The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-11-02

written y Senator Antho. S
~ ef that State. Our readers are ,
doubtless aware that thsre is ;
property qualification for voters 4
that state, and the purpose of Senator
Anthony il to explain aud defend that
kind ofa law. He offers nothing new
in defense Of such . policy, but We
desire to call attention to the fact Of
his Inconsistencies and narrow views
which are peculiar to New England.
No maA wko has ever occupied seat
in the United States Senate has labor
ed more zealously TO force upon TIE
people of other states legislation which
Was repugnaas both to their interests
and feelings. than Senator Anthony
has. Net satisfied with bsing permit
tod to dictate their own legislation for
their own state, the people of Rhode
Island, Led by Senator Anthsny, have
been in the very front ranks Of the
New England crusade TO fashion and
shape the laws of ether states, They
have satisfied themselves that mono but
the right, virtoous, intelligent and
great should fashion aud shape the
laws of the country, and have further
deliberately resolved that they are the
great, the virtuous aud intelligent.
They have felt at liberty to interfere
| in the legislation of ell other states,
but when men have medestly raised
the inquiry as to the policy and Justice
Of the suffrage laws Of Rhode Island,
We are very haughtily informed by this
austere senator that Rhode Island
Legislation "is matter of their own
exclusive concern, that che Limitation
Of the suffrage suits them who alone
are affected BY it, that they who do not
like it, are under no obligation TO come
within its reach" That Is the narrow
minded and haughty return of bim
whe has so earnestly but Intellectually
labOred to pOpularize the aristScratic
legislation of his state, Tho senator
inferms the reader in the most un-
sophisticated and innocent manner that
he would not discuss the right of each
state to establish its own suffrage and
to prescribe the terms on which per-
sons may enter the body polite, for
this he assumes is universally conceded.
But, since when, have the senator and
his political associates been believers
In such strong state rights doctrines !
This kind Of doctrine, promulgated BY
= Democrat, would subject him TO the
epithsts OF "rebel," ''secessionist," !"
''traitor," and ether chsico names BY
which these Republican leaders are
wont TO designate those who have 50
long and earnestly contsnded for that
great constitutional doctrine that each
state has the inalimable right to rsgu-
late its own domestic concerns in its
ewn way and according to its own
wishes subject only to the constitution
Of the United States. We cOngratulats
the Senator upon his progress in .
knswledge of the organic and funda
mentaI law of the land. We hope no
Republican viii 40 far forget himself
as to denounce him as y "secessionist"
fer thus placing himself squarely upon
the fundamental doctrine of state
rights. Unfortunately for the reputs-
ton Of the senator, he nanifcsts more
ill-nature and resentment than wisdom
and good sense. He here puts himself
on the record as saying that "the SEN
ate Of the United States in 1879
appointed committee to visit Rhode
Island and inquire into The right Of the
people OF that state to manage their
own affairs in their own way" The
senator could not but know that this is
a willful perversion Of the trush Of
history. At that time our Republicans
friends had the southern outrage mill"
running both day and nigh, 50 to
speak. Republicans in and out Of
congress clsmored for the appointment
of committee to investigate into The
suffrage question in the south. rbe
COMMITTEES was appointed, and, on the
motion Of Democrats, Rhode Island
was included in the states to be inves-
tigkted. But it was no part Of the
duty Of that COMMITTEES to inquire
whether the people Of Rhode Island or
any other state have the right to man
age their own affairs in their own way,
az that question can only be determined
by consulting the constitution ofthe
United States, and that could be as
easily done at Washington as in Rhode
Island. The whele purpose of the
article seems to be to find sufficient
ysxeuse to justify Rhode Island in dis
franchising thousands of foreigners in
that state, and, at the sane time, End
justification for The part sho has taken
in forcing negro suffrage upon other
states. The senator, as every psrsea
viii st once see, maae failure in such
effort. The only marked feature of the