DEBATE.
145
listens to his heart, not to his head. Gratitude and revenge influence his vote more than argument. The assertion has been made that he would sell his suffrage. On the contrary the history of recent politics shows that money cannot buy his freeman's right, neither bribes nor threats ever shake his allegiance to that party to which he thinks he owes his freedom. But when these bonds are broken by the lapse of time, then there will be danger from this source. The ignorant of any race or color, of every time, have been open to this charge of venality. It is not because his skin is black that his ballot must be regarded with suspicion, but because of his ignorance, which is his legacy from the white master.
The greatest danger to a free country is in the ignorance of its people. Its greatest assurance of permanency is the educating of its citizens to know and choose the right, to detect the false from the true, to decide between the patriot and the demagogue, to know the difference between licentiousness and liberty. The right of suffrage has been given to the colored citizen. The knowledge necessary to properly use this power is still withheld. The tools are in the workman's hands, but he has not the skill to profit by them. The constant discrimination made against the negro does not tend to make him a good citizen of a country, which, while professing to believe that all men are created equal, transgresses this principle every day of its existence.
This question is ever with us and will not down. The injustice we have done calls for redress. Duty to humanity requires action. Love for our country demands immediate measures for protection. The problem must be grappled with. It must be worked out with care, earnestness, enthusiasm, devotion. And if, when succeeding generations have had time to destroy false prejudice, another view of this country be granted, may we not see a nation divided by unreal lines into a North or a South, or separated into hostile races, Caucasian or Negro, but from ocean to ocean, from lake to gulf, one united, liberty-loving people, who shall delight in the common name, Americans.
DEBATE.
Resolved: THAT PARTY FEALTY SHOULD OUTWEIGH CONSIDERATIONS OF CHARACTER.
HONORABLE JUDGES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Affirmative—W. B. Swickard.
Resolved, That party fealty should outweigh considerations of character.
In the consideration of this question three ideas naturally present themselves:
1st. What do we mean by party fealty?
2d. What do we mean by considerations of character?
3d. What do we mean by outweigh?
Loyalty to any cause, in and of itself, wins the admiration of all men. But loyalty to one's country, or patriotism, cannot be extolled too highly. It is the foundation stone of government; therefore, no motive in public life can outweigh it. Loyalty to a friend is love, and there is no question but that love outweighs considerations of character. It may be founded on considerations of character, but when once fixed is paramount.
Now, party fealty is loyalty both to friends and country. That it means loyal-