The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-11-11
BASIC CONTROL
OF GOVERNMENT
Manning Explains Meaning Of
Federal Constitution.
EQUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP
Wise Provision Of the Founders For
the Protection of All the People Alike
Has Not Been Complied With-Dis-
frsnchisement Ia Form of Political
Slavery.

Slavery.
The government of the United States
sprang into being because of the abso-
lutte necessity of the banding together
Of the inhabitants of the American col
onies in unfolding certain incontesta-
BILE rights. Among these were the right
of government by the consent Of the
governed and the right to voice in rep
resentation where taxation is imposed.
The basic control of the government of
the United States is the constitution of
the United States. This document was
instituted Sin order to form more
perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, etc. says the
Hon. Joseph C. Manning of Alabama.
The founders of the government In
order to secure a more perfect organi-
zation than could have otherwise been
secured made certain compromises on
the slavery question, but finally the
constitution Of the United States was
so perfected by amendments as to EN-
brace all its citizens within the folds
of its guarantee. Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude except as a pun
ishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted shall
exist within the United States or any
| place subject to their Jurisdiction
The amendments to the constitution
| furthermore defined United States eiti-
zenship and set forth the nationality of
the United States citizen by the decla-
ration that "all persons born or natu-
rallied in the United States and sub
| ject to the Jurisdiction thereof are citi-
zens of the United States and of the
state wherein they reside" To make
the right of United States citizenship
emphatic and secure the constitution
further set forth that mo state shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens of the United States" With
the object in view of protecting the
ballot rights OF all its citizens the con
stitution asserted this declaration: 1.-THE
right of citizens of the United States
| to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or any state on
account of race, color or previous con-
I dition OF servitude."
Those who vote in the United States
as well as those who are indicted into
office take solemn oath to uphold the
constitution of the United States. Ev-
cry citizen in the United States Is obli-
gated and sworn to support and main
tain the principles of the constitution
In its letter and in its spirit. None are
expected to deny to others rights which
they may justly demand for them
selves. The ideal Of this government
of ours is that it is "a government Of
the people, by the people and for the
| people"
"The citizens of each state shall be
entitled to all the privileges and immu-
mites of citizens in the several states"
The constitution of the United States
put upon the nation the expressed obli-
CATION furthermore that "the United
States shall guarantee to every state
in this Union a republican form of gov
eminent" 1t was the aim Of the con-
stitution of the United States that CON
stitutional liberty and constitutional
rights should remain inviolate to every
citizen in every state.
That every state government should
and must comply with the fundamen-
tai principles enunciated therein is too
plainly set forth in the constitution of
the United States to require any dis
cussion. 1t is difficult of comprehen-
sion, therefore, that in a government
Of such lofty conception there has
been perpetrated by partisan political
maneuvering gross contravention of
the ballot rights of the United States
citizens in at least ten states of the
Union. The extent to which this ag-
| gression has gone will be looked upon
as something astounding by those who
| give this subject due consideration. 1t
Is almost enigmatical that public senti-
ment In this nation is not alive to the
open and fragrant conflict with the fun
damental rights of the people which
exists in the southern states.
Infringement upon the liberties of
the people of the south has grown to
such startling proportion through the
| general unconeern on the part of the
! people of the entire country that this
condition has become not only the
problem of the people of these states,
who as citizens of these states are so
directly involved, but one of vital mo-
ment to all the people of the nation.
Chattel slavery was abolished as In
consistent with the principles of OUT
free government. The republic could
not continue half slave and half free.
Disfranchisement in the south, form
of political slavery, equally as obnox.
ious and entirely out of conformity
with the letter aud spirit of the consti-
sutton of the United States will as as
suredly be finally overthrown.
nrn.a;z.4foa cacfa4xs 81 Mao4 A., q