The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-02-02
Vol. XVIII.-NO. 29.
Paper Read Before the ChIutduQld Circle.

Papsr Read Before the Chluta,Qua Circle.
TIME right to vote of every male
citizen who has attained the
age Of twenty-one years is GER J
tainly question that deserves
serious and thoughtful consideration
OF al good citizens of this American
republic | admit at the outset the
great fundamental principle of our
government, as set forth in the Decla-
rat con of Independence, "That all
nsen are created equal and endowed
with certain inalienable rights, among
these life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" that to secure these rights
was the basic principle upon which
our government was founded.
In the Articles of Confederation it is
declared that the free inhabitants of
each state, save perhaps, vagabonds
and fugitives from justice, shall be
entitled to all the privileges and
inmunities of free citizens in the sew
eIal states. Under our constitution
L
that "The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United States
Dr by any state OH account of race,
color or previous condition of servi-
tnde." Hence it seems that any re-
form of the right to vote must come
through constitutional amendment.
The same conditions Go not now
exist that surrounded earlier periods
OF our national history and during
which constitutional laws have from
time to time been made. The thought
fnl man observes that present condi-
items are such as warrant change or
modification of our present laws. /
view with considerable alarm the per-
petuity of our nation and of those
inyiolable principles grounded in the
warp and woof of the Declaration of
Independence.
You have only to look back for a
few decades and note an element that
has entered every political contest, be
it national, state or that of munic-
ipality. Does it not appear that un-
lass some important change of the
right to vote, our tendencies are in the
wrong direction?
The question can be justly asked:
What means national campaign the
conduct of which, is made by large
sums of money contributed till it
totals fabulous figure, but the un.
disguised purchase of votes? And
what is true of our national elections
is also true of our state and munic.
jpal elections. Is this condition one
which portends of good? 1 think We
may rightly ask, has the time come
that money is that by which station
is bought and forever given through
the medium of the ballot box? This is
the hand that threatens the very tenn
PIE of our liberty. American honor
American manhood, and American
citizenship should endeavor to stamI
its disapproval by raising the STANDARD
VI VI OIL ClOCGOl. AohO i
not only an educational test but {
moral test as WELL Newspapers ART
said to be the one great source b!
which every person may become pos
sessed of that knowledge, relative t.
the affairs of government that whel
sailed upon to cast ballot he can d.
30 in the light of intelligence and il
the honest conviction of having don
his duty, and in the interest of tn
masses. How true this may be vii
not attempt to discuss further thai
TO say that 1t is my opinion that tn
great majority of those whose onl
information concerning questions o
moment is what they get from news
papers, daily or otherwise. This ma
be certificate of intelligence, an
acting upon it he wisely yet blindl
casts his ballot in the interest of tn
people. What then is the conclusio
as to the fitness of many to cast a
intelligent baIotp 1t is not to b
doubted that our leading daily an
weekly journals are practically owne
and controlled by men of means or
corporate body Of wealth, and they