The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-03
RAGS AND THE BALLOT
zv-sECETARY HUGH MCULLOCH
TAXES AN ADDRESS.

,-.sider Lincoln in Favor Of Prop
~ : Educa ional Qualification
ps=+ridng Negro Suffrage-Danger
- punng the Ballot in the Hands Of
the Igorant.
W,sHeroy, Jan. 2.-Ex-Sscretary
r.. NCulloch. who was 4 member Of
1-oside1 Lincoln's cabinet, mas written a
-..a51a tier. which was read at the cele-
r,-a.ion the emancipation proclamation
LsId bv te colored Teople of this vicinity
A. AIexudria yesterday. In it he said:
alt was. know, the opinion Of Mr.. Lincoln
and otherriends Of the colored people-tt
gas certally mine-that some qualitica-
+ion. such the ownership of taxable prop
o-.v mr. abity to read and write, or both,
eb6uld hae been required for the exercise
Of the RICH to vote, as an inducement for
+ba scouis,ion of what is needful on the
mart of a sf-governing people. The ballot,
=, the hans of those interested in the pub
lie velfareind possessed of the intelligence
70 use it dscreetly, is an important and
beneficial p yer.
WIEN 1T IS A MENACE.
"In the hands of ignorant, poverty
s.ricken mn, who are the dupes of those
VINO make ,olitics trade, it is an instru-
ment of mischief and mischief only. 1t is
the fear of he governing class that the col
ored vote viii be controlled by bad men
for perniciols purposes that prevents full
and free ballot in most of the southern
states. The franchise, as used by large
mart of natUalized citizens, is menace to
lie very If, of our free institutions. 1t Is
IN be hoped ttat our state laws will soon be
NO changed IS to put restrictions upon the
voting power of immigrants, but IL Is
nsither possiDle or desirable that the right
10 vote should be taken from the native-
horn colored leople Whether the uncon-
ditional right % the use of the ballot was
wisely bestowed upon them. whether they
are only nomnally freemen, or freemen in
fact, depends lpon themselves.
THE AFRICAN RACE INFERIOR.
There is a oervading opinion that the
Africans are naturally an inferior race;
that if they had not been the dark clouds Of
ignorance and barbarism which have for
ages rested upon great and fertile country
would long since have been among the
civilized nations Of the world. There are
good butinconclusive grounds for this opin-
ion Other races, especially those of Euro
paan origin, had supe ior advantages for
enlightenment and culture. There was q
time when they also were barbarians.'
DIMES soLlDITY.
Further on he says the south will Geese to
be politically solid when the colored vote is
divided, as it will be when the voters do
their own linking and vote according to
their personal feelings aud principles
The whites have always been
divided aud pretty evenly divided
upon political questions when not united
in defending common rights. So will the
blacks be when freed from outside pressure.
They will become members of the two
great political parties into which the coun-
try has ever cen divided. Some will be re-
pubiicenS and some democrats. To neither
party are tUey indebted for their freedom.
This was bestowed as a mightier necessity
to save the union, and it should be used for
the common good and the preservation of
free institutions. AS they become indie
pendent voters they will stand practica ly,
es well as legally, IN political equality with
the whites