Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10


The will OF the nation, speaking
| through the voice of battle and through
the amended constitution, has fulfilled
the great promise OF l776 by proclaim.
ing 'liberty throughout the land to all
the inhabitants thereof" The eleva
ton of the negro race from slavery to
the full rights of citizenship is the most
| important political change we have
known since the adoption of the Con-
stitution of 1887. No thoughtful man
can fail to appreciate its beneticent ei'
feet upon our institutions and people.
II has freed us from the perpetual dan.
ger of war and dissolution. 10 has
added immensely to the moral and in
dividual forces OF our people. II has
liberated the master as we'll as the slave
from relation which wronged and en-.
feebled both 1t has surrendered to
their own guardianship the manhood Of
more than 100000 people, and has
opened TO each one of them career OF
freedom and usefulness. 1t has given
new inspiration to the power OF self
help in both races by making labor
more honorable to the one and more
necessary 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 insti.
tutions there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and
equal citizenship. There can be no per.
manent disfranchised peasantry in the
United States. Freedom can never
yield its fullness of blessings so long as
the law or its administration places the
obstacle in the pathway of any yirtuous
citizen.
The emancipated race has already
made remarkable progress. With un
questioning devotion to the Union,
with patience and gentleness not born
of fear, they have followed the light
as God gave them TO see the light"
They are rapidly laying the material
foundations OF self support. widening
the circle of intelligence and beginning
to enjoy the blessings that gather round
the homes OF the industrious poor.
They deserve the generous encourage.
ment OF all good men. So far AS my
authority can lawfully extend, they
shall enjoy the full and equal protection
OF the Constitution and the laws.
EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage
is still in question, and frank state.
ment of the issue may aid its solution.
II is alleged that in many communities
negro citizens are practically denied the
freedom of the ballot In 80 far as the
truth Of this allegation is admitted, il is
answered that IN many places honest
local government - impossible II the
mass OF uuoducated negroes are allowed
to vote. These are grave allegations.
So far as the latter is true, II Is the only
palliation that can toe offered for oppos.
lng the freedom of the ballot. Bad
local government j. certainly a great
evil which ought TO be prevented, but
to violate the freedom and sauCtlty OF
the suffrage Is more than an cyIl--It j. a
crime, which, ii persisted IN. will de
stToy the government itself. Suicide is
not remedy. II IN other lands 1t be
high treason,to compass the death OF the
King, II should be counted no less a
crime here TO strangle our sovereign
power and stfe its voice IL has
been said that unsettled questions have
no pity for the Tepose of nations. IL
should be said with the utmost cmpha
sis that this question OF suffrage will
never give repose or safety to the ma.
tion until each within its own jurisdic.
tion makes and keeps the ballot free
and pure by the strong sanctions OF the
l.. IL, -. l.. 9.sy 4.
Ignorance IN the voter cannot be denied.
II covers field far wider than that OF
negro suffrage and tbepresent condition
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 to measure the disaster that may
be brought upon us by ignorance and
vice in the citizens when joined to cor
ruption and fraud in the suffrage.
The voters of the Union, who make
and unmake constitutions and upon
whose will hangs the destinies of our
government, can transmit supreme au.
thority to no successor save the coming
generation Of voters, who are the sole
heirs Of sovereign power. II that gen.
Grafton comes to its inheritance blinded
by ignorance and corrupted by vice, the
fall Of the Republic will be certain and
remediless.
The census has already sounded the
alarm in the appalling figures which
mark how dangerously high the tide OF
illiteracy has risen among our voters and
their children. To the South this aues.
ton Is Of supreme Importance, but the
responsibility for the existence OF slav.
cry did not rest upon the South alone.
UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
The nation itself is responsible for
the extension of the suffrage and is un.
der special obligations to aid in remov.
ing the illiteracy which il has added to
the voting population. For the North
and South alike there is but one RENE
dy. All the constitutional power Of
the nation and of the States and all
the volunteer forces OF the people
should be summoned to meet this dan.
ger bv the saving influence of univeraal