Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-11-26

Is destroying the integrity Of the ballot box
ana breeding contempt for law. In all
these aspects this is a serious question. Its
settlement is demanded not in the interest
oil the negro alone, but in the interest of tho
people of the whole country. We cannot
preserve our institutions unless the ballot
oox, the supreme arliter of all public ques-
lions, is kept pure. We cannot debase it
ior the purpose of defeating negro suffrage,
anu Keep IL pure for other purposes. TX
fraud is sanctioned for one purpose, it will
DO practlced for others. There is no half
way ground between vice and virtue, be.
tween right and wrong
am not called upon to discuss tho policy
OF negro suffrage. Grant that it was a
mistake, and even crime il is founded
upon law, which must be obeyed or resist
co. neither deny nor undcr estimate its
OWLS, but they cannot be eradicated by
fraud, without entaiiing others of larger in.
| fluenoe. The great maiority of Southern
white men want honest elections but they
fear negro domination. Through this fear,
they have been politically ensiaved. The
negro Will never dominate the Anglo Saxon
III the south elsewhere. He may he
elected from few counties to the Legisla-
lures oil the Southern States, and from n
few districts to Congress. Better this than
ignorant and corrupt politicians are en-
SAVING white men. 1t is best for the negro
that white men should rule. Leaving out
or the question race characteristics they
are best capactated, by experience and in
teiligence, for the respons bities of govern
inent. But white men must rule by law,
and in the interests OF justice We must
/ substitute white rule OF law for a white
rule of fraud. When this is done both races
VIII divide, and the South will take her
pace IN the Union, by the side of other Sec
lions, Tree to consider the great questions
That from time to time must be decided,
, upon their merits and for the public inter.
est without being dominated by Ignorance
| through fear of negro supremacy. The
states have the power to settle this oues-
tloh, us the right to determine the qualiiica-
tons OF voters yet remains with them. They
uiu not lose tins right, or any other that
they ever had by the war. So long as wa
40 not discri inmate against the negro on
account of race, color or previous condition
our laws however stringent, will be above
| criticism.
Inc Australian ballot system, and honest
registration and election laws, will cure the
eNl. OF fraudulent elections, aud, with this
done, the race question will settle itself
w hen the people OF the South address
conscientously, for the purpose of settle
ment, there will Ice but one difficulty in the
way, aud that will be the condition OF tina
"hltc people in the black districts of the
south. At this point all right thinking
men are troubled l apprehend, however,
That II the proposition was carried before
the country in good faith the people of the
North would consent for the government to
purchase the lands in these districts at a
falr price from the whites, and sell them to
the blacks upon loas Tune, aud thus test the
value OF colonization at home in the settle.
ment OF this problem, which lies heavy up
on the hearts o the people of all sections OF
the country. However this may be, We must
appeal to the moral sense OF the people Of
the South TO right the great wrong OF fraud
upon the ballot box.
/ The duties and responsibilities of this oc-
casion have imposed upon me the unpleas-
ant TASK OF reviewing an unpleasant history
as Well as a delicate and difficult situation
at present. Our past mlsiortunes have come
from dIsobedience to written constitutions,
and adherence to what we have been pleased
to call higher law. BY the graves of half
a million of men, whose lives were sacrificed
in war that grew out Of INSTRUMENTATION
to law, by the suiferiugs Of broken hearted
women eft chdless or in widowhood, by
tue WalllnSS OF orphanaBe, by the SORROWS
this great nation has borne, by the Union
we love, and which blesses us ALL | appeal
to you to make the future future Of inn
plcit obedience to law, always remember
ing that upon the integrity of its citizens
rests the safety of the State.
Our readers will agree with us that this is
pretty square talk to come from sucn
quarter. If the question of free ballot in
th.,S
Alright, it will be through the efforts and
uttcrances of such patriots as Col. Hanson.
We should be glad if his Memorial day adj
dress could be put in the hands Of every
citizen, North and South.