National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-05


| common sense WITH which our fathers made the
| great experiment of self government.
| When they found, after short trial, that the
eonfederacy of States was too weak to meet the
necessities of a vigorous and expanding republic
they boldly setit aside and In its stead establi
[ q National Union, founded directly upon the will
| ofthe people. endowed with fult power Of self
preservation, and simple authority for the accom-
| plishment of its great object
| Under this Constitution the boundaries OF free
dom have been enlarged. the foundations of order
and peace have been strengthened. aud the growth
of our people in all the better elements of national
life hasindicsted 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 mariners and agequality 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 eiti-
zens TO secure the manifold blessings ofocal self
| government
The jurisdiction ofthis Constitution now covers
an area fly times greaterthan that Of the original
thirteen States and a population twenty times
greater than that OF 17S0.
The supreme trial OF the Constitution cane az
last under the tremendous pressure CT civil war.
We ourselves are witnesses that the MON emerged
from the blood and fire OF that conflict purified and
made stronger for all the beneheent purposes Of
good government
And now, at the close of this frsi century Of
growth with the inspirations Gifts history Ia their
hearts, our people have lately reviewed
the condition Of the Nation. passed
Judgment upon the conduct aud opinions
Of political parties and have registered their viii
concerning the future administration Of the
Government. To interpret aud % execute that
viii in accordance with the Constitution.
Is the paramount duty Of tue Executive.
Even from this brief review Il IL manifest that the
Nation is resolntely facing to the 'front.' resolved to
employ its best energies I'm developing the great
possibilities of the future. Sscredly pre-
serving whatever has been gained to lib
erty hnd good government during the
century. our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter controversies concern
ing things which have been irreyOeabiy settled,
aud the further discussion OF which can only stir
up strife and delay the onward march.
The supremacy of the Nation and It's laws
should be no longer a subject Of debate. That
discussion which for half century threatened
the existence of the Union was closed at last
in the high court of war by decree from which
there Is no appeal. that the Constitution
aud the laws made in pursuance thereof are and
shall continue to be the supreme law of the land
binding alike upon the States and the people
This decree does not disturb the autonomy of the
States nor interfere with any of their necessary
rights of local self government: but il does fix and
establish the permanent supremacy OF the Union.
The will of the Nation, speaking with the voice
of battle and through the amended Constitution,
has fulfilled the great promise of iTI6, by pro-
claiming liberty throughout the land to all the
inhabitants hereof"
The elevation of the negro race from slavery to
the full rights of citizenship is the most important
oh known 10
adoption of the Constitution of 1857 No thought
full man can fail TO appreciate its
bCnefcent effect upon our institutions and peo-
pie. 1t has freed us from the perpetual danger of
war and dissolution. 1t has added immensely to
the moral and industrial forces of our people.
It has liberated the master well as the slave
from relation which wronged and enfeebled
both. 1t has surrendered TO their own guardian
ship the manhood of more than 100000
of people, and has opened TO each one
of them career of freedom and usefulness.
1t has given new inspiration to the
power of self-help in both races, by making labor
more honorable to the one and more necessary to
the other. The influence of this force will grow
greater and bear richer fruit with the coming
years.
No doubt this great change has caused serious
disturbance to our Southern communities. This
is to be deplored, though it was, perhaps una
change should remember that under our
institutions there was no middle ground
for the negro race between slavery and equal
citizenship. There be no permanent,
DISTINGUISHED ressantry in the United States.
Freedom can never yield its fullneSs of blessings
so long as the law or its administration
places the smallest obstacle in the pathway of any
vir.uous citizen.
The emanciPsied race has already made re-
markable progress. With unquesiioDing devotion
to the Union, with patience and gentlcncss not
born Of fear they have followed the lightas God
gave them to see the light" They are
rapidly laying the material foundations of
self-suppot. widening their circle of intelligence
and beginning TO enjoy the blessings that gather
around the homes Of the industrious poO-. They
deserve the generous encouragement of all good
men. So far NY authority can lawfully extend
they shall enjoy the full and equal protection of
the Constitution and the law.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still
i'll question: and, a frank statement of the issue
may aid its solution. II is alleged that i'll many
communities negro citizens practically denied
the freedom pfthe LalI0t. In far as the truth of
this allegation is admitted, it is answered that in
many places honest local government is
impossible if the mass of uneducated negroes
are allowed to vote. These are grave allegations
So far the latter Is true 1t is the only paliation
that be offered for opposing the freedom of the
ballot. Bad local government is certainly great
evil which ought to be prevented
but to violate the freedom and sanctity
of the suffrage is than evil it is a crime
which, if persisted in. will destroy the Govern
ment itself Suicide is not a remedy. If III other
lands it be high treason to compass the death of
the king it shall be counted no less crime here
to strange our sovereign power and stie its voice
1t has been said that unsettled questions have
no pity for the rcpose of nations. II should be /
said with the utmost emphasis that this question
Of the suffrage viii neyergive repose or safety to the
States or to the Nation until each within It's own
jurisdiction makes and keeps the ballot free and
pure by the strong sanctions of the law.
But the danger which arises from ignorance in
the voter cannot be denied. II covers field far
wider than that of negro suffrage and the present
condition of the race.
II 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 be brought upon us by ignorance and vice !
i'll the citizens, when joined TO corruption and |
fraud in the suffrage.
The voters of the Union, who make and IN
make constitutions, and upon whose will hangs |
the destinieS of our Government, can transmit !
their supreme authority to no successor save the /
coming generation OF voters, who are the sole /
helFs OF sovereign power ii that generation comes
to its inheritance blinded by Ignorance and cor /
rupted by vice, the fall ofthe Republic viii be GER
tain and remediless. The census has already /
sounded the alarm in the appalling figures which /
mark how dangerously high the tide of iliteracy /
has risen among our voters and their children.
To the South this question is of supreme /
Importance but the responsibility for the existence
Of slavery did not rest upon the South alone
The Nation Itself is responsible forhe extension of
the suffrage. and is under special obligations to
aid in removing the iiliteracy which it has added
to the voting population.
For the North and South alike there IS but one !