Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-03

hold. Generally they do not desire to
quite their homes, and their en-
ployers resent the interference of
the immigration agents who seek
to stimulate such a desire
THE COLoRED VOTE.
But Notwithstanding all this in many
parts of our country where the cOlored
population is large the people of that
race are by various devices deprived of
any effective exercise of their politi-
cal rights and of many of their civil
rights. The wrong does not expend it
self upon those whose votes are sup
pressed. Every constituency in
the union is wronged 1t has
been The hope of every patriot that
sense of justice and of
respect for the law would work grad
ual cure of these hagrant evils. Surely
no one supposes that the present can
be accepted as permanent condition.
Ii it is SAID that these communities
must work out the problem Tor them
selves we have right to ask whether
they are at work upon 1T. Do they sug
gest any solution? When and under
what conditions is the black man to
have a free ballot? When is he,
in fact, to have those full
civil rights which have so long been his
I in law? When is that equality of in
fuence which our form of government
was intended to secure to the electors,
to be restored? The generation should
courageously face these grave questions
and not leave them as heritage of woe
to the next. The consultation should
proceed with candor, calmness and
great patience, upon the lines of justice
humanity llrQIndlnl
and cruelty. No question in our
country can be at rest except
upon the firm base of justice and of
the law. earnestly invoke the atten-
ton of congress to the consideration
of such measures within its well de-
| fined constitutional powers as will Sc
cure all our people a free exercise OF
the right of suffrage and every other
| civil right under the constitutions
and laws of the United States.
No evil. however deplorable, can
justify the assumption, either on the
part of the executive or of congress,
! of power not granted but both will
| be highly blamable if all the powers
| granted are not wisely but firmly used
| to correct these evils. The power to
/ take the whole direction and control
of the election of members of
| the house OF Representatives is
| clearly given to the general govern
ment. A partial and qualified suspen-
| sion Of these elections is now provided
! for by law, and in my opinion this law
may be so strengthened and extended
as to secure on the whole better results
than can be attained by law taking
ali the processes of such election into
/ federal control. The colored man
should be protected in all his relations
| to the federal government, whether as
| ltigant, juror, or witness in our courts
as an elector of members of congress
! or rs & peaceful traveller on our inter-
| state railways.
| IN CONCLUSION.
Tie legislation which | have sug-
| gested, it is sincerely believed, will
| promote the peace and honor of our
country and prosperity and security OF
the people, l invoke the diligent and
| serio1s attention of congress to the
consideration of these and such other
measures as may be presented, having
| the same great end in view.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
| Executive Mansion, Washington, Dis
trict of Columbia, Dec. 3, 1889.