St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-22
appeal to right by such government as ours

appear 10 rlgnL by Sucn government as ours
could not be disregarded by any civilized ma
ton. In the treaty of Washington we led
the world to means of escape from the hor-
rers of war, and it is to be hoped that the
era when international differences shall be
decided by peaceful arbitration is not far off.
EQUAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP
The central idea Of q Republican form of
government is the rule of the whole people
as opposed to other forms which rest upon a
privileged class. Our forefathers, in an at
tempt to erect new government which
nigh represent the advanced thought of the
world at that period, upon the subject of
governmental reform, advanced the idea of
peoples sovereignty, and thus laid the basis
of our present. republic. While technically
a government of the people, it was in strict
ness only government of portion of the
| people, excluding from all participation a
certain other portion, held in condition of
absolute despotic and hopeless servitude,
the parallel to which, fortunately, does not
now exist in any modern Christian nation.
With the elimination, however, of another
cycle of advanced thought in America, the
republic suddenly assumed the full character
of government, when the people and four
millions of human creatures emerged from
the condition of bondsmen to a full status of
freemen, theoretically invested with the same
civil and political rights possessed by their
former masters. The subsequent legislation
which, guaranteed by every legal title citizen
ship and full equality before the law, in all
respects this previous DISTINGUISHED people
amply covers the requirements and secures
to them, SO far AS legislation can, the privi-
leges of American citizenship. But the dis
agreeable fact that while, Theoretically we are
in the enjoyment of the government of the
whole people, practically We are almost as far
from it as we were in the ante-bellum days of
the republic. There are but a few lead
ing and indisputable facts which cover the
whole statement of the case. In MANY
southern states the colored population is in
large excess of the white. The colored peo-
pie are Republican, as are also consider
able portion of the white people. The re-
naming portion of the latter are Democrats.
In the face of this incontestible truth those
states invariably return Democratic majorl-
ties. In other states of the south, the col
ored people, although not majority, form a
very considerable body of the population, land
with white Republicans, are numerically in
excess OF the Democrats, yet precisely the
same political result obtains, the Democratic
party invariably carrying the elections. It
is not even thought advisable to allow an oc-
casional or unimportant election to be car
ried by the Republicans as "blind" or a
stroke of .tipesse. Careful and impartial
investigation has shown these results to fol-
low the systematic exercise of physical
intimidation and violence conjoined with
the most shameful devices ever practiced in
the name of free elections. So confirmed
has this result become that we are brought
face to face with extraordinary political fact
that the Democratic party of the south relies
almost entirely upon the methods stated fol
its success in national elections. This un-
lawful perversion of the popular franchise,
which desire to state dispassionately and in
a manner COMFORTING with proper dignity Of
the occasion, is one of deep gravity to the
American people in a double sense. First
it is in violation, open direct and fragrant
of the primary principles upon which oul
government is supposed to rest, viz: thai
the control of the government i;
participated in by all the le-
gally qualified citizens in accordance
ity with the plan of popular government, that
majorities must rule in the decision of al
questions. Second, it is in violation of the
D rights and interests of the states wherein are
conferred the great wealth and industries OF
the nation, and which pay an overwhelming
portion of the national taxes. The immense
segregation of interests embraced within anC
the greater population of these other states o.
the Union are subjected every four years tC
dangers Of wholly fraudulent, show the nu
merical strength under this system Of minor
tiles, actually attempt to direct our national
affairs, and though up to this time success;
has not atten ded their efforts to elect presi
dent, yet the success has been so perilously
imminent as to encourage repetition OF The
effort at each quadrennisl election, and to sub
ject the interests of the overwhelming major
of our people to the hazards of illegal sub.
version. The stereotyped argument in refu
tation of this plain truth is that if the Repub
lican element was really in the majority the,
J could not be deprived Of their rights ane
privileges by the minority, but neither sta
, tistics OF the population nor unavoidable,
logic Of the situation can be overridden O.
escaped. The colored people of the soutl
have recently emerged from the bondage
Of their present political oppressors. They
thave had but few advantages for education
which might enable them to compete will
the whites. As l have heretofore maintained
( in order to achieve ideal perfection of papu
lar government, it is absolutely necessary tina
+ the masses should be educated. This propo
sition applies itself with full force to the
colored people south. They must have bet
ter educational advantages, and thus be en-
abled to become the intellectual peers Of thei
white hretheren as mauy of them undoubt
| edly are. A liberal school system should bt
provided for the rising generation of th,
south, and the colored people be made al
capable of exercising the duties of electors
as the white people. In the meantime it ii
the duty of cur national government to q
beyond the resolutions and declarations or
the subject and to take such actor
: as may lie in its power to secure absolute
) freedom of national elections everywhere, tf
the eud that our congress may cease to con
tain members representing fictitious MAORI
ties of their people, thus mis-directing tn
, popular will concerning national legislation
and especially to the end that in presidential
: contests the great business and other inter
ests OF the country may be placed in fear AM
: trembling lest INSCRIPTIONS inority shout,
succeed in sitting the wishes of the majority
In accordance with the spirit of the last reso
luton of the Chicago platform, measure
should be taken at once TO remedy this grea
evil.
FOREIGN MODERATION.
Under our liberal institutions subjects an,
citizens OF every nation have been welcome,
to home in our midst and on complianc
with our laws to cooperation in our govern
ment. While it is the policy of the Repub
lican party to encourage the oppressed o
other Lations, and offer them facilities 70
becoming useful and intelligent citizens il
the legal definition of the term, the part
has never contemplated the admission of
: class of seryile people, who are not onl
unable to comprehend our institutions
{ but indisposed TO become part of our ma
tiolal family, or embrace a higher civiliza
! ton thai, thnir own To admit srch In, mi