The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-03-05

ernment but ii does fix and establish
the permanent supremacy of the Union.
The will Of the nation speaking with
the voice of battle and through the
amended Constitution has fulfilled the
great promise OF 1776 by proclaiming
liberty throughout the land TO all the
inhabitants thereof.
THE ELEVATION OF THE NEGRO RACE
from slavery to the full rights of citizen
ship Is the most important political
change we have known since the adop-
tioD Of the Constitution of 1887. No
thoughtful man can fail to appreciate its
benlficent effect upon our institutions
and people. 1t has freed us from the
perpetual danger of war ana dissolu-
ton.
1t has added immensely to the moral
and individual forces of our people. 1t
has liberated the master as well as the
slave from relation which wronged
aud enfeebled both. II has surrendered
to their own guardianship the manhood
OF more than 5,000,0 people, and has
opened TO each one of them a career Of
freedom and usefulness. 1t has gwen
new inspiration to the power of self
help In both races by making labor more
honorable to The one and more neces-
sary to the other. The influence Of this
force will grow greater and bear rich
fruit with the coming years.
No doubt the great change has caused
serious disturbance to our Southern
communities. This is to be deplored,
though it was perhaps unavoidable.
But those who resisted the Change
should remember that under our institu-
tons there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and equal
citizenship. There can be no permanently
disfranchised peasantry in the United
States. Freedom can never yield its full
ness OF blessings 30 long as the law or
its administration places the smallest
obstacle In the pathway of any virtuous
citizen.
The smancipated race have already
made remarkable progress. With un
questioning devotion to the Union, with
a patience and gentleness not born of
fear, they have "fellowed the light as
God gave them to see the light" They
are rapidly laying the material founda-
tions of self-support widening the circle
Of intelligence aud beginning to enjoy
the blessings that gather around the
homes Of the industrious poor. They
deserve the generous encouragement OF
all good men.
extend they shall enjoy the full and
equal protection OF the Constitution and
the laws.
TEE BALLOT IN THE SOUTH.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage
is still in question, and frank state
men OF the issue may aid its solution.
II is alleged that III many communities
negro citizens are practically denied the
freedom of the ballot. In SO far as the
, truth of this Allegation is admitted, il IL
answered that in many places homes
3 local government Is impossible If tn
9 mass of unedueated negroes are allowe'
to vote,
These are grave allegations. So ia
= as the latter is true, II is the only pallia
ton that can be affored for opposing the
J. freedom of the ballot. Bad local gov
;. ernment is certainly great evil whic
q ought to be prevented, but to violate tn
. freedom and sanc.ity OF the suffrage
) more than an evil-it is crime which
a if persisted in, will destroy the Govern
ment itself. Suicide is not remedy.
II, in other lands ii be high treason tc
compass the death of the King, it should
be counted no less a crime here to stran
y gle our sovereign and stiae its voice.
= It has been said that unsettled ques
T. tions have no pity for The repOse Of ma
IS tions. 1t should be said with the ut
10 most emphasis that this question Q
suffrage will never give repose or safet
to the nation until each within its owi
k jurisdiction makes and keeps the ballo
is free and pure by the strong sanctions
II the law, but the danger which arise
q from ignorance in the voter cannot b.
81 denied. 1t covers field far wilder tina
- that of negro suffrage and the presen
Ia condition of that race.
% IL is a danger that turks and hides i
It the sources and fountains of power il
;, every State. We have no standard b,
d which to measure the disaster that ma.
Q be brought upon us by ignorance ant
! = vice in the citizens when Joined to cor
2 ruption and fraud in the suffrage.
= RThe voters of the Union who maxi
and unmake Constitutions, and upol
r. whose will hangs the destinies of ou
Government, can transmit suprem
,s authority to no successor save th
n coming generation of voters, who ar
= sole heirs of sovereign power.
> If that generation comes to its IN
10 heritance blinded by ignorance an
II corrupted by vice, the fall of the re
0, public will be certain and remedilesG
L The census has already sounded til
p y, alarm in the appalling figures whicl
If af mark how dangerously high the It'd
al of illiteracy has risen among ou
ID voters and their children. To tn
y South this question il of supreme i'm
\ portance, but The responsibility for tn
y existence of slavery did not rest upo
~ the South alone.
ID Il The nation itself is responsible TO
er the extension of the suffrage and
al under special obligations to aid in rt
ly moving the illiteracy which it has ado
=. ed to the voting population. For til
~ ~ North and South alike, there is bu
,e one remedy. All the constitutions
. power of the nation and of the State
and all the volunteer forces of the pee
3 pie should be summoned to meet thi
danger by the saving influence of un
versal education.
Il is the high privilege and saere
duty of those now living to educa
70 their successors and fit them by inte
Iigence and virtue for the inheritanC
which awaits them. In this beneficel
IS work sections and races should be TO