On the record
Their political rights are franchises which they hold as privileges, in the legislative discretion of the United States.
Said by
Whitelaw Reid
Source
gutenberg.orgWhitelaw Reid: “Their political rights are franchises which they hold as privileges, in the legislative discretion of the United States.”
Editor's note · Context
Reid characterizes political rights in territories as privileges granted by legislative discretion.
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He who has that right will usually respect himself more, be more respected, perform more, and more productive work, and do more to increase the wealth and welfare of the community, than he who has it not.
May it not prove, moreover, in that work of reorganization, which now engages the thoughts of all patriotic men, that universal suffrage is the best reconciler of the most comprehensive lenity with the most perfect public security and the…
In this way they will surely overcome unjust hostility, and convince even the most prejudiced that the denial to them of any right which citizens may properly exercise is equally unwise and wrong.
It has proved, also, that universal suffrage is the surest guarantee and most powerful stimulus of individual, social and political progress.