Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-01
q peaceful way and by process of legal
ena Ct ruent "a her than by the red hand

question mutt conscientious thinking men
OF all parties address themselves. That
system, the intelligent middle class must
defend this fair land. and put stop 10
the rapacity. of the pIutocrat. as well as
to the nj, hf e ths as bone nv.
this question will peaceahfy settle it.
self. For it will settle Itself 6i'Iy IN civil
strife and bloodshed. Let us anticipate
that terrible event. and by. peaceful iessl
means put an end to this intolerable
shame and make it impossible for the
greed Of constituencies men TO grow fat
upon the nliseries of the people.
Concurrent with this question of the
regulation of wealth and the uses to
which 1t shall be applied. runs the ques-
ton OF the restriction of the right of SUI
fraae, For in the solution of the latter
lies: IN 1t large measure the settling OF
the forinet problem. The individual
lie lie is the actual sovereign who rules
the nation. Upon him fests the chief
responsibility of government. But un-
less he casts his ballot with intelligence,
efeieii.s ~ the people becomes a mockery
and a frieii.tcp ~ liberty. The funda-
mental principis Yp2. which 9o our govern 20 m
Declaration of independence as follows:
That all men are created f9nal. that
they are endowed by their Greater with
certain inalienable rights; that afngf.g
these are life, liberty. and the pursuit Of
hapniriers; that to secure these rights.
governments are instituted among men.
the right Of suffrage by the improper ex-
creise Of which The public welfare, your
liberty and mite may ne fnenaced and me
very NE 1f the nao PIT . IN ]eopnfd yr Is
10 quite a degree. awaking to n fealiza-
ton of the dangers attendant upon a
universal and unrestricted suffrage -
evidenced by the Iii5~emerlt in many OF
the states for ballot rcforir md an educa-
cational qualification for voters. ,.,
When. as in the largest city of the car-
sponsible and ignofar, foreign-born citi-
zens can set ut naught the utmost efforts
of intelligent conscientious people and
keep in power for years a reign q mis-
rule and rottenness, II IS time that some
restrictive measures were taken
So. long as it remains possible for the
foreigner he he educated or uneducated,
intelligent or otherwise. to obtain and ex-
ercise the right of suffrage before he has
had sufficient time 10 comprehend his
duties as a citizen.orto become ACQUAINTED
with os.r institutions. so long Will there
remain the necessity for further restric-
ton.
If cur immigration laws arc to remain
as lenicut as they now are, If W are TO
say in effect to all the world. I'VE bid
YOU welcome to America. If we are to
continIe to claim no voice in the selec-
ton OF our guests, then We must place
about the ballot such safeguards as will
enable the intelligent responsible classes
to control public affairs. and to keep the
irresponsible and ignorant classes i'll
check.
When We place the ballot in the hand
of the ignorant or un-Americanized for
eigner who in response 70 pressure from
some party boss or because OF curiosity
or other improper motive Has applied fol-
naturalization. when We endow such d
man with the right TO vote. we are plac-
in:s upon him responsibility greater than
he can bear with credit to himself or
with safety to the public. and we are
lowering the standard of American citi-
Zchship
1t is for US who see our sacred liber-
ties and our very existence as a nation
subje cted to such dangers. 10 see. to it
that such laws are made as will ilsGre
the ascendcncy of the intelligent. indie
pendent and conscientious American citi-
zen.
We cannot safely disregard the teach
ings of history. 1t is a universal law,
attcstcd by many examples. that the ma
ton which welcomes within her border s
and giants her citizenship to d foreign
element i'll greater numbers than she can
readily assinlilate must In the end find
the standard of her citizenship lowered,
ard ter self thepossession of the invaders
Rome fell not because of disaster in war
but because of the inroads of barbarian
hordes who had no respect for. or appre-
citation Of. her institutions. And America $
downfall if 1t ever comes. Will come not
because of defeat on land or sea. but be-
cause she has been unwisely generous in
the granting of herprivileges and her citi-
zenShip.
Let the foreigner who would become an
American citizan,renain here long enough
to acquire a speaking and reading knowl-
edge OF our mother-tongue: let him re-
main here long enough to gain and give
evidence of an Atelligent comprehen-
sion of his duties citizen; let min re-
main here long enough to become &C
quaintcd with our institutions; let him re-
main here at least half as long as the
native born person has TO live before he
may, exercise the rights of citizenship:
let him send his children to our public
schools and SO show his faith in the great
est of American institutions. In short,
in every. way. let him give ample and un--
by none but intelligent and worthy mo,
tives before we grant to him this sacred
privilege and responsibility. For. to use
the Language Of Burke. Liberty without
possible evils; for it is folly. vice and
madness without tuition or restraint"
Let me sum UP briefly what I have
sought to say to YOU This beloved nation
was not freed from dangers with the clos
ing of the war Grave dangers compass
her about today and menace her very ex,
istence. The spirit of discord and hatred
still lives to keep burning the fires of sec
tional feeling and unfriendlincss between
the North and Soutlt$ The union of the
s War but Taf the on eo oeT in o spr
and brotherly love isss1otevcn yet an ac-
complished fact. Blindedby sectionaism
both sides have been guilty in keeping
alive the Old war feelings and preserving
uncharity and unforgiveness.
1t is time for this to cease. We who
love the nation and hold sacred the MEM
DRY of our brave men who fought to save
the Union must defend against this dan
ger this republic on whose glory de-
ponds all that men hold dear.
Against the danger of an irresponsible
and constituencies plutocracy must We
raise up a great middle class which
neither intoxicated with riches nor craZed
with want, shall be IA bulwaTk against
which both the greed of wealth and the
violence of anarchy shall beat without
effect.
Around the suffrage We must place
every safeguard in order that its privi-
leges and responsibilities may be re-
stricted to those who will vote with in
tClligence and conscience and full ap-
probation of the sublime duty of citizen-
ship.
Against foreign races and elements
which have little or no aptitude for assimi-
lation. against all who are likely to be-
come a menace to our welfare. we must
excl else a wholesome discrimination.
" lille we would welcome all who will
lend strength to our government and
assist in the development of our re-
SOL, ces. at the same time our immigra-
ton laws must be tigilly revised 50 That
We MAY at least have some voice in the
selection of our guests.
In short against ,unreasoning section
alism against disuniOn sentiment,
against the greed of plutocracy, and the