The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-14

sit struck the shackles from the limbs
of four million slaves, and conferred upon
them the priceless boon of free and equal
citizenship" This has been the boast Of
the Republican party for more than quar-
ter century, and upon it thousands OF
changes have been rung. And every word
of it is true-on paper
The thirteenth amendment to the federal
onstitution--abolishing slavery-was rat
flied by all but two of the states-Dela-
ware and Kentucky. The fourteenth
acknowledgement equal protec-
ton Of the laws-was ratified by all except
California (which failed 10 take final ac-
tion), Delaware, Kentucky and Maryland,
though Ohio and New Jersey afterwards
rescinded their ratification. The fifteenth
mendment-prohibitin a denial or
abridgement of the right to vote, was rat
lied by all except California, Delaware,
Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey and Ore
gon. Thus the 18th was ratified by 81
states, the 18th by 80 states and the 18th
by 30 states, and all became parts of the
constitution, of equal validity and entitled
to equal respect with any other portions
of that instrument.
Sominally-in the most formal manner
the former slaves are recognized as free,
entitled to the equal protection of the laws,
and guarded against any denial or abridg-
ment of their right to vote. But 50 far as
they are concerned, the whole thing has
been the veriest mockery. It is worse. 1t
has imposed upon them obligations and
has conferred no compromising privileges.
Still worse, it has through them increased
the power of those who formerly held
them in slavery, and who now deny them
the equal protection of the laws and the
right to vote.
1t has simply changed the shape and
position Of the shackles and increased
their weight. 1t has been simply con-
version of the condition of slave into
that of pariah. But unlike any other
country in which pariah class exists, we
insult ours by calling them citi-
zens, and wrong them by count
ing them as citizens for the
benefit of their prosecutors, while allowing
these to rob them of all the privileges Of
citizenship. We have stricken the shackles
from the limbs of four million slaves, and
have riveted manacles heavier and more
cruel upon the limbs of eight million
pariahs whom we mock with the title of
citizens.
Under the old regime, before these amend
ments were adopted, the whites of the
South were accorded representation for
three-fifths Of their slaves This made the
four millions count two million, four hun
dred thousand for purposes of representa-
ton. But now the eight million are fully
counted, the representation is about
trebled, and there, as before, their relations
to it stop. We call them citizens; we ex-
pect them to be patriotic, to take up arms
in defense of their country if need be, and
to pay taxes in equal portions to other citi-
zens; We give full representation for their
numbers in congress and electoral college,
but allow them no part in that representa-
ton or in the choice of representatives.
This infamous pariah system, a dis
grace to the nation and to civilization,
81 Republican senators are pledged, dis
posed and trying to correct; 81 Democratic
senators are disposed and trying to pepetu-
ate. Can there be any question as to which
should prevail? Can there be any ques-
ton as to the sympathies and de-
mands in this connection of any one who
loves right and justice and who respects
the constitution?