The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-06-14
IHE hlIEsAsy versa

What constitutes fitness for Amerf-
can citizenship In the light OF his-
tory we mar declare that ell bars
are Objectionable since one sfter the
other has been removed while tie
attempt 10 replace those lost BY
others meet with failure-,we cannot
even assume that manhood will re-
main as a qualification In view of the
fact that women insist on casting a
vote and seems to exert an increas-
ing influence. Shall We finally decide
right? Ffi' -
Should the franchise hays been
conferred upon the negro? II so.
then it would be difficult to sustain
the argument that any other is unfit.
Was the ballot improperly or unv,se-
ly given to the negro7 Then whr Is
1t not taken from him? Can we be
sure that negro wEo can read ,nd
write is duly qualified to govern nsf
Can we assert unqusIifiedly that
negro who cannot read must make
bad citizen? IL . Harmed German or
Freedman came over would he undsr
stand our politics ard processes
government any the letter because
he knew many books intimately and
well? Would that learned man vote
as intelligently as an American
farmer who might know very few
few books. or even 1.noy
We have assumed that our schools
would give US a population capable
OF meeting our political problems
with better minds than their fathers
possessed; what Is our experience?
Doe the average voter OF today prove
his superior fitness by his works?
knowledge Of books Ia more general
~ diffused. but Is 1t true that better
books are more generally known or
better understbodf FHt
Since education is more generally
diffused-we mean what Is generally
accepted as education should fol.
low that the men who represent us
In the capitols OF the states and In
Washington arc better fitted for the
proper dicharge.1o f their tasks than
ever before; Is this true? ~
II the prescription OF literary
test for the Immigrant. could give us
citizen better equipped TO, serve;
then the bill affecting siich, prescrip-
ton should be IMPORTANT; why then
do we find that only fifty-two OF the
house took interest enough in the
question Of accaptihe OF rejecting the
veto of, the presidenta Were. these
members afraid 70 express al opin.
ION becadseTof thea effect such an6ex1
preston might have On their politis
cal fortunes? ett
1t has been said that q president
who commands the support OF only
two states In the Union is presuming
when he vetoes bill sent him by
congress, but why should not Mr..
taft deliver an opinion on the sub
ject as well worthy OF consideration
as that of any member OF congress?
President Cleveland vetoed a similar
hill-shal VIZ suppose that Taft and
Cleveland had decided unvissly
when they agree with each othere
A prominent citizen In New Eng
land regrets that the government OF
those states is passing out OF the
hands pf the natives is . native of
this country better qualified than the
late immigrants? II these voters
from Europe and Africa and Asia are
not qualified TO GUIDE and direct us,
why give them the ballot after an
apprenticeship shorter than the term
prescribed for the ripenlng of the
American mind?
The South has fewer foreign born
voters than other sections do these
critics believe that the Southern vot;
err Is better qualified because of his
bloods -"
Is there such . quality of heridi-
tary iitness2 IN not, why does the
AngloSaxon boasts Of superior At
ness? II there is. why accept the in:
ferior article that deprives the better
citizen OF the power to serve his