The National tribune., 1884-07-31
from the united States cham has Legitimate com.

to the fullest possible extent consistent with wise
and conservative public policy. Above all, we
should be upoa suc, terms of friendship as to pre-
clude the possibility OF national MISUNDERSTANDING
between ourselves and any of the members OF the
American Republican fami " The best method 10
promote uninterrupted peace between one and all
would lie in the meeting of general conference or
congress, whereby an agreement to submit all in,
teTnational differences to the peaceful decision OF
friendly arbitration might be reached.
An agreement of this kind would give to our sis
ter republics confidence in each other and in us
closer communication would at ensue, recp-
rocally advantageous commercial treaties might be
made whereby much of the commerce which now
flows the Atlantic would seek Its legitimate
channels and inure to the greater prosperity of
all the AneIicon commemorative The full advan,
tages OF policy of this nature could not be stated
In a brief discussion like the present
FOREIGN POLITICAL RELATIONS.
The United States has grown to be Government
representing more than 50,000,000 people, and in
every sense, excepting that of mere naval power,
is one of the first nations Of the world As SUCH
citizenship should be valuable emitting its posses
sor 10 protection in every quarter of the globe
do not consider it necessary that our Government
should construct enormous fleets of approved iron
clads and maintain commensurate body OF sea-
men IN order 10 place ourselves war footing
with the military and naval powers of Europe.
Such course would not be compatible with the
peaceful policy of country, though it seems
absurd that have not the effective means to
iepel a wauton invasion of coast and give pro-
lection 10 coast towns and cities against any
power. The great moral force of our country Is SO
universally recognized as to render an appeal TO
abroad or IN recognition OF any Just international
right, quite improbable. What we most need in
this direction is firm and vigorous assertion of
every right and privilege belonging to our Govern
its citizens, well equally firm as
seTfion Of the rights and privileges belonging TO the
general family of American Republics situated
upon this continent, when opposed, if ever they
Should be- by the different SYSTEMS OF Government
upon another continent.
An appeal to the right by such a Government as
ours could not be disregarded by any civilized
nation. In the treaty OF Washington we led the
world TO the means OF escape from the horrors OF
war, and II l. to be hopea that the era when all IN
ternaional differences shall be decided by peaceful
arbitration is not Ear off.
EQUAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP.
The central idea of Republican form of govern
ment is the rule of the whole people opposed to
the other forms which rest upon privileged class.
Our foreiatiers, IN the attempt TO erect new
Government which might represent the advanced
thought Of the world at that period upon the sub
ject of governmental reform adopted the idea OF
the peoples sovereignty, and thus laid the basis OF
our present Republic White technically a Gov
eminent OF the people, II was an strctneSs only Il
Government OF portion OF the people, excluding
from ali participation a certain other portion Eeid
4 in a condition Of absolute despotic and hopeless
servitudc the parallel which, fortunately, does
not now exist IN any modern Christian nation
With the elimination however, OF another cycle
/ Of advanced thought. the American Republic sud-
| denly assumed the full character Of a Government
Of toe whole people, and 0,000 human creatures
| emerged from the condition of boDdsmen 10 the
full status of freeinen, theoretically invested with
1 the same civil and political rights possessed by
their former masters The subsequent legislation
which guaranteed by every legal title the citizen
ship and fll equality before the law all respects
Of this previously -disrncAised people amply COW
the requirements and secures 10 them, far
legislation can the privileges OF American citizen
ship. But the disagreeabie fact OF the case is that
while theoretically, are IN the enjoyment OF a
Government OF the whole people, practically we
! are almost FAR from IL were III the ante
bellunl days OF the Republic There are but a few
leading and indispHtEble facts which cover the
whole statement of the case In many of the South
OF the white. The colered people are Republicans
also considerable portion of the white peo
pie. The remaining portion of the latter are Demo-
Gratis. In face Of this lncontestlble truth these
States invariably return Democratic nlajorities. In
other States OF the South the coioied people, al
though not majority form q very considerable
body OF the population, and with the hite Repub-
Ecans numerically IN excess of the Democrats,
yet precisely the same political result ohtans-the
Democratic party invariably carrying the elections
II Is not even thought advisable to allow
sionai uninportant election TO be carried by the
| Republicans a. a blind or a stroke of fnesse.
