Whitelaw Reid: “Well, if the elephant must be on our hands, what are we going to do with it?”

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.

Our national experience has demonstrated that public order reposes most securely on the broad base of universal suffrage.

Let me repeat, that I think it best for all men—white men, black men, and brown men, if you make that distinction, that all men of proper age and unconvicted of crime, should have the right of suffrage.

It is my firm conviction, that suffrage is not only the best security for freedom, but the most potent agent of amelioration and civilization.