New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-04
GEN. GANTT,s CONVERTS.

GEN. GANTT'S CONVERTS.
Hypocrisy it has been well said, : is the
homage that Vice pays to Virtue Gen. GAETT''
admirable address in our city, cntreating bis
former compatriols in the Democratic party moi
70 persist in crushing out the UniOnists of the
South by UNFOLDING Slavery, has made deep
impression, and an organ of fosSilzed Democ-
racy labors TO convince Gen. CAN'T that
he must not believe his own eyes and
ears-that Northern Democracy Is not really
Pro.Slaverv, but anti-Ineryention; maintain
ing, not that Slavery is right, but that We of tho
Free States should mind our own business and
let alone other peoples. We desire to recall
some facts which seem to us at war with this
position.
/. For many years past, the Irish and other
lajorers of our city have been successfully ex-
hortedto vote the regular Democratic ticket
as an anti.AbolitiOn ticket, and in order to pre-
cludc an enormous influx of Negro Labor from
the South, whereby Git was alleged their own
would be suppiantcd or cheapencd. Thisappeal
has formed the staple Of half the harangucs
made at Democratic Ward meetings. and has
been the most potent argument used on that
side.
II. The Same spirit which has won votes for
the Democratic as an anti-AbolitiOn party has
been active and potent in thrustiug the colored
people out of employment at their respective
tradc,-out Of street railway cars--has refused
the Right of Suffrage 70 oil of them but the
holders Of mincumbercd real ostate-has
hunted, etiematized, and abused them in every
possible way-not in South Carolina, but night
here in New-York ard throughout the North.
Hate Of the ncgro--not in Dixie, but night here
among u.--has for a generation been the Shib-
bolcth Of low-li.e Democracy. Yet no one Will
seriously pretend that tbs was required of US by
the Federal Constitution or by interstate
comfy.
III The Riots Of last July were essentially
Democratic outbreaks Of hostility to tie War and
hate for the Negro. They bu-ncdccrtanP Provost
Marshal's oncos; they threatened the Editor
and assaulted the Office o. The TRIBUNE; they
made raids on tie dwellings Of certain promi-
ucut Abolitionisis or Republicans; but they
reckcd their malice mainly on The haplcss, help
less. scattered, harmless negroes, hundreds OF
whom were chased with murderous intent and
very many robbed Of their all. Yet there was
not even pretcnso that these were guilty OF
any Oiiensc other than their color.
~. We know good many adhering, voting
Democrats--men who stick to the party and
mean to die in it. We believe our Democratic
acguaintances are at least OF average intelli.
gence and moral worth. Many OF them are
Christians and generally uprght; yet if one of
them has any desire that slavery should DO ex-
tiuguished, he has very carefully concealed il
from US, though well aware that we should
greatly enjoy It's exhibition. We know Dem
ocrat, in favor Of almost every other cause but
that Of Abolition.
V. With the writings and speeches Of Gov.
Seymour, Bishop Hopkins, Judge Woodward,
Con. Mcclellan, Sunset Cox, and other living
opponents of the Democratic faith, We are
tolorably familiar; yet We cannot recall n
single ayowal, by any Of them, Of even a wish
that Slavery may sometime be abolished. On
the contrary, we arc familiar with arguments
from certain Of these eXpositors intended to
prove that Slavery il a Divine, patriarchai, be-
neEcent arrangement whereby the North and
the South are alike enriched. the whole country
benefited, and iti people made happy. If this
is not the prevalent Democratic belief, then We
are indeed mistaken.
sui, 80 are glad TO see Democrats defending
their party from the inputation that it loves
and clings to Slavery. The evil that mon are
heartily ashamed Of to-day, they will be the
more likely TO loathe and iorsake tomorrow or
the day after.