The times., 1901-03-24
The ouestion of Pure Suffrage.

or previous condition OF SerNltuut' every
thinking citizen of the United States
ought to praise that grand old Common
wealth for timely recognition of ter
rible danger threatening our free instl-
tutions, and for applying To it an effec-
tive, If drastic remedy
The MARYLAND election law is viciously
resented by Republican politicians, not
because there is anything unconstitutIon-
al or unrighteous in its provisions, Tor
there is not: but because in MARYLAND, as
in many other States, the sole nope OF
their party is in the illiteracy. and hence
the merchantability, of large part OF the
citizenship The Maryland law. II opera
tive i'm Kentucky and Tennessee, would
nearly eliminate the white as well as the
negro Republican vote. But the truth
of this proposition does not alter the fact
that Acknowledgement Of Grass ignorance
would be a boon TO the country every
where.
All sorts of tentative schemes for pun
ishing Maryland for her effort to purge
herself of the mass of illiteracy that has
given the trusts and monopolies an all
normal hold upon her politics are being
revoIved in the minds of people who can
not bear the thought that sources Of Re
publican success have been cut off in the
State by the action of its government.
But such things are really unimportant-
The common sense and patriotism Of the
country approves the law. and will much
tend 70 securing its imitation in other
regions: that is. if our Government Is TO
continue as "A community of States. and
not at once change to an imperial regime
al Washington, with the so-caled States
reduced to the status OF provinces OF pre-
lectures.
The question presented In the proposal
TO confine the suffrage TO persons who
have at least an elementary English edu-
cation is not one for partisan but for
scientific political consideration. Ignor-
ance and its coTolaTy. vice. are organized
in the great city Of New York in the in
terests of Democracy; in Philadelphia.
cuuaHy IN the interests OF Republicanism.
The knife if resoiutely applied to the
sore would hurt the one in the first and
the other in the second instance. But the
result Of the operation in both cases
would be a blessing TO the American peo-
pie.
1t is not alone the Southern States that
need to protect themselves against cor
organized monopoly influence over ignor-
auce. but Northern and Eastern States
as well. The necessity applies quite as
much to Maine and Vermont, in the
matter Of admitting ignorant French Ca
nadians To citizen privileges, as it does to
New York and other large seaports in
connection with the absorption Of ignor-
ant Hungarians, Italians. Greeks. Turks,
Arslians. and Irish into the body poll
Tic. Experience has shown conclusiveIy
that the old sentimental doctrine Of un-
restricted manhood suffrage is a delusion
and q snare. II renders il easy for dema-
gOgues TO obtain control OF foreign ele-
ments utterly unable 10 know what they
are doing politically. and through our
fatally liberal system OF naturalization
20 handle and vote them. not in blocks
Of FIVE, but in blocks OF hundreds or thou
sands exactly as the party bosses may
wish, upon payment TO the padrones, or
pantatas. or whatever they may be call
ed IN the argot OF criminal politics, Of
the price fixed
1t Outrages the simplest concept Of
representative government that the re-
cent immigrant from Europe or Asia Mi
nor should be permitted man for man the
personal influence in the election Of a
mayor. a Governor. or a President that
is welded by the chief Of an American
commercial house or the head of great
university who perhaps has devoted years
Of his life 10 the study Of social ques-
lions and political science. Yet that is
What happens, and what leads 20 the
sbominable rule Of corruption and loot in
Eew York, Philadelphia, Chicago Boston.
and in every other important centre Of
population in the land. The man who is
too illiterate to be able TO read the daily
papers and 50 inform himself Of the ma
ture of public questions upon which his
voice is 10 be heard and his ballot count
ed at the polls is clearly not equitably
entitled TO take part in the decision of
those questions. As an academic propo-
sltion We might 20 much further and hold
that. in principle at least, a voter should
be something more than merely q male
human biped twenty-oue years OF age.
and able TO spell out the names of caudi-
dates Oh the ticket he is induced or paid
70 vote He should have some stake in
the country he is helping to furnish with
rulers. either as property owner or
contributor in some reasonable degree to
the public purse And this is especially
true Of the franchise IN municipalities as
related strictly 20 municipal affairs For
the proper purposes of local government
and administration IN cities they should
he regarded and treated solely as the
business and non-political corporations
they are IN theory, IT is shameful and
wicked that the taxes paid BY great com
mercial and Industrial communities for
municipal expenses and Improvements
should be controlled and wasted by eIe-
ments which do not bear a fraction OF
the burden. But this is q topic which IL
is not needful 10 press at the present mo-
meut. In due course. no doubt, il will be
come the subject Of discussion and agita-
lion. Just now it is enough 10 call ma
tional attention 10 the crying evil Of illit-
cracy In the voting mass and TO seek its
abolition. In accomplishing the reform
no injustice would be done TO any citizen
Each among the disfranchsed could
quickly remove his disability by learning
TO read and write. II the right to partic-
ipate actively In the government of one