Evening journal., 1889-11-15
WHO MAY voTE9

Judge ]. L. Jameson commenting on
this fallacy said
Suffrage is not a right at all it is
duty, a trust, enjoined upon or committed
to some citizens and not to others.
The theory on which the Republican
politicians are forcing the herds Of
ignorant and venal negroes into the tax
Office Is not only disgraceful in practice,
but it is unwarranted by law or by
equity. There is no possible warrant
for the practice except that which they
profess to derive from some indefinite
higher light Of nner-consciouspess inter
preted only by themselves to suit the
exigencies Of the Republican party. The
distinguished Judge Cooley said
As pratical fact the sovereignty is
vested In those persons who are per-
mitted by the constitution Of the state,
to exercise the election franchise.
Those practical politicians who are
manip ulating the Republican machine
have the impudence to attempt teach the
gangs Of poll-taxables that the right TO
vote belongs to every man inherently
and that no authority whatever is
sufficient to prevent him from exercis-
ing suffrage as a right. They have the i'm
pertinence to assume that officers acting
under the Constitution and in strict con-
foImity to the laws are depriving them
Of rights guaranteed by the Constitution
Of the United States.
The Constitution provides that no man
shall be excluded on account Of color or
previous condition OF servitude, but it
does not declare that the several states
shall not make other qualifications to
limit and restrict the right of suffrage
The state, which is the people, can ex-
elude and prohibit whatever persons she
may see fit from participation in the gov
ornamental affairs. She may restrict the
governing class as she restricts the use
OF the highways The state has precisely
the same power over the person that she
has over property and both sprirg from
the same source-the win Of the people
Judge Cooies saysl
Certain classos have been almost uni
versally excluded, 1.-The slave, The
woman, the Infant, (minor), the idiot
the iUnatic and the alien. Whatever th'
rule that is once established, it must re
main Fixed until those who by means o
It have the power Of the state put int
their hands, see fit to invite others t
, participate with them in its exercise
I ANY attempt OF the excluded classes K
assert their right to a share in the gov
ernment otherwise than by operating
upon the public opinion Of those VIII
possess the right Of suffrage, would b
regarded as an attempt at revolution I
. be put down by the strong arm Of th
government of the state, assisted
need be, by the military power Of th
q Union.
y In this state there are certain take
n and registrations, which the applicant
s membership Of the governing elias
IS must pay and comply with before he CO
a obtain certificate of his qualification 8
ID a voter. II he attempts to vote, withou
e. first having complied with the law, he
At an outlaw and an enemy to the stat
Ii Those who abet and assist a man in sue
ct an Illegal attempt are likewise OUTLAY
es and enemies TO the state
wv This matter of the right to vote is no
as as many simple minded and unrehectir
sh persons have been led TO believe, ma
ke ter Of forcing SO many dollars on t
of county treasury for so many certifcat
n Of right to vote,
The law contemplates that every m,
I shall not only be willing but also be col
e. petent to pay his poll tax, property ia
N. and attend to all other duties the sta
& shall require Of him. If he is not eth
en- willing or competent the state says
er shall not vote
au If it were contemplated that m
ed should vote. no matter whether he I
at. paid his poll-tax or sold his vote to so
of one else who paid the tax for him, I
on state would do better to forgive him I
Ses debt entirely aud permit him to "
es. without any restriction whatever.
ion the state-which is the people-pref
ase to dispense with both his dollar and
es. venal vote. In fact the state would ?
red er to dispense with the man himself,
i,n velal vote, his dollar and bis kind focei
Id aud !ofsse.