Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-02
egR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Restricting the Right to the Ballot


The tendency of the times is to re-
strict the use of the ballot under one
pretext or another; in one instance
basing the restriction upon the pos
session of property; In another upon
race distinctions; again on intelli-
Renoe and ability to read and under
stand the English language; or upon
the place OF ones nativity. To some
races, as the Monaghan, the right Of
naturalization and citizenship is de-
MED; to all others of foreign birth the
right to it's use is conditioned to citi-
zenship through naturalization, after
period of residence, and dependent
upon good character, and a devotion
to the principles of the constitution.
All these restrictions but the latter,
are In derogation of the bill of rights
promulgated through the Declaration
Of American Independence, asserting
that all men are created equal aud
have certain inalienable rights among
which are life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness.
The rapid concentrated of wealth
In the hands of the few is rapidly ell
larging the number of those who with
property qualification may be de-
prived of the ballot. The same meas "a :, 9
also limits the ability of parents to
educate their children, all of whom
come into the world ignorant and I'M
educated, and must remain so, unless
the parents possess the means to have
them educated. Thus the use of the
ballot may be further restricted from
use by those who might be reasona-
bly, expected to use 1t in the interest
OF themselves and against the monop-
olistic Glasses.
In Mississippi the property and
educational test excluding the negro
from the use Of the ballot has been
sustained by the United States Su-
preme court, thus virtually abrogat-
Ing the fifteenth amendment to the
constitution. If the same restriction
Ia requisite to the success of the en-
oroachements of capital, upon the
rights OF the industrial classes, would
not the same law and the same court
refuse the right to the use of the bal
lot to white men who are destitute of
property and are as ignorant as the
negro. We assert in the fundamental
principles upon which our republic
10 founded that just government de-
r1ves Its power from the consent of
the governed, and yet deliberately
adopt measures by which the govern
ed may be deprived of the means of
assent provided in the fundamental
law. II governments create artificial
inequalities among men, creating for
one GLASS untaxable government obi
cations which must be paid by anoth-
or class, or by giving to one class
greater liberty than is allowed to an
other class, such government is I'M
just, whether it be the will of a czar,
or the decree OF the masses. Madame
Roland when being led to the scat.
lold by decree of the masses, exclaim-
cd: 70, liberty, what crimes are COM
mttted In thy name," thus empha-
sizing that crime committed by de.
cree the many is as odious as when
committed by the few. Concedine
that there is any just ground for dis.
tinction between individuals in rela.
t1on to their fundamental rights,
what is left the people but force to
save them from tyranicaI oppres.
sion and injustice?