marking the line of
sex, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther?" I roll the
argument off from my shoulders, and I challenge the man that
stands with me, beholding that the world-thought to-day is the
emancipation of the citizen's power and the preparation by
education of the citizen for that power, and objects to
extending the right of citizenship to every human being, to give
me the reasons why. (Applause). To-day this nation is exercising
its conscience on the subject of suffrage for the African. I have
all the time favored that: not because he was an African, but
because he was a man; because this right of voting, which is the
symbol of everything else in civil power, inheres in every human
being. But I ask you, to-day, "Is it safe to bring in a million
black men to vote, and not safe to bring in your mother, your
wife, and your sister to vote?" (Applause). This ought ye to have
done, and to have done quickly, and not to have left the other
undone. (Renewed applause).

To-day politicians of every party, especially on the eve of an
election, are in favor of the briefest and most expeditious
citizenizing of the Irishmen. I have great respect for
Irishmen--when they do not attempt to carry on war! (Laughter).
The Irish Fenian movement is a ludicrous phenomenon past all
laughing at. Bombarding England from the shore of America! (Great
laughter). Paper pugnation! Oratorical destroying! But when
wind-work is the order of the day, commend me to Irishmen!
(Renewed laughter). And yet I am in favor of Irishmen voting.
Just so soon as they give pledge that they come to America, in
good faith, to abide here as citizens, and forswear the old
allegiance, and take on the new, I am in favor of their voting.
Why? Because they have learned our Constitution? No; but because
voting teaches. The vote is a schoolmaster. They will learn our
laws, and learn our Constitution, and learn our customs ten times
quicker when the responsibility of knowing these things is laid
upon them, than when they are permitted to live in carelessness
respecting them. And this nation is so strong that it can stand
the incidental mischiefs of thus teaching the wild rabble that
emigration throws on our shores for our good and upbuilding. We
are wise enough, and we have educatio