The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-03-10

and eofeebl0d both. II has surrendered
our guardianship, The manhood
moro than 5000 900 pooplo, snd u hs
opened 10 each One Of them oafeers {
freedom and usefulness, II has given ne,
inspiration 10 Tho powor Of gelf help IN bot
rncss by mskbg labor more honorable &
ono and more Necessary ~ the Other
Tho influence of this force will
grow greater and bear richer fruit viii
coming years. No doubt tho general chang
has caused serious disturbance 10 on
southern communiliei this ia 10 be deplored
though IL was, perhaps, unavailable, but thot
who resisted the change should remembe
that under our invitation there was no middle
ground for the negro race. Be
tween slavery and equal citizenship
there can be no permanent disfranchiaed
pessantry in the United States. Freedom
Can never yield its fullness Of blessings So
| long ~ tho law or its g ADMINISTRATION places
the smallest obstacle in the way OF any yir-
tuous citizen. The emancipated rnca have
already made remarkable progress with I'M.
questionable devotion to the union. With
patience and gentleness not born OF fear,
they have followed the light ss God
gave them 10 see light; they are rapidly lay
| ing material for the foundation of selfsup-
port. Widening the channel of intelligence
aud enjoying the blessings that gather
around the homes of ao Industrious people,
they deserve the encouragement of
all good men. SO rsr us my author.
ity can lawfully extend, they shsll
enjoy the full and equal protection
of the constitution and laws. The full and
free enjoyment of equal suffrage is sGiIl in
question, and frank statement of the Issue
may aid its solution. II is alleged that in
many places honest local government is i'm
possible, if tho mass of uneducated negroes
ara allowed TO vote. These are grave
allegations, and so FIR as the latter
i. true it is only pallation
that can be offered for opposing tho freedom
of ballot. Bad local government is certsiDly
6 srea, evil which ought to be prevented, but
10 violate the freedom and sanctity Of sui
frage is more than sn evil; it ia q crime
which, if Persisted in, will destroy the gov.
eminent, and in other lands if it be high
treason to compass the death Of tho king, it
should be counted no leSs crime here TO
strsngle our sovereign power and stiie its
voice.
1t has been said that unsettled questions
have no pity FOR tho rspose of nations. Ii
should be said with tho utpoat emphasis that
this question Of suffrage will never give re-
pose or safety to the states or to the nation
till each within i.s own Jurisdiction
makes and keeps the ballot free and pure by
the strong sanctions Of law.
But the danger which arises from ig,
norGnce in the voter can't be denied. Il
covers fald far wider thaa thar OF
negro suffrage and the present condition of
that race, 1t is danger that turks and hides
in the sources and fountains of power ia every
state. We have no standard by which
10 measure the disaster that may be brought
upon US by ignorance and vice in the citizena
when joined TO corruption and fraud in
| suffrage. The voters of the union who make
and unmske constitutions, and whose will
changes the destinies of our governments,
Can transmit their supreme authority 20 no
successors save to coming generations Of
voters who are tho sola heirs OF tho sovereign
power.
If that generation comes 10 it,
Inheritance blinded by ignorance and
corrupted by vice, the fall Of the republic
will be certain and remediesa.
The census hss already sounded the alarm
10 the appalling features which mall how
dangerously high the tide Of ignorauce hiss
beon among our volers.
To the south this question is Of supreme
importance, but the responsibility FOL
the existence of slaYery does mol
rest upon the south slone. Tho nation itsell
is responsible for The extension Of suffrage
and is under specisl obligation 10 Hid in 70
moving the illiteracy which it has sdded &c
the voting population. For tho north ono
south alike there is but one remedy. Al
constitutional powers of the nation and OF the
auI oil thn xrDlunanar f,rnal
| of the people should be summoned
to meet this danger by the saving
| influence of universal education. II il
the high privilege and sacred duty of ihost
now living to educate their successors, anC
provide by their intelligence and virtue foi
tho inheritence which awaits them. In thil
this benefcent work sections and races should
be forgotten. snd partisanship should b;
unknown. Let our hope fnd new meaning
in the divine oracle which declares that :
ltto child shall lead them, for our LITTLE
children will soon control the deetinies of tbs
republic.
My countrymeo, we do not now differ il
our Judgment concerning the controversies
Of past generations, and fifty years hence oul
children will not DO divided in their opinions
concerning our controversies. They will
surely tlehs their fathers and their fathers
! God shat tho union MAS pIoadIs5 va. bOta
races were made equal before toe law We
may help or We may retard, bat va cRnnot
prevent final RECONSIDERATION Is II not pos
sblo for US now to make truce with time
by anticipating end accepting iis inevitable
verdict?
Enterprises Of the highest importance T.
our moral and material we'll being invite II;
and offer ample scope for the employment OF
our beat powers. Let All our pe0ple, leaving
behind them the battle fields Of desd issues,
move forward ard ia strength Of liberty sud
Lhs restored union, win the graDdostviciorie'
Of peace. The prosperity Which nov gre
walls is without q parallel 10 our history.
Fruitful seseons have dope much {, secure
Il, but they havs not done All The rrCseYva-
ton Of the public credit and tho rc'gmDi on
Of specie Payments 50 ucces1fuilY ~ the
administrations 81 my predecessors hes c.
sbled our people t. secure mo blessings
which the seasons brought.
By the experience Of commercial ncis in
al ages Il hiss been found iLst go and
silver sfor1ei ihs only SAFE foundation for q
moneisry sysiem. Confusion has recently
been created by vtfis.ilrs IN relation 60 81
slste Of tie two metals, but I confidently be-
lisvo that arrangements car s11sde between
tto leading commercial nati9us which viii