The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-04

same time operate TO disfranchise the
colored man. All sorts OF schemes have
been devised. and the false and fraud
ulent pretense that education and in
telligence is to become more fully than
heretofore the basis of the right of
franchise is being insisted upon. In
some instances, no doubt. this is an
honest and sincere proposition but I'm
many instances the humbug of ii and
the fraudulent character of it is too
manifest.
The fundamental outrage of the
whole transaction is the taking away
from the man of the right which he has
enjoyed However ignorant. however
illiterate, however unfortunate IN this
regard, he must nevertheless pay his
full share of the cost of running the
government Why should a man be put
to the expense of citizenship and be
debarred from participation In the
affairs of citizenship?
If during the next So years this country
shall progress with one-half the ratio
that 1t has during the last IS years, it
seems to me that It will be idle to appeal
the voting of the country because harm
has come to the country by reason of il
Has it been the ignorant and lHterate
that have menaced harm to the United
the hour of her need2 Is it the ignorant
and illiterate that today menace the fu-
crate men of the old thirteen states that
stood by King George and became tories
the loyal people of the colonies in the
great struggle for independence. Were
they illiterate men who in 1872 sought to
weaken the power of the United States in
the prosecution of the WARP Were those
men of the Hartford convention ignorant
mem was It ignorant and nltterate men
who plotted in 1860 and back of that and
made possible the great war that should
deNastate the homes and destroy the best
fruits OF our civilization and overthrow
the union2 Was it illiterate men, ignor-
ant men who, IN the war against Spain,
a war OF humanity, a war dicta ted by the
people, INVADED the armies of our soldiers
anc sought to promote disruption and
Who are standing today In the United
states Of America as a great insurmount-
able bulwark Of patriotism and protec-
that we loye2 A great army of educated
men2 I admit, but also a great army of
men VINO Would be dlsfranch1sed under
the Maryland law. There was no test in
1860 and 1861 when the government cried
out IN Its agony Save, or we perishi''
All the glorious results have been work
ed out from the first by the greatness and
glory of the education of the country or
by the cooperation and patriotism of
the illiterate men Of the country If by
for they have been true and patriotic. If
by the former. there is no need OF this
condition of glory by the help Of these ig-
norant men and because they We're power
less 70 90 harm or else we have come to
this condition over and against their
mower to do harm. and in either event
You can not have a disfranchised class
n q free government without making OF
that class enemies of the government.
Think you that the disfranchised men viii
be fond OF and faithful to the institutions
of Maryland and the United States or
VIII they stand aside branded, condemned.
assailed-a class second only to the i'm
pr1sOned and the criminal and the vicious.
and will they not hate a government the
thus treats its citizenship
All have said of the loyalty and faith
fulness OF the government of the nliteratc
white men can be said as truly in as large
degree at least of the colored man. He is
government q
it. He viii follow the men who are loyal.
The cOl0red race has reduced the condf-
ton of llliteracy 45 per cent. and that. too.
under all the troubles and turmoils under
which they have labored, and If left
alone and encouraged the cry Of fuiteracy
among the colored men VIII gradually
and indeed at last rapidly diminish