The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-14
NAV shrew,lly conjecture results,
Int actual test Of the law IS what
will be required before sa"Ps place
among the prophets is assured.
The Suffrage.
E,litur True Democrat !:

surprise the tenor OF Mr.. Mat' U''m"'eS 81
article in your ,ssnc Of Tic 3oth u!llmo. "
Entertaining for Mr.. Gilmore sentiments
of the highest degree Of esteem and friend
shin have no desire to become engaged
with him in a heated newspaper contro'
ycrscv over the cumbersome and ccmpli-
Gated suffrage clause in oar new state con- ,
stitutio,l. but, believing. it the duty OF a
every one having positive views anu the |
courage of conv ction to give utferance T."
! beliefs with statements Of grounds where I
on they rest, must take advantage OF the
liberty of opiliion accorded those enter
tanning dissenting views.
In the article undtr consideration the
proposition for a poll tax prerequisite for
voting devoid of;any penalty for the non
paymert of poll tax other than tho loss
Of a vote in the next election after such
default of payment is denounced as un
American. Now in What particular is such |
Il provision deserving of that appcllation
more than any other plan for restricting
suffrage AS far as / understand the |
spirit of our institutions the cardinal prin
chile of American government is, that the
advantages and burdens Of government
slould be shared by all alike, or. in other
: words, "clual rights to all special favors
1 to nonc' We do not suppose that there
is sny order of superior beings who are
I livinely commissioned to rule over the
rest of mankind, but hold that all authori
.tv is derived directly or indirectly from
{ the people, that they arc originally in
4 every case the masters, the kings, that
is while they by their ignorance or in'lifler-
a. encc might divcst then selves of their
sovereignty and permit their agents to bo
come their masters, there is no truth in
n the proposition that a part Of mankind
rule over the rest, jure dirino, any further
. than that it is true that..i natural, which
. is divine law, there is Il provision tina;
~ those who fully develop the intellectual
faculties with Which all except idiots are
originally endowed shall gradually ac-
quirc All ascende.cy ever those who per
nit their faculties to rust or dwarf them
10, by vicious iululgencies. We know that
re- subsection to the domination OF others i;
,t the penalty which men have to suffer il
consequence of their non development OF
Nv the thinking powers with which they ar
't' intrusted by their Creator, but VIC do no
no regard this state Of thingsas blcssin!
ne. any more than we 20 regard the condition
~, of many of our tello beings who are col,
H., fined in asylunns, jaiIs and pcnitcntiaries
~ hence our cducat onal system designed
nc maintain the political equality Of men b
the Gas far as POSSIBILITY uu7ersal diifusio
tel of knowledge. In the light of these fact
-, we cannot regard the power Of suffrage s
a privilege conferred ON the voter by til
40 state either Us a favor or reward for Ii
EAT own or his ancestors meritorionS deed
ab. but must consider it Us III original rigl'
hc Every man has Il right to exercise u vol
in government for the protection Of Ii
"'' own welfare Just as he has y tight to Il
u or personal liberty. rs hc has right to- Z
gage in any Legitimate calling coHdu'i'
re. to his Interests, or to do anything to
trn. vance bis own happiness or welfare wit
49,, ont destroying or injnring that of otbo
'' But no one has right through ignoran'
''"' indifference or cupility to exercise I
%cn voters prcrogatiyc in such manner as
'ple work injury to society as whole a
, nG more than to carry the exercise of
.r personal liberty to tho point Of sctti'
- ~ fire to his neighbours house OF barn. S
"''' fragc is right, but it is Il right inscp
re- ably attached to IL responsibility, and
ANY disposition or inability to meet the resp
an sibility for tho time being renders
mis-, right nnSatory.
Now society has light to shut out
Voc its circles those who are not alive t
the sense of tho responsibilities of the fir
less mans prcroyativc just as she has ri
thc to deprive the lunatic or criminal Of !
-, -, sonal liberty, bnt just how to reach t
w. class is /; dihicu 1t problem, and there
"''' little reason to suppose that any of
/ llh- devices proposed will work to perfect
Mis- All have their drawbacks, and IN
,t0re have been tried elsewhere and pro
nary unsatisfactory. Now it is impossible
J., y, conceive Of plan which would in ov
- ~ " case he absolutely just, there might e
81 ~ conditions under Which a poll tax pr
ciore ouisito for voting Won d work to excl
now. many competent and worthy pc rsons,
,crat it does not by any means necessarily
49,; low that because IL person would OF
~ own volition pay a poll tax he would
'''" on every question which might arise
wake to the duties Of one upon who N
sponsibiities lraught with the veal
woe of others might have dovolved.
;, hos it stands to reason that the majority