The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-03
AN EDUCATED BALLOT.

TO realizing sense OF tnelr oDnSauonS ana
duties as citizens and voters. An intelligent
ballot is as necessary as is an honest and free
fairs of state by the ignorant and vicious is
incalculabie; not so much that this element of
society moves of itself, but that it may be
manipulated by scheming and characterless
adventures in the field of politics. The Re
publican party owes it to the country and to
itself to lift the people to higher plane Of in
tellectual development. The party, as the
government in charge, is under the most sol
emn obligations of honor to give to the peo-
as party measure, but as duty it owes to
the welfare of the entire country. 1t
was the Republican party that placed the bal
lot in the hands of emancipated slaves and
made them the political equals of the
wisest men of the land. Why the
negro was enfranchised need not be
argued. The fact that he is voter remains,
as does the unfortunate fact that he is for the
most part in a state of great ignorance. If
the party compelled these ex-slaves to be citi-
zens, it should go as far as possible toward
making them intelligent citizens. They
should be enlightened, as should the people of
all classes and races. The American voter is
the arbiter of his countrys fate, and it is a
startling fact that cannot be denied that there
are enough ignorant voters in the nation to
hold the balance of power. Ignorance inva
riably begets moral cowardice. The man who
is unadvised by experience or study may be
fierce and strong in self-defense, just as a wild
animal is when driven to bay But as for be-
ing aggressively Independent it is entirely out
of the range of possibilities,
The negroes of the South, through the ignO-
rance begotten of generations of Nnrequited
servitude, are at the mercy of their late mas
tiers. Unable in their own minds to
grasp the needs of the nation
and of their own race, together
with the necessary legislation to secure the
same, they cannot have the courage of their
convictions, 10 compel the acceptance of their
votes, and to see that they are properly
counted and accredited. The trouble is they
can have no well-defned convictions, and the
same may be said of thousands of white men
North and South. In the South the prejudice
of ignorant whites will prevail, because of the
E 4l,a4 h. Il, 70 hoe halI
over the black in that section The Repub-
lcan party is in honor bound to go to the res
cue of these people. Let learning be diffused
with liberal hand, guided by the desire to
benefit all, regardless Of sectional lines and
political predictions. For fifteen years the
black man has confdingly lifted up his vote
to the ballot-box when permitted to do so,
having but hazy idea of its significance and
effect. 1t is time that he be raised intellectu-
ally to place where he can see the bearings
of his acts. To him it may now appear
simple thing to drop slip of printed names
into the aperture of ballot-box, even though
he may see that a white man takes great sat
isfaction in doing so. Let him be taught to
know that when he votes he assists in shaping
the affairs of state and the destiny Of his chill
dren
The Republican party made these men
citizens and then has left them to the
ierceness and malignity of their chagrined
and impoverished masters. The result was
inevitable The lash was again employed to
conquer the spirit of these patient men. And
when whipping failed to accomplish the pur-
pose of their oppressors, the shotgun was
brought out, with what effect the massacres at
Ellenton, Hamburg, New Orleans and Dan
vile will testify. Such outrages could never
have been practiced upon an educated people.
The government owes it to these citizens to
go to their relief, with books for the blacks
and full measure of justice for the men who
dare to impede the processes of government.
If the outrages and frauds of the past be re-
peated, it will be the fault of the Republican
party. It has the power, it is the power, as
delegated by all the people, to govern this
country as it should he governed. The prime
duty of government in America is to see that
every citizen is fully protected in every poit-
ical right, and to see that ignorance is dissi-
pated and intelligence spread The dominant
party has not discharged this duty, and it
must assume its discharge without further
delay
THE American hog and his raiser will have