The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 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 Compiled With-Dis.
franchisement Is Form of Political
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 upholding 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 'in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, ETC.. says the
Hon. Joseph G. Manning Of Alabama.
The founders Of the government in
order to secure 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 citi-
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: "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,
ditiOn Of servitude."
Those who vote in the United States
as well as those who are inducted 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 obii-.
cation furthermore that "the United
States shall guarantee to every state
in this Union republican form of gov
ernment." 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 government
Of such lofty conception there has
been perpetrated by partisan political
maneuvering gross contraventioh 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 unconcern 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 our