The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-03-18


manent disfranchised peasantry 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 virtuous
citizen. The emaneipated race has already
made remarkable progress. With un-
questionable devotion to the union, with
the 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 foundation
of selfsupport, widening the circle Of in
telligence, and beginning to enjoy the
blessings that are gathered around the
homes of industrious people. They re-
ceive the generous encouragement OF all
good men. So far as my authority can
lawfully extend, they shall enjoy the full
and equal protection Of the constitution
and laws.
The full and free enjoyment of equal
suffrage is still in question, and frank
statement Of the issue may aid ssts solu-
tion. 1t is alleged that in many places
an honest ballot is impossible, if the mass
Of uneducated 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 oppos-
ing the freedom Of the ballots. Bad local
government is certainly great evil
which ought to be prevented, but to
violate the freedom and sanctity of suf-
frage is more than an evil--it is crime
which, if persisted in, will destroy the
government itself, and if successful, is not
remedy. If in other lands it be high
treason to compass the death of the king,
it should be counted no less crime here
to strangle out the sovereign powers and
stihe its voice. 1t has been said that un-
settled questions have no pity for the
repose Of nation. II should be said
with the utmost emphasis that this ques
ton IF sufrance viii 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 the law.
But the danger which arises from ig
norance in the voter cannot be denied.
It covers field far 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 disas-
ter that may be brought upon us by ig-
norance and vice in the citizens, when
ioined to corruption and fraud in suf-
frage. The voters of the Union, who
make and unmake constitutions, and up
on whose shoulders will hang the desti-
nies of our government, can transmit
their supreme authority to no successors
save the coming generation of voters who
are the sole heirs OF the sovereign power.
| IF that generation comes to its inheri-
tance, blinded by ignorance and cor
rupted by vice, the fall Of the republic
will be certain and remediless. The
census has already sounded the alarm in
appalling figures, which mark how dan
gefously high the tide Of illiteration has
risen among our voters and their chill
dren. To the South this question is q
supreme importance, but the RESPONSE
biiity for the existence Of slavery die
not rest upon the South alone. The ma
ton itself is responsible for the exten
sion of the suffrage, and is under specia
: obligation to aid in removing the litter
, acy which it has added to the voting
: population. For the North and tn,
South alike there is but one remedy
: All the constitutional powers of the ma
ton and Of the States, and all the vol
r unteer forces Of the people should b
/ summoned to meet this danger by tn
: saving influence of universal education
Z 1t is the high privilege and sacred dui.
j Of those now living to educate their SUE
7 cessors and provide intelligence aud vii
+ tue for the inheritance which await
0 them.
+ LII this beneicient work sections an
! races should be forgotten, and partisan
S ship should be unknown. Let our h0I
) find new meaning in the divine oracl
i which declares that ga little child sha
n lead them" for our little children wi
e soon control the destinies of the repul
l. lie. NY countrymen, we do not no
Is differ in our judgment concerning Il
V controversies of the past generation, ar
If ffty years hence our children will M
It be divided in their opinions concernir
l. our controversies. They will sure
bless their fathers and their father
h God that the union was preserved; tn
h slavery was overthrown, and that bot
d races were made equal before the la
a. We may hasten or we may retard, bi
ii we CdU uob pACNSAlb tAAN lihaA ACSOhoiNN
N alton. 1t is not possible for us now
Il make truce with time by anticipatil
t and accepting its inevitable verdict. Z
,e terprises of the highest Importance
7. our moral and material well-being invi
te us and offer ample scope for the emplo
rs ment of our best energies. Let all o
r. people, leaving behind them the bait
1t fields Of dead issues, move forward, al
ID in the strength of liberty and restor
as union win the grander victories of peat
We The prosperity which now prevails
n without parallel in cur history. Fru
.ir full seasons have done much to secure
re but they have not done all. The pres
n vation of public credit and the resun
,e- ton of special payments so successful
w attained by the administration of I
in predecessors, has enabled our people
". secure the blessings which the seasC
to brought. BY the experience Of comm
-..I .k,ors IN oil arroa II hos haan forl