The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-10
THE AlnfRICnN PEOPLE
AND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.

, can be passed upon q poiificAi system than
that IL leads naturally TO such result 80
Ibid.
No Intelligent man Win attempt to refuse
these statements. They ar~ pregnant with
truth ard wisdom. But they are n~ither
true nor wise. II universal suffrage In de-
f@rsibie, for we have seen what voting
means and that II In a franchise which in
reason and common sense should be CON
fired within we'll defined limits. just An the
possesricn Of those qualifications that 1T
men to w.e.d power and influence IL "A I'M
tied not universal thing.
Hut. some one may ask. are not ell men
born equsi7 Many men are born, a. Fall
STAN was. with white head and some
thing of round belly" bu; all men are
not born equal. and not even the d~c.ara-
ton 10 tina, effect IN q certain document
from the PEN Of Thomas Jefferson proves
or tends TO prove that II In true. i! We con-
s.d~r the literal meaning Of tn famous
expression. we at once sec That II Is not
Only untrue, bat that IL 81 ssnsc.sss and
foolish. Jefferson brought home with him
from France some notions that had better
have been left behind, but he himself SURE
Iy Intended no more In tbs declaration tnan
that men should have equal opportunities.
under the law, 10 make themselves good
citizens II IL AZ silly TO say that all men
are equal as II would be unjust 10 say
they shall not be given every reasonable
opportunity 10 make themselves equal.
That opportunity given. the rest depends
upon the individual
Returning now 20 the illustration with
which ] began this article. IL IL IL TO hold
good throughout. and the American people
are destined TO be a help 10 the people Of
other lands. We mus; ourselves get out OF
the muck we are In and plant our feet on
the true scope and limitations Of repub-
llcan government, We must do 80 by ex-
ample rather than by precept We mus;
show to the world that democracy W not.
nor In IL to become with us. the synonym
OF anarchy.
A distinguished statesman and historian
has SAID: II; liz necessary 10 choose
In this world between the intimida-
ton Of the just and OF the unjust,
between the security OF rogucs and % or
derry citizens. the former or the latter
must stand In fear: there must be senti-
ment, profound and lasting. Of "A superior
power always capable Of overtaking and
Furnishing. I'm the bosom Of the family.
IN the relations OF man with his God. there
is something Of dread. and this is 80 natu-
rally and necessarily. He who fears moth
ing ere long respects nothing"
The superior power" referred 30 has it,
basis In America. ~ We nave seen, In the
man with the vote--a much more significant
figure. By the way, than the man with
the hoe" II II Ii true that the voter. in
the way ! have pointed out. makes the
law. executes the law and CONSTITUTES and
administers the law. there are three things
necessary TO his full equipment. viz, char
acter. brains and property. The American
people Will have reached their full status
when the right Of suffrage Is restricted TO
the men who have these qusiifYca tons
And as sure AS there n a sun In the
heavens. We will fall short Of being what
we are capable Of being. and what the true
friends 81 republican government have the
right 10 expect OF Us, and our institutions
will be In constant danger until this In
done.
Speaking generally and within the linn
tations OF reason the man who has good
character and common sense II also u
property holder His sense OF Justice and
right and his self-inseress will determine
his position and he will always be found