The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1881-03-11

filled the great promise Of i776 by
proclaiming "I.iberty throughout tho
land 10 all the inhabitants thereof.
Tho elevation Of the negro race
from slavery to full rights Of citizen.
ship is the most important political
change we have known since the
adoption q tho Constitution q i!7G.
No thoughtful man can fail TO ap-
prcciaio iis bonefcent effect upon our
people. il has frcel US from the per.
pe,nal danger Of war and dissolution;
Il has added imme nsely 10 the moral
and Industrial forces Of our people; il
has liberated The master rs well as the
slave from a relation which wrongcd
and cnieeblcd both.
Il has surrendered TO their own
guardianship the manhood Of moro
than five millions Of people, and has
opened 20 each one Of them a career
Of freedom and usefulness. II has
given new inspiration 10 the power Of
selfhclp In both races by making Ia.
Dor more honorable 10 one and more
necessary to the other. The influence
Of tlds force will grow greater and
bear richer fruit with coming years.
No doubt the great change has caused
serious disturbance to our Southern
communiiy-this is TO he dcplored,
though it was unavoidable-but
those who resisted the change should
remember that in our institutions
there was no middle ground for the
negro race between slavery and equal
citizenship. There can be no perma-
nent disfranchised peasaniry in the
Uniied States. Freedom eau never
yield IFS fullness Of blessings as long
as law OF is administration places the
smallest obstacle ia the pathway Of
any virtuous citizenship.
The emancipatcd race has already
made remarkable progress. With
unquoslionable devotion TO the Union,
with a patience and gentleness not
born Of tear, "thoy have followed the
light rs God gave them to see the
light.
They are rapidly laying the mate
rial foundation for self-support, wild
ening their circle Of intelligence, and
beginning to enjoy the blessings that
gather around the homes Of the indus.
trious poor. They deserve the gener-
Gus encouragement Of all good men.
SO far as my authority can lawfully
extend they shall enjoy full and equal
protection Of the Constitution and
laws. The free enjoyment OF equal
suffrage is still in question, and a
frank statement Of the issue may aid
lis solution.
Its alleged that in many communi-
ties negro citizens are practically de
MED freedom Of the ballot. In so far
as the truth Of this allegation is al
mitted it Is answered that in many
places honest local government is i'm
possible il the mass Of uneducated
negrocs are allowed TO vote. These
are grave allegations.
So far as the latter is true. il is no
palliation that can be offered for op.
posing the freedom Of the ballot.
Bad local government is certainly a
great evil which ought to be prevent
ed, but to violate the freedom and
sanclity Of suffrage is more than an
evil il j. a crime, which, if persisted
in, viii destroy the Government itself,
Suicide is not remedy.
If in other lands il be high tire ason
TO compass the death Of a king, il
should be counted no less a crime here
to strangle our sovereign power and
stille lis voice. IL has been said that
unsettled questions have no pity for
the rcpCso of nations. II should be
said, with the utmost emphasis, 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 strong
sanctions of law.
But the danger which arises IRON
Ignorance in voters cannot be denied.
II covers a field far wider than that
of negro suffrage and the present con-
dition of that race. II is a danger
that turks and hides in the sources
and fountains Of power in every
State. We have no standard by
which 10 measure the disaster that
may be brought upon us by ignorance
and vice in citizens when joined 10
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
ment can transmit their supreme
authority TO no successor save The
coming generation Of voters, who are
the sole heirs of sovereign power. !
that generation comes to its inherit
ance blinded by ignorance and cor
T rupted by vice, the fall Of the Repub
lie will he certain AMI remedies. Tn,