The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-10
Negro Suffrage.

= What we are about to say may be more ap-
propriate to the conference OF political COM
mittee, than for open discussion in the hearing
of hostile parties. But when the stupidity o
irrational prejudice threatens the surrender of
hard-won positions on the great battlefield of
democratic progress, one play disregard con-
ventional prophecies in rebuking it.
HESITATION TO YIELD IT.
It is evident that the late constitutional
conventions in toe States of Maryland, Mis-
souri, and Tennessee were willing to leave dis
franchised the emancipated slaves and colored
residents of those States whose citizenship
the general government has recognized. 1t
Is probable that majority Of both Houses of
the late Congress wished to recognize as Re-
publican State organizations, based upon a
voting body, not tenth of the adult males of
the population, with one-third Of the people
known to be loyal excluded from the suffrage,
not because they are not necessary elements
in the structure and growth Of the new States,
as laborers in peace and as soldiers in war.
but simply because they are black. 1t is tobe
feared that majority of the Republican par
ty, having seen the Constitution OF the coun-
try partially overthrown by the assault of an
aristocracy built upon the assumed ownership
OF men, reckoned as cattle, do not see the
danger OF rebuilding the Constitution upon
denial of political rights to the laboring class
es, reckoned now as men and as citizens.
OUR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE NOT TO BE
THROWN AWAY FOB A wHIM.
We do not wish now to speak Of this sub
ject as a phllanthropist, as reformer, or even
as a statesman, but as a politician, if you
please, as partisan. We know something Of
what, in labor of hand and brain, the over
throw in the United States of the Democrat
10 party, and the ascendency Of the Republi-
can party, have cost. Addressing ourselves to
men who share our opinions and have COM
mon interest in our projects, we do not deem
1t necessary to urge reasons based upon either
high or low grounds, why that ascendency
should be maintained. We take 1t for granted
that they are good party men, and go for the
success Of their own principles and the defeat
of those who oppose them.
There are certain obligations which. it is
well understood, men acting together in po
litical organization assume towards each 9TH
er. ose of these. always recognized, always
enforced by all the sanctions of PARTY disci.
pline, is, that they shall not vote against the
fairly presented candidates of the .organiza-
lion. Is it not an equally fatal breach of DO
litical loyalty to insist upon measures that
doom the organization to hopeless defeatP-
Can man claim to be good Republican, a
good Union man, who insists upon throwing
the control of the government into the hands
OF his political foes to crafty achim9
This antipathy to black men, even ii it were
universal, instead of being individual, and
transient effect of slavery, what is it but a
whtm at the best? No man would class it
among his principles, or his convictions; for
he can bring in aid'o of it no argument from
his intellect and no just sentiment from his
higher reason.
FORMIDABLE POWER OF THE OPPOSITION.
Inc questi IN is this Does the anti Slavery
party IN this country need the negro uote to
secure its Gscendency9 With eleven States,
whose political system has been based upon
an aristocrstic recognition of caste, excluded
" their own treason from participating in
be electiou,- not. But with treason
iondoned, and those States returned to their
riginal influence in the republic, 1t most GER
yinly does.