The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-10
NO 81

NO 81
constitution of 1887, no thoughtful
man car fail to appreciate in bene-
ncial effects upon our institution and
people, 1t has freed us from per-
petual danger of war and dissolution.
II has added immensely to The in
dustrial interests OF our country. 1t
has Liberated the master as well as
the slave from the relation which
wronged and enfeebled both; il has
surrendered TO them our guardian
ship and the manhood of 100000
people, and has opened TO each OF
them career of freedom and useful
nesss; it has given a new inspiration
to the power of self-help in both
races, by making labor more honor
able to the one and more necessary
to the other. The influences of this
force will grow greater and bear
richer fruit with the coming years.
No doubt the change has caused Sc
rious disturbance to our Southern
communicative is TO be deplored.
though it was,perhaps, unavoidable.
But those who resisted the change
should remember that under our in
vitations there was no middle
ground for the negro race. Between
equal citizenship there can be no dis
franchising the peasantry in the
United States. Freedom can never
yield its fullness of blessing
so long as the law or its administra
ton places the smallest obstacle in
the way of any virtuous citizen; the
emancipated race has already made
remarkable progress, with unques-
tlonable devotion TO the Union.
with patience and gentleness, not
born of fear; they have followed the
light that God them to see, and they
are rapidly laying the foundation of
self-support and widening the
channel of intelligence and enjoy
ing the blessings that gather around
the homes of the Industrious. They
deserve generous encouragement OF
all good men, and, so far as my au-
thority can lawfully extend they
shall enjoy full and equal protection
ofthe constitution anu laws. The full
and free enjoyment of equal suffrage
10 still in question and a frank state
mont of the issue NAV aid its solu-
ton. 1t is alleged that in many
places honest local government is
impossible, if the mass Of unedu
Gated negroes are allowed to vote
These are grave allegations so far as
the letter is true; IL is the
only palliation that can be
offered for expressing the freedom
of ballot" and bad local gov
ernment is certainly a great evil,
which ought to be prevented, but to
violate the freedom and sanctity of
suffrage is more than an evil, it is
crime which, if persisted in, will
destroy the government, and if III
other lands it be high treason TO
compass the death Of a king. 1t
should be counted no less a crime
here 10 strangle our sovereign
power and stifle its voice. II has
been said that the unsettled ques-
tions have no pity for the repose of
the nations. 1t should be said with the
utmost emphasis that this question
of suffrage will never give reposc or
safety to the states or nation till each
within its own Jurisdiction makes
and keeps the ballot free and pure
by strong sanctions of law. But the
danger which arises from ignorance
in the votes can not be denied. II
covers field far more wider than
that of negro suffrage and the
present condition of. that race. II is
the danger that turks and hides in
the sources and fountains of power
in every state. We have not q
standard by which TO meas
ure the disaster that may he
brought upon us by ignorance and
vice in the citizens, and when
Joined to corruption and fraud in
sunraBe, and the voters of the
union who make anu unIuuKU UITU
Constitutions, and upon whose will
hangs the destinies Of our govern
ment, can transmit their supreme au-
thority to no successors save the COM
ing generation of votes, who are sole
heirs of the sovereign power of that
generation that comes TO its inheri-
lance blinded by ignorance and cor
ruptiOn, and by vice the fall of the
republic will be certain, and rap
dily. The census, has already sounded
alarm IN most appalling figures,
which mark how dangerously high
the tide of illitteration has been
among our voters and their chill
dren to the South this question
is of supreme importance, but
the responsibility for the existence
of slavery did not rest upon the
South alone. The nation itself is
responaible for the extension of the
suffrage and is under special obliga-
tions to aid in removing the illitera-
cy which it has added TO the voting
population for the North AMI South
alike. There is but, one remedy.
All constitutional powers of the ma
tion and of the states, and all the
volunteer forces Of the people should
be summoned to meet this danger
by the saving influence of universal
education. 1t is the high privilege
and sacred duty of those now living
to educate their successors and pro-
vide by intelligence and virtue for
the inheritance which awaits them
in this beneficent work. Sections
and races should be forgotten and
partisanship should be unknoN n
Lot our hope find new meaning
in the divine oracle which declares
that.a little child shall lead them, for
our little children will soon control
the destinies of the republic. Ny
countrymen, we do not know the
difference, in our judgment, concern
ing the controversies of the past gen.
Grafton, and fifty years hence our chill
dren will not be divided in their
opinions concerning our controver-
sizes. They will surely bless their
T.. thers, and their fathers God, that
tho Union was preserved; that slav-
cry was overthrown and that both
races were made equal before the
law. We may have, or we may retard,
but VIC can't prevent final reconsid-
Grafton. 1t is not possible for us
now to make truce with time by
anticipating and accepting its ineyi-
table verdict. Enterprise OF the
highest importance 10 our moral and