Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-07-31

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new Government which might represent the
advanced thought of the world at that peri
cd upon the subject of governmental reform,
adopted the idea of the peoples sovereignty,
and thus laid the basis Of our present Re
public. While technically Government of
the people, it was in strictness only Gov
ernment Of portion of the people. exclud-
ing from all participation a certain other
portion, held in condition of absolute,
despotic. and hopeless servi,ude, the parallel
to which. fortunately, does not now exist in
any modern Christian nation.
With the elimination. however, of an
other cycle Of advanced thought, the Amer
ican Republic suddenly assumed the full
character of Government of the whole
people, and four million human creatures
emerged from the condition of 5ondsmen to
the full status Of freemen, theoretically in
vested with the same civil and political
rights possessed BY their former masters.
The subsequent legislation which guaran-
teed By every legal title the citizenship and
full equality before the law in all respects
of this previously disfranchised people, am
ply covers the requirements and secures to
them, so far as legislation can. the privileg-
es Of American citizenship. But the disa-
greeable fact Of the case is. that while. the
oretcaly. We are in the enjoyment of a
Government of the whole people, practically
we are almost as far from il as we were in
the antebellum davs of the Republic
There are but few leading and indisputa-
Bile facts which cover the whole statement
of the case.
In many Of the Southern States the colt
ored population is in large excess Of the
white. The colorej people are Republicans
as are also a considerable portion of the
white people. The remaining portion Of
the latter are Democrats. In face Of this
incontestible truth these States invariably
return Democratic majori,ies In other
States OF he South the colored people al
though not majority, form a very consider
able body of the population, and with the
white Republicans are numerically in excess
q the Democrats. yet precisely the same
political reSui, obtains-thc Democratic
party invariably carrying the elections. Il,
!, not even thought advisable to allow
an occasional or unmportant election to be
carried by the Republicans as a blind" or as
a stroke of ,inesse.
Careful and impartial investigation has
shown these results 10 follow the systematic
exercise Of physical intimidation and vio-
lence, conjoined with the most shameful de-
vices ever practiced in the name of free eec-
tons. 50 confirmed has this result become
that We are brought face to face with the cx-
'raordinary political fac, that the Democratic
party Of the South relies almost entirely up
on the methods stated for its success in ma
tlcnaI elections.
This unlawful perversion Of the popular
franchise. which desire 10 state dispas-
sIonately, and in a manner comporting with
the proper dignity Of the occasion. is one of
deep gravity To the American people-in a
double sense.
First. |, is IN violation, open, direct and
fragrant, Of the primary principle upon
which our Government j. supposed to rest
VIZ: that the control Of the Government il,
participated in hy all legally qualified ctl-
zens, in accordance with the plan of popular
government, that majoritie> must rule IN the
decision of all questions
Second. It's in violation Of the rights
and interests Of the States wherein are par
tlcnlarly ccntered the great wealth and in
dustrIes Of the Nation, and which pay an
overwhelming portion Of the National taxes
The immense aggregation OF interest, en-
braccd within. and the enormously greater
population of these other States Of the
Union. are subjected every four years to the
daG-rrS of a who'll, frauC ulent show of
numerical strength.
Under this system muorities actually
attempt to direct the course of National
affairs. and though up to this time success
has not attended their efforts to elect a
President, Vet success has been 50 perilous-
ly imminent a, u encourage repetition Of
the etIor; al each quadrcnnia election. and
% subject thr interests Of an overwhelming
majority Of our people, North and South
to the hazards of illegal sub,ersiou.
The ,'creoiypel argument in refutalinn
Of these plain truths is. that II the Republi-
can element was really in the majority they
could not be deprived Of their rights and
privileges bl a minority; but neither stats
ucs Of population, nor the ulaS aSol4ble logic
Of the situation, can be o,rrridIcn or -
capped. The colored people Of the South
have recently emerged from the bondage Of
their present political oppreSs4rs they have
had bu, few OF the advantage, Of education
which might enable them TO compete with
the whites
A. have hitherto maintained III ier
To achieve The ideal perfection Of popular
government, It j. absolutely necessary that
the masses should be educated This prD-
position applies itself with fun force to the
colored people of the South. They mus,
have better educational advantages. and
thus be enabled 10 become the intellectual
peers of their white brethren. as many Of
them undOubtedl, already are. \ liberal
schoo. system should be provided for the
rising generation Of the South, and the color
ed people be made as capable Of exercising
the duties Of electors the white people
II the meantime j, is the da;y Of the Nat
I0nal Government 10 20 bevond resolutions
and declarations on the subject, and 10 take
such action as may lie in it. power to secure
the absolute freedom Of national elections
everywhere, to the end that our Congress
may cease to contain members representing
fictitious majoriiies of their people. thus
msdrectlng the popular will concerning
national legislation, and especially to the
end that, in Presidential contests, the great
business aud other interests of the country
may not be placed in fear and trembling,
lest an INSCRIPTIONS minority should sue
coed in sitting the wishes Of the ma
jority.
In accordance with the spirit of the last
resolution OF the Chicago platform, measures
should be taken at once to remedy this great
evil.
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.
Under our liberal institutions the sub
jects and citizens of every nation have been
welcomed to a home in our midst, and on
compliance with our laws to a cooperation
in our Government. While it Is the policy
of the Republican party to encourage the
oppressed of other nations and offer them
facilities for becoming useful and intelligent
citizens in the legal definition of the term,
the party has never contemplated the ad-
mission of class of servle people who are
not only unable to comprehend our instit-
utions, but indisposed to become part of
our national family or to embrace any high
er civilization than their own. To admit
such immigrants would be only to throw a
retarded element into the very path of our
progress. Our legislation should be amply
protective against this danger. and if not
sufficiently so now should be made so to the
full extent allowed BY our treaties with
friendly powers.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The subject Of civil service administration
is problem that has occupied the earnest
thought of statesmen for number of years
past, and the record will show that toward
its solution many results of a valuable and
comprehensive character have been attained
by the Republican party since its accession
to power. In the partizan warfare made
upon the latter with the view of weakening
il in the public confidence a great deal has