The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-07-18
A CONGRESSIONAL DUTY.

duOtueF To LQe long llSG OF lnSulIS
which the people of the South have
put upon the United States and upon
the constitution, about the sacredness
of which Mr.. Bryan PIRATES. The Ala
bama law is frankly law for the dis
franchisement of the negro. no matter
what his station or intellectual degree.
An Alabama Judge writes an open letter
to his constituents in which he assures
his white brethren that crime will be
no barrier to white mans registra-
ton, and that no embarrassing ques
tions'' will be asked of whites. We
wish to express our unqualified dis.
approval of the cowardly way in which
some of the Northern republican mem
bers OF Congress have treated this
question OF National suffrage. 1t is
sadly true THAI sine. the time of the
framing ct the constitution, when the
slave trade was permitted for limited
time. there have been Northern states
men who let the commercial demands
of the North still the cries of con.
science. Politically it is the simplest
folly for the republicans to cater to the
South. The people of the South would
vote for the devil and all his works, if
he were only on the democratic ticket.
This fact has been proven more than
once. The republican party should
treat the South with faicness and JUS
tice. The party is to too big and too
grand in its motives and in its destiny
to afford to 90 less We would not
urge any measure which would not eff
feet North and South alike, but there
is no reason why every individual de-
clared to be a citizen of the United
States should not be protected in his
rights whether he lives in Alabama or
Iowa.
The bill introduced by Congressman
/ Crumpacker to base National repre-
sentation upon the vote cast rather
than upon population. is good so far as
it goes, but it does not strike at the
root OF the evil
1t may be that the Nation has no
right to interfere to the point of saying
who shall be eligible to vote in cleo
tions for state, county or municipal
officers, but it certainly has right to
say who shall be eligible to vote in
National elections and if necessary to
protect citizens in their right of sutf-
rage. From selfish point of view it
is little difference to the North how
the internal affairs of Alabama are con-
Quoted. Ii that state wishes to stand
in its own light and to degrade the
negro instead of elevating him, it is,
strictly speaking, none of our business.
Such course can only retard the pro.
gress OF the South and make it less q
rival for the activity OF the North In
National affairs. however, we of Iowa
are just as much interested in the vote
of Alabama as in the vote of our own
state.
The proposition for which the RE.
VIEW has contended many times is that
Congress should specifically state who
are qualified to vote in National cleo
tions, that day should be set apart
for National elections, and that no
other election should be allowed to be
held on that day. To these enact.
ments should be added the constitu.
tional amendment providing for the
election of United States senators by
direct vote of the people, and then every
citizen should be protected in his
rights.
i Surely no sincere and honest demo.
crat could object to such legislation.
If democracy ia right, as democrats
claim, it should have no fear of appeal.
ing to the people and abiding the de.
cision of fair and honest election
The South could not complain that the
North was trying to force negro domi
nation in the government of their
home affairs, for the matter of state
suffrage would be left as it is. The
enforcement of state and Nationa
politics would be blessing to the PEG
pie of all sections. Too often is it the
case that important state issues are
lost sight of in the stress of Nationa
} campaign and poor officials and worse
policies are foisted upon the people a.
direct result of party enthusiasm
on National issues. Why the question
} OF protection or free silver should enter
into state election. except for the
selection of Legislators, is beyond oul
Ken, save as vote of confidence or lacl
Of confidence in a National admins
tration.
The foregoing would constitute al
the compromise that should be made
with any section of the country
Strictly speaking equal rights are
guaranteed under the constitution tt
all citizens and as restriction of the
right of suffrage involves acurtailment
of such rights and liberties it is ir
reality the duty of the United States
to protect its citizens whether the
l - 10 fo, &c