Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-05
Fith danger on every hand.


I made the great experiment of seIf-povern-
ment. When they found, after q short
/ trial, that the cOnfederacy of States
was too weak to meet the necessities
OF the vigorous and expanding republic,
tney boldly set tr aside, and In its stead es-
taolisned National Union founded direct
/ ~ upon the VIII of the people, endowed
with full powers of self preservation, and
! with ample authority for the accomplish
| meEt of its great objects.
Under this Constitution the boundaries of
! freedom have been enlarged, the fouuda-
| lons OF order and peace have been strength
eneo. ana the growth Of our people In
all the better elements of national life
has indicated the wisdom Of the founders.
and given new hope to their descendants.
Under this Constitution our people long
ago made themselves safe against any dan
ger from without, and secured for their
mariners and nag equality of rights on all
seas.
Under this Constitution TWENTY-FIVE States
have been added to the Union with consti-
tutions and laws framed and enforced
oy their own citizens to secure
the manifold blessings of local
self government. The Jurisdiction
of this Constitution now covers an area fifty
times greater than that of the original
| thirteen States, and a population twenty
times greater than that OF 1880.
The supreme trial of the Constitution
came at last under the tremendous pressure
of civil war. We ourselves are witnesses
that the Union emerged from the blood and
fire of that conflict purified and made
stronger for all the benedcent purposes of
good government.
And now, at the close of this first century
OF growth, with the inspirations of ifs history
In their hearts, our people have lately re-
viewed the condition of the nation, passed
Judgment upon the conduct and opinions of
political parties, and have registered their
will concerning the future administration of
the government. To interpret and to exc
cute that will, in accordance with the Con-
stitution, is paramount duty of the Ex-
ecutiye. Even from this brief review
1t 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
ernment during the century, our
people are determined to leave behind them
all those bitter controversies concerning
things which have been irrevocably settled,
and the further discussion of which can
only stir up strife and delay their onward
march.
The supremacy Of the nation and its laws
should be no longer subjects of debate.
That discussion, which for half century
threatened the existence of the Union, was
closed ct last In the high court of
war, by a decree from which
there is no appeal, that the Constitution
and 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-goYernment,
but It 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 1875 by pro-
claiming 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 important political change we have
known since the adoption Of the Constitution
IN 1887. No thoughtful man can fail to ap-
preeiate its benefcent effect upon our in
sdtuttons and people. 1t has freed US from
the perpetual danger of war and dissolution.
lt has added immensely to the moral and
industrial forces of our people. 1t has libe-
rated the master as well as the slave from
a relation which Wronged and enfeebled
| both. II has surrendered to their own
guardianships the manhood of more than
( 100000 OF people, and has opened to
each one of them a career of freedom
tiou to the power of self help in both races
by making labor more honorable to the one
and more necessary to the other. The In
huence Of this force will grow greater and
hear richer fruit with the coming years.
No doubt this great change has caused seri-
GUS disturbance to our Southern commu-
mites. This is to be deplored, though
it was perhaps unavoidable, but those
who resisted the change should re-
member that under our institutions there
was no middle ground for the negro race
between slavery and equal citizenship.
There can be no permanently disfran-
chised peasantry In the United States.
Freedom can never yield its fullness Of
blessings so long as the law or its admins
trstion places the smallest obstacle in the
pathway of any Virtuous citizen. The eman-
cipated race has already made remarkable
progress. With unquestioning devotion to
the Union, with 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 founda-
tions of self-support, widening the circle of
intelligence, and beginning to enjoy the
blessings that gather around homes of the
Industrious poor. They deserve the gener-
Gus encouragement of al good men.
So far as my authority can lawfully ex
tend they shall enjoy the full and equal
protection Of the Constitution. The full
still In question, and q frank statement of
the issue may aid solution. Itis alleged that
in many communities the negro citizens
are practically denied the freedom
Of the ballot. In so far as the truth
of this allegation is admitted, it is answer
ed that in many places honest local govern
ment is impossible II the mass of unedu-
Gated negroes are allowed to vote. These
are grave allegations. So far as the matter
is true, it is the only palltation that can 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 suffrage is more than an evil-it
is a crime which, If persisted in, will destroy
the government itself. Suicide is not areme-
dy. If ia other hands it be high trea-
son to compass the death of the King,
It should be counted no less
a crime here to strangle our sovereign
power and stifs its voice. 1t has been said
that unsettled questions have no pity for
the repose of nations 1t should be said,
with the utmost emphasis, that this ques-
tion of suffrage will never,giVe repOse or safe
ty to the States or to the nation until each
within its own jurisdiction makes and keeps
the ballot free and pure by the strong sane
tion Of the law.
But the danger which arises from igno-
rance in the voter cannot be denied. 1t
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 aud fountains of power In
every State. We have no standard by which
TO measure the disaster that may be brought
upon us by ignorance aud vice in our citizens
when Joined to corruption and fraud in suf-
frage. The voters OF the Union who make
and unmake constitutions, and upon whose
will hangs the destinies OF our government,
can transmit their supreme authority to no
successors save the coming generation OF
voters who are the sole heirs of sovereign
power. II that generation comes to Its in
heritance blinded by ignorance and cor
rupted by vice, the fall OF the republic will
be certain and remediless.
The census has already sounded alarm In
appalling figures, which mark how danger
ously high the tide of illiteracy has risen
among our voters and their children. To
the South this question is OF SUI
preme importance, but the RESPONSE
billty for the existence of slavery
did not rest upon the South alone. The
nation itself is responsible for the extension
of suffrage, and Is under special obliga-
tions to aid in removing the illiteracy which
it has added to the voting population North
and South alike. There is but one remedy.
All the constitutional power of the nation
and of the States, and all the volunteer
forces of the people, should be summoned
10 meet this danger by the saving influence
of universal education. 1t is the high
privilege and the sacred duty
+ 1Trfr3a 70 adrT fQ