force will grow greater and bear richer
| fruit with coming years. No doubt the great
change has caused serious disturbance to our
| Southern community This is to be deplored,
though it was unavoidable; but those who re-
sisted the change should remember that under
our institutions there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and equal citi-
] zenship. There can be no permanent disfran-
| chiSed peasantry in the United States.
| Freedom can never yield its full .eSs of
blessings as long as law or its administration
places the smallest obstacle in the pathway of
any virtuous citizen. The emancipated race
has already made remarkable progress. With
unquestiOnlng devotion to the Union, with a
patience and gentleness not born of fear, they
have 'followed the light as God gave them to
see the light" They are rapidly laying the
material foundations of self-support, widening
the circle of intelligence, and beginning to en-
joy the blessings that gather around the homes
of the industrious poor. They deserve the gen
erous encouragement of all good men. So far
as my authority can lawfully extend they shall
enjoy the full and equal protection of the con-
stitution and laws.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still
in question, and frank statement of the issue
may aid its solution It is alleged that in many
communities negro citizens are practically de-
MED the freedom of the ballot In SO far as
the truth of this allegation is admitted, it is
answered that in many places honest local gov
eminent is impossible if the mass of unedu-
Gated negroes 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. A bad
local government is certainly a great
evil which ought to be prevented but
to violate the freedom and sanctity of
suffrage is more than an evil it is crime
which, if persisted in, will destroy the Govern
ment 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
a crime here to strangle our sovereign power
and stife its voice. 1t has been said that I'M
settled questions have no pity for the repose OF
nations; it should be said, with the utmost en-
phasis, that this question of suffrage will never
give repose or safety to the States or to the
nation until each, within its own Jurisdiction,
makes and keeps the ballot free and pure by
the strong sanctions of law.
But the danger which arises from ignorance
in the voter cannot be denied. It covers field
far wider than that of negro suffrage and the
Of hot id q
that turks and hides in the courses and fount-
aims of power in every State. We have nc
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 constitutions, and upon
whose will hangs the destiny of our govern.
ments, can transmit their supreme authority
to no successor save the coming generation
of voters, who are sole heirs of our sovereign
powers. If that generation comes to its inherit
ance blinded by ignorance ana corrupted by
vice, the fall of the republic will be certain and
remedless. The census has already sounded
the alarm in appalling figures which mark how
dangerously high the tide of iliteracy has riser
among our voters and their children. To the
South the question is of supreme Importance
but the responsibility for the existence of slav
cry did not rest on the South alone. The ma
ton itself is responsible for the extension o.
suffrage, and Is under special obi cations to ale
in removing the illiteracy which it has added Il
the voting population Of the North and Soutl
alike. There is but one remedy. All the con
stitutional power of the nation and of thu
States, and all the volunteer forces of the PEG
pie should be summoned to meet this DANCE
by the saving influence of universal education
1t is a high privilege and sacred duty 0
those now living to educate their successors
and fit them by intelligence and virtue for th'
inheritance which awaits them in this benef
cent work. Sections ard races should be for
gotten, and partisanship should be unknown
Let our people find a new meaning in the di
vine oracle which declares that g a little chill
shall lead them" For our little children wi
! soon control the destinies of the republic
Ny eountrymen, we do not now differ in on
Judgment concerning the controversies of pas
generations, and fifty years hence our childce
will not be divided in their opinions concerning
our controversies. They will surely bless thei
fathers and their fathers God that the Unioi
! was preserved that slavery WAS overthrow
/ and that both races were made equal before th
! law. We may hasten or we may rstard but W
i cannot prevent the final reconciliation. Is
, not possible for us now to make truce wit
time by anticipating and accepting its inertia
BILE verdicts Enterprises of the highest in
portance to our moral and material wei-bein;
! invite Us, and offer ample scope for the en-
, ployment of our best powers. Let all our pee
, pie, leaving behind them the baitle-fields c
! dead issues, move forward, and, in the 5trengt
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