Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-11
rHf SUFFRAGE QUESTION AeAlr
Views o&-Ex.Fire Department. Chief
Holmes.

To the Editor Of The EVENING STAB:
1t occurs to me, from reading the views of
those opposed to suffrage, that the only object
OF governments is to protect property and look
after Its rights, and not the rights Of mankind
1t is ssid that all just powers should arise from
the consent Of the governed. One would think
we we're stealing fifty per cent of our taxes
from the government. as they all appear to be
affaH,' if tha subject should be agitated, we
WOULD lose that which they say the government
owes. as no honest man is ever afraid to discuss
transaction which is honest and lust: but ii
looks 10 me, from their standpoint, that some
BODY pad been swindled in the transaction
II people are selling their rights and only get so
per cent. it would be considered better trans
action in selling to get 100 per cent, and then
the principle of taxation without representation
would not be violated SO far as the District is
concerned; but our rights as citizens of the
United States would still be denied u.s. Some
talk OF qualifications for voters. Well, who
would be competent to make the qualification?
Would it not be dangerous to make one tor
then it would be conceded the right. and others
would likely follow. and would it not be, as some
express it,, Flying to ills we know not OFF,
This country has had unprecedented success
upon the fundamental principle of manhood
suffrage. Others express views making the
qualification of voters tor simple municipal
officers upon higher standard than a
III.
the President of the United States. The
best citizen of any country is he who shirks
none of its responsibilities; who. If necessity de-
mands. offers his life that the nation might live
1t is well known that some Of the people in this
Dlstflct. when the government was on trial. flew
to foreign shores with all the available means
they could command. not having the manhood
TO take sides, only at safe distance, and thereby
trying to cripple the government under whose
protection they had made the means to go
/ hnr vr-hn afn
sneaking back. and to-day are enjoying the re-
suits. saying if you are not the possessOr of real
estate you ought not to have the right to vote,
because you are not a taxpayer have been
taught there is but one taxpayer. and that is
the producer, because if production stops then
all taxation ceases. 1t was always said how lib
eral the southern people were at our fashionable
northern watering places and abroad. but it is
conceded nowby every Onethat his lberatywas
at the expense OF the poor slave that was home
tOlllng on the plantation, and whom he seldom
saw but to spend the proceeds of his produc-
ton. While the war destroyed this sO-called
aristocracy, at great cost of human life it has
built up monetized one. which, considering
the times, is as dangerous, and wiIl,I a1I afraid,
cost more to destroy than the slave aristOcracy:
but hope not. Some say the ballot, but it
took the bullet to destroy slavery; but l don't
think, Tor one, that the mOnied arstocracy are
any the less powerful. Considering the differ
ence in the times. there is not much difference
between owning laborer than owning mans
labor; true. there is some difference. We see
the operators Of the Western Union telegraph
company on strike for eight hours work and
Is per cent increase of wages. If Jay Gould
would concede that to them it might not leave
him so much to SPEND on his trip around the
world in his fine steam yacht. The operators
are his slaves, as before the war no STAKEHOLDER
could travel in that style with all his oppression
and robbery Of the slaves.
GEORGE HOLMES,
Coz PENNSYLVANIA ayenu e.