15. W. L. Alden, “The Suffrage Paradox,” North American Review 146 (April 1888): 468-469.


Sarcastic discussion of the issue of whether suffrage should be limited to those who are intelligent enough to use it wisely. “This, then, is the change which should be made if we wish to be consistent upholders of universal suffrage. The more earnestly we believe in universal suffrage, the more earnestly we ought to try to limit the exercise of suffrage to the ignorant. That may seem a paradox, but it is a great political truth. We have built our government on the broad principle that the ignorant shall rule the intelligent. Let us show ourselves consistent by relieving the intelligent of the fruitless burden of voting.”