The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-10

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or. ~ will often be tho case. al shres.
TIE danger that doomed up before " %
the heels ~ the presidential election OF isss
ID IN instances n point. Only twenty years
Afterwards another crisis In our poilttcs
aroused the country and brought shSui1ss
TO shoulder nssA who he'd never acted to-
gsthsy before.
But the evils Ne suffer froa universal
suffrage. though they constantly crop out
IN state and local AFFAIRS. a we'll q in ns-
tional. seldom assume. on any single oe-
caoon. such portsnsovs and ssrihsng pro-
porttona The mischief ~ wrought In subs,s
ana obscure ways. and the upderiying
cause 10 not traced 90 its source One Of
these evils. and one that should sscelvs
the diiiGcnt and searching attention. Of the
American people. 10 the widespread cor
ruptton IN our politics. Universal suffrage
has made II posSeie for this evil 70 -
sumo IT. present gigzntic proportions for
u has supplied VAST material on which
u works. Give IN ignorant man the right
20 vote and he becomes the dupc and the
tool OF the adventurer who r. gambling
TOR power with the lives Of men," and who
obtains following because he appeals 70
tho basest pamions OF the mind. Give Q
man without character and Respectable
standing In the community ths right 20
vote and u clothes him with = franchise
and power he neither values nor respectA
and which he win abuse and degrade with
out compuncfion.
Give man without property the risht
20 vote and he becomes entitled equally
with the property holder. TO detsfmins
tho weight Of tho burden Of taxation ali
property shall bear. and his action 10 un-
restrained by that most conservative and
most powerful Of motives self interest.
Hc has no stake In the country, and
n In Fas ~. - Ten A.
other respects. ~. for instance. the SUI
preme importance Of order and obedi-
snce 90 law. n he controlled by those
influences and considerations which CO.
operate 20 make good cifisenship.
What right have the incapable, the un-
worthy. or the irresponsible portion Of
society 10 an equal share with the cap
able, worthy and the responsible portion
In the exercise Of the supreme function
Of sovsreixntyf 4 republican form Of
government should not commit us 20
senseless ana dangerous theories.
II Will be- q melancholy commentary
upon human Intelligence II scIf-sovern-
ment n to prove failure. And how
dihncuit u IL for such a government TO
establish and maintain itself IL shown
In tho history NJ other nations IL II
shown. especially. In thu history of
France. From the downfall 81 Louis
XVI. 10 the present day note the agi-
tated. uncertain and shifting condition
Of the French people. A more classical
could be- made but In the
awful years following upon the revolution
Of t7Ss France may be- fitly compared 20
n ferocious SOW that devours her own
offspring. Eatiated with horrors. the
French nation welcomed master In
Napoleon Honaparte. Under his selfish
and bounfIeas ambition. distinctive. na-
fionnl autonomy was endangered
throughout all Europe. and his over
throw became q matter ~ Imperative no.
cessity. Then followed the revolution Of
tho Bourbons. the revolution ~ iss0. the
reign Of Louis Philip. the revolution Of
isis. the renewal ~ the empire. the fall
OF Napoleon III. and IN. feverish and
unstable condition that has prevailed
ever since. With an ardentsdesire for lib
srty. more than hundred years of trial
and endeavor have not taught French
men what liberty IL. They have yet 70
learn that orftr must 90 hand In hand
with liberty: that without the former the
latter In anarchy. Jus, an. without the
latter. the former In abaoiutism. The CO.
existence 81 these two constitutes tho
idea! government, and this co-existence
II possible In that nation only where the
sovereign power ana control are intrust-
ell 10 men 81 education. Of character and
OF property. The American people have
not yet come 10 n realization 81 this
truth But IN my Judgment the time II
not far distant when they will realize ~.
and will soc that iss practical appiica-
ton In essential TO the preservation OF
republican government.
Demagogues and adventurous will asi-
tate and plot; unth.nking fools Will be led
by the nose; the courts OF Justice and
obedience 20 law VIII be attacked; the In
stitu,Ion Of marriage will be ridicuIed and
denounced. and the right 10 private prop
erfy viii be challenged and denied. but
these and all like exhibitions % passion
and madness will only demonstrate and
emphasize the dangers that threaten the
ship Of state and the absolute necessity
that 8; shall be- manned at all times with
brave and efrc.en; men.
AS distant a. heaven In from earth. 30
IN the true spirit 81 equality from that
Of extreme equality. The former does not
imply that everybody should command or
that no one should he comman ded. but that
we obey or command our equals. ~ en-
beavers not to shake on the authority os
n master, but that its masters should b.
none but TIA saaais "--Monses,Iuieu
40 far I have considered the objections
10 universal suffrage which are basd az.
on the unreasonabiencss and the danger Of
sharing sovereign power Win those aho,
because Of ignorance or had character. are
UNIT md undrserving. or who. not bong
the owners OF taxsnie property. have fso
right 90 determine 20 what extent sucn
property shall ne burdsned with taxation.
There IL another point % view deserving
OF Serious consideration, and which be-
cause % the length THE article has already
assumed. wtii only touch upon brieny.
Universal suffrage chespens and mint
miscs the value and dignity Of franch.sc
tina, Ia essentially noble and precious. It's
free and tndlscrtminat. acquisition with
draws from IN. masses the se.n.st and
strongest incentive that could and that
should be held out ~ the wa'e 20 induce
men 20 make Of Themselves sooi citizens.
Ugnify y. and shield ~ 40 q prudent man
locks up a me jewel In q strong bos. snd.
az once. people hsg'n to appreciate 10
value and a. desire sts possession. ana tne
result viii be that men WI strive 20 make
themselves worthy of IS attainment ard
worthy OF ts retention.
l cannot better conclude this article tran
with the following ~eishfy observations
frara AaftssnuseH's sEaUffs dos Lar -