The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-30
An Educated Ballot.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
I have read your editorial in the Journal Of
Jan. 9. 1884 entitled 1.-THE Overshadowing CUES
+ion," in which you insist that as the Repub-
ican party is in power it should secure free
vote and a fair CONT in the South. That is
certainly a very reasonable proposition. / could
never ci<ie-stlnd why we should not protect our
citizens at horne 5S-Je we oni ss9 go
so scrupulous in exacting just treatment of citi-
zens when sojourning abroad. President Hayes
and those who stood with him, said, 1 believe
that under our form of government such pro
lection of voters could not be extended by the
national government. This Interpretation
seemed to be accepted very generally as a
fnaIity. Though l could not see any difference
IN such a doctrine and the one we had dis
proved, viz: THAT the national gov
eminent had no power to coerce State
And since Hayes, the only remedy for the
suppression of the colored vote in the South
has been to use the reports of violence to voters
to solidify the North and thus prevent the com
plete success of the scheme of intimidation in
gaining control of the national government
But we see that exposing these outrages does
not prevent their repetition occasionally if are
to believe what we read on the subject in Repub-
hean papers. There can be no doubt that vast
majority OF Jhe southern people are as Tree from
responsibility for these acts of violence as the
people of the North, and know as little about
the truth or falsity of the reports. This portion
of the So uthern people are as good citizens as
those of the North, and love justice and fair
play Just well. This brings to point
almost entirely overlooked ignored at the
North. 1t is the presence of a large voting
population almost devoid of property educa-
ton. which leads naturally to abuses well nigh
intolerable. Our best illustration of this evil
in the North is in the profiigate administration
of public affairs in New York and other large
cities where the riff-raff have the balance of pow
Ell; hence il is not to be wondered at that in
some localities South the old spirit engendePed
by slavery breaks over the barriers of a better
civilization when the ex-masters find themselves
dominated by their former slaves. They regard
these ex-saves as no more fit TO control the
finances and taxes of State or county than the
uneducated. irresponsible laborers in the EN-
ploy of a large business incorporation are TO con-
troll by their vote the business of their
employers. And the result is about
as disastrous in one case as
The voter without property or education may
mean well, but is apt to be made the tool of de
signing demagogues to get control of public af-
fairs, well knowing that they could not secure
such trust from the men who have to pay
the taxes. These are troubles for which rem
edy must be found before perfect fairness in
elections can be expected You say the voter
must be protected, but suggest no way forit to be
done. Exposing the outrages does not suppress
them. If force is attempted, enough Republican
demagogues, as we have seen heretofore, will
seize upon the opportunity to go over to the
other side to paralyze the party into an aban
dOnment Of such policy.
Why not let the intelligence and the thrift of the
country pool their issues and prescribe an educa-
tional and property qualification for voters, on
questions Of taxation, if nothing more. This
would bring a much needed reform to our large
cities, well remove the real cause for sup
pressing the colored vote in the South 1t
would offer additional incentive to the colored
man to educate himself and save his earnings
just what their leading men tell them they must
do anyhow to be respected. would be glad to
see you to agtate this question. We who want
to live among Southern people, as neighbors and
friends, are tired of the outrage business root
and branch, w. E. DRIsooLL.
MANATEE, Fla, Jan. 81.