Careful and impartial investigation has shown
these results follow the systematic exercise of
physical intimiGai ion and violence, conjoined with
/ Tie most shameful devices ever prscticed in the
Of free elections. So confirmed has this result
I become that brought face TO face with the
! extraordinary political fact that the Democratic
party of the South relies almost entirely upon the
methods stated for its in national elections
This unlawful perVersion of the popular fran
ciise, which j desire 10 state dispassionaieiy and
Ia manner eomIortiug VITA the proper dignity of
the occasion. l. one OF deep gravity 10 the American
( people-in a double sense.
Itrsf. Ii Is in violation, open, direct and fragrant
OF the primary principle upon which Govern
ent Il supposed TO rest, viz: that the control of
/ the Government Is participated in by eli legally
qualified citizens, IN accordance with the plan OF
popular government, that majorities must rule in
/ the decision OF all questions
Second. IL is in violation of the rights and inter-
ests Of the States wherein particularly conferred
the great wealth and industries OF the Nation, and
which pay an overwhelming portion OF the Ma
tional taxes. The immense aggregation of inter-
embraced within, and the enormously greater
population OF these other States of the Union are
1 subjected every four years to the dangers of a
/ wholly fraudulent show Of numerical strength.
Under this system nlinoriiies actually attempt TO
direct the Of National affairs and though up
to this time has not attended their efforts
elect President yet success has been perilousy
imminent TO encourage repetition OF the effort
al each quadrennal election. and TO subject the in
teresfs of an overwhelming majority of our people,
North and South 10 the hazards of illegal subver-
| sion.
The stereotyped argument. In refutation OF these
plain truths is that if tle Republican element was
really in the majority they could be deprived
Of their rights and privileges by minority; but
neither statistics of population the unayoid-
able logic Of the situation be overriden es-
capped. The eolored people of the South have
recently emerged from the bondage Of their present
political oppressors; they have had but few of the
advantages OF education which might enable them
to compete with the whites.
As j have heretofore maintained ia order to
achieve the ideal perfection Of a popular govern
ment, il Is absolutely necessary that the masses
should be educated Ils proposition applies itself
III.
Y They must have better educational advantages,
and thus be enabled 10 become the intellectual
peers OF their white brethren. many of them
doubleday already A liberal school system
should be provided for the rising generation of the
South and the colorcd people be made as capable
Of exercising the duties of electors as the white
people. In the meantime il Is the duty OF the Ma
tional Government TO go beyond resolutions and
declarations on the subject and TO take such action
may lie in its power to the absolute free
dom Of National elections everywhere, to the end
that our Congress may cease 10 contain members
representing octitioas maJorities Of their people,
thus mlsdirecting the popular will concerning Ma
tiOra Legislation, and especially 30 the end that in
Presidential contests, the great business and other
interests OF the country may not be placed in fear
and trembling, lest interruptions minority
should succeed in sitting the wishes of the ma
jority.
Ia accordance with the spirit Of the last resolu-
ton of the Chicago PLATFORM measures should be
taken at once 10 remedy this great evil.
FOREIGN IsfMIGRATIoN
Under our liberal institutions the subjects and
citizens Of every nation have been welcomed TO a
home In our midst. and on a compliance with our
Jaws TO a cooperation in our Government While
IT b the policy of the Republican party to encour-
age the oppressed Of other nations and offer them
facilities for becoming useful and intelligent citi-
gems In the legal definition Of the term the party
has never contemplated the admission of a class oil
/ sergie people vino not only unable to compre-
bend our institutions but indisposed to become a
! part Of our national family or to embrace any
higher civilization than their own. To admit such
Immigrants would be only TO throw a retardinp
element into the very path Of our progress. Our
legislation should be amply protective against this
danger, and II not sufficiently so now should be
/ allowed l,xy ottr