The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-05
a Eree,n;,n's Will,

lit were proposed to disiranchise any
considerable number Of qualified voters,
for any cause however plausible, the land
would ring viii, protests Every man who
can poll q a ballot would realize that his
dearest right was in danger. We should
hear eulosies without end on the weapon
That executes the frccn,an's will
Az lightning does the will Of God.
Yet there is never an election but large
numbers Of our countrymcn disfranchisc
themselves for the time; and there is good
reason to fear that there are many tllous-
ands OF qualified electors who never vote.
II we compare the census figures with the
election returns for 1850 and 1852 VIC get
some idea Of the vast number OF Amcri-
cans who are not loingthcirdnty by them
selves, their ncishbors and their country.
In the census year tho men OF voting
age numbered 1851, i37. The popular
vote cast in 1880 for President was 9,olS,-
25f. 2Here.thcrc was falling of OF 1855.
1s6, equal TO about tllrcc-iourths OF
the vote OF the successful eandi-
date, or nearly fourth OF the entire vote
polled. It does not follow, OF course, TINT
all males Of voting age are qualified voters.
Included in the census returns are men
OF foreign birth not long enough in the
country to vote; and also men OF voting
age not long enough III q State to acquire
residence therein. Half million would
perhaps be a fair allowance for male resi-
dent OF foreign birth OF voting age not yet
entitled to vote. The domestic movement
OF tho voting population from State 10
State is much less. But il we estimate the
two elements at Il round million, which is
certainly in excess, there remain moro
than two millions disqualified voters who
do not vote. 81
II We compare tho vote for President
in 1880 with the vote for Congressman and
Governors in 1852, We deal with data more
exact. The aggregate for 1882 is reached
by taking the vote for Governor OF those
States which elected Governors in that
year, and where there was no Guberna-
torlal election the vote for congressman.
The lisurcsfootup 5000, 072, against 0, 2ls,-
psi for President in lSS0--a decrease OF
l,llS,279. On the face OF the returns more
than q million qualified voters took no in
terest in State or National affairs and had
no opinion to express. iE
Twenty.ono States elected Governors
and other State officers to administer their
home affairs for term OF years; and
every district chose Representative in
tho Congress Of the United States to
,lesslatc for two years upon matters Of
the gravcst moment involving tho present
aud -iuture. welfare Of the country, and
more than q million freeman and electors
had nothing to say about any oil it. II We
so back Of the popular vote Of 1850 and
draw our information from the census,
there were in 1850, making such allowances
as we have made, more than three mil
lions who did not 50 to the polls i'll 1882.
It will, doubtless, be suggested TINT
further allowance should be made for tho
colored men in certain Southern States
who are DISTINGUISHED by tho peculiar
methods OF the dominant partv in thos,
States. 1tmay be pointed out TINT while
in 1850 tho vote Of illinois iell Off Ia ass
on a voting population OF 100 s47 Tho yoto
Of Nlississippi fell Off. 100 lsl y on !
voting nopulation Of $3.50 Similar
1870, 800 tt',S