The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-16

''SNiNt1 anu DtRlulllIE W tllloN lllt
blessings that are gathered around the
homes of industrious people. They re.
celve the generous encouragement of all
good men. So far as my authority can
lawfully extend, they shall enjoy the full
ana equal protection of the constitution
ana laws'
The full and free enjoyment of equal
suffrage is still in question, and frank
statement Of the issue may aid IT'S solu-
tion. 1t is alleged that in many places
an honest ballot is impossible, if the mass
of uneducated negroes are allowed to
vote. These are grave allegations. So
| Tar as the latter iS true, it il the only
palllatlon that can be offered for oppos-
ing the freedom OF the ballots. Bad local
government Is certainly a great evil
which ought to be prevented, but to
violate the freedom and sanctity Of suf-
frage Is more than an evil-it is crime
which, II persisted in, will destroy the
government Itself, and If successful, is not
Il remedy II III other lands IT be hiSh
treason to compass the death OF the king,
it should be counted no less crime here
| W NlltllS lN 'hb lIlN NpN'lNlElI I'"'i7 anu
Stitle its voice. II has been said that I'M
settled questions have no pity for the
repOsc of nation 1t should be said
with the utmost emphasis that this ques-
ton of suhrance will never give repose
or safety to the states or to the nation
until each. within i,s own jurisdiction,
makes and keeps tha ballot free and pure,
by the strong sanctions Gf the law,
But the danger which arises from ig
norancc in the voter cannot be denied.
1t covers a field far wider than that of
negro suffrage and the present condition
of that race. 1t is a danger that Turks
and hides in the sources and fountains
Of power in every state. We have no
standard by which to measure the disas-
ter that may be brought upon us by ig-
norancc and vice in the citizens, when
ioined to corruption and fraud in sul-
frace. The voters of the Union, who
make and unmake constitutions, and up
ON whose shoulders will hang the de-ti-
nics of our government, can transmit
their supreme authority to no successors
save the coming generation of voters who
are the sole heirs of the sovereign power
If that generation comes to its inhcri'
tancc, blinded by ignorance and cor
ruptcd by vice, the fall of the republic
will be certain and rcmediless. The
census has already sounded the alarm in
appalling figures, which mark how dan
gerou-ly high the tide of illiteration has
risen among our voters and their chill
dren. 10 the South this question is of
supreme importance but the RESPONSE
bilty for the existence of slavery did
not rest upon the South alone. The ma
ton itsclf il responsible for the cXten-
sion of the suffrage, and is under special
obligation TO mid in removing the litter
acv which it has added to the voting
population. For the North aud the
South alike there is but one remedy.
| All the constitutional powers Of the ma
tion and of the States, and all the vol
untccr 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 sue
cessOrs and provide intelligence aud vir-
tue for the inheritance which awaits
them.
In this bencfcient work sections and
races should he forgotten, and partisan
yhip should lie unknown. Let our hope
find new meaning in the divine oracle
which declares that "a little child shall
lead them" for our little children will
coon control the de-tinie- OF the rcpub-
Er Nv r,untrymcn. we do not now
differ in ou, Judgment concerning the
Controversies Of the past generation, and
ffty wear. hence our children will not
ho divided in their orinions concerning
nur controversies They will surely
bless thoir fathers and their fathers
God thr fine union was preserved; that
sioyorv wea oyrrtLrowr and that both
races were made coual before the law.
Wc NAV hasten or we NAV ratard, but