The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-24
RHODE ISLAM

Two committees OF Congress have
investigated Rhode Island as to the
right Of adopted citizens to vote
in that state. The result of the
investigation establishes tie fact oI
the narrow minded, illiberal spirit
that controls in that little state of two
counties.
Senator Anthony of that state came to
the defense of his state in a speech in
the United States Senate. He opened
in this way:
"Mr. President-Th are persons
within and without, mainly without the
state, who are calling upon Congress to
interpose it's authority in guaranteeing a
republican form of government in
Rhode Island, on account of our consti.
tutional limitations upon the suffrage.
Those who Clamor on this matter from
without the state are clearly meddling
with what is not their proper concern;
those within have mainly come from
other states and countries, attracted by
the advantages of residence in Rhode
Island, and belong to class which has
been happily described as composed of
men who came among US unlimited, and
ON whose departure there is no re.
straint."
1t will be seen this radical Senator
tells the people to attend to their own
business, and let little Rhode Island
alone to enjoy her "state rights" He
also says it is no business of Congress to
interfere with the bigoted little state.
1t seems when Rhode Island entered
the Union, the right to vote was limited
to the holders of real estate of the value
of $l34, or the annual rental of 81, and
to the eldest sors of such land owners.
Rhode Island was the last state to en-
ter the Union Of the thirteen original
states, and did not believe much in the
Republic anyhow, as is evident from
these limited conditions of suffrage. At
the time of the framing of the Constitu.
ton this real estate qualification was to
many citizens an impossible barrier to
suffrage. 1t meant at that time a great
deal of real estate and a great deal of
money. These conditions have been
slightly modified since to native born
citizens, but have scarcely been modi
fed in the liberalizing growth of the
century, as to naturalized citizens, and
not much modified as to any citizens.
Mr.. Anthony arraigns other states,
and shows illiberality elsewhere, charg
ing that such states as Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and New Hampshire re-
quire the payment Of tax as a qualif.
cation for suffrage; that Vermont re.
quires of the voter an oath that he will
cast his vote with regard to certain in
terests; that Massachusetts requires the
voter to be educated, able at least to read
and write; that Connecticut requires the
ability to read, and the voter shall have
q moral character, and notice is invited
to the varied requirements of the states
touching residence, which are a denial
and abridgment of suffrage. His defense
then, is, that other states are about as
bad and illiberal as Rhode Island; but
he claims each state has a right for itself
to establish these qualifications. On
Mr.. Anthony's doctrine the Southern
states can fix, each for itself, property
and educational qualifications for their
voting citizens, as we'll as New England
and the North. On Mr.. Anthony's the.
ory northern people could not interfere
with states south, if they should do as
Rhode Island and other states do.