The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-20
ms Golden Hour.

The Golden Hour.
The march of progress has always been
in the face of opposition, and almost al
ways with slow stride. Because q project.
Ell measure is stoutly resisted, that is no
reason why it is wrong for who V e
knew such measure, especially If really
valuable, to prevail only 80 far as it trL
umphed over the opposition of great and
able menu Forty years were required to
carry the reform measures, by which the
representation in the government was
reformed, and the suffrage given to the
English middle classes and they we're car
ried at last in spite of the resistance OF
sucb a statesman as Peel and such q soldier
a. Wellington. The repeal of the corn
laws, that had taxed every mouthful Of
bread eaten by An EDglishman for the
bene6t of the land -holders, was carried sf-
Tor similar resistance. When the Reform
Bill was encouraging discussion in Eng
land, thousands Of pages were written TO
prove that should it prevail the foundation
Of the British Monarchy would be unset.
tied, as they we're in the days of the corn
Law agitation, to show that the result
must be left too, to British prosperity.
But when has the Monarchy stood 6rmer
than since the legislation of 1882 adorned
It's bsse, or Great Britain been more pros
porous, than since Englishmen could eat
bread untaxed2 The history of all gov
ernmentive reform teaches the same lesson;
then dies opposition, predictions of disaster
and stupidity; the measure triumphs des-
pite opposition, the predictions are fslsi-
fed, and the same stupidity is manifested
in resisting the next projected reform.
It is true that during our civil war
public sentiment has msde rapid strides,
and victories have been won sooner than
10 peace, but that does not show that the
conservative reactionary party did not ex-
ist nor thst they did not do all in tdeir
power to prevent the onward march of the
nation to justice, through which alone f.
nal victory lay. Nor will it be different
with the proposed reform in the suffrage.
Il is refrom that must come. 1t is so
written in tbs decree of the Eternal. De-
sprUe all that reactionists may say, despite
temporary defeat, the time is not far dis
tsnt when the colored man shall have
the ballot. It is probable that a longer
time will elapse from the end of the war
before the nation will give the negro the
ballot, than elapsed from its beginning be-
fore it gave him the musket, but in the
future he shall cast the bziiUt us IN me
psst he hiss handled the musket.
Yet we must be prepared for delay, and
even for temporary defeat, and this for sew
ersI reasons. In the first place, the course
of true reform, like the course of true love,
9 did run smooth. Arguing from the
principle Of human nature, IS well as from
psst experience, wehaYen no right to expect
that four millions of a despised race will be
~eufrsnchised without labor and dissppoint-
ment on the part or Taasa who advocate
their en- ranchisement. Then those who in
the initiatOry stages oppose, must by force
Of argument be brought to UPPoR the Ak
tension Of the suffrage to the blacks. We
are not TO assume that every man who re-
Gives the proposition with GOODNESS is Of
necessity incorrigible. We must not treat
this class as though they were not worthy
of being heard. By such 8 course we will
ALLEVIATE those who should become our
friends OF COURSE there are some-a good
many-EH0OrF1sfeie @aPP-hs~uss "sn
whom it is futile to argue, but in the course
of the discussion with them, others not so
inpervious to truth may be reached. It'll
a fact never to be forgotten, that az oar
free country, NTH the right Of full and free
discussion, truth and justice aLUays Fi-
azgpH in the end.
Then, again, we expect the cause of ne
gro suffrage to be delayeda as much by the
s~Lo1vness of its friends IS by the opposition
of its enemies. Many good men, who say
It is right in itself, and that 1t must come,
counsel moderation and delay. It must be
remembered that in the army Of reform
there is always alsrge division, yes, corps,
that correspond to this description. They
are the men who are for hating the column
till the strsgglers catch up, or rather for
having it march SO slow that no strsgglers
viIlfan out by the wsyside. They acknOwl-
edge their own ability to move on faster,
hut insist on accommodating themselves to
those who have net. We are far from af-
hrmipg that these soldiers are not q neees-
s,ry part Of the army, but they need urg-
ing, lest the victory be lost by their failure
20 appear upon the ground at the decisive
moment.
It is hardly TO be expected that public
opinion will advance SO rspidly now IS
during the war, yet we may with conf
dsnce expect 10 move much faster than in
ordinary time of peace. When events
are passing SO rspidly there is greater need
Of improving the passage. Favorable mo-
ments come quickly, and are soon gone.
If the era Of reorganization and recon
struction be not 8 favorable one for max
ng the negro really free, then it will never
come. 81
In the days of 1862, so full of disaster to.
our arms, and of shame to our people, Nh.
NJ. D. Conway wrote a book styled the
GGolden Hour" Thai was before the
days of emancipation, when justice TO the
negro and loyalty to the nation lay IS m
mistakably in Emancipation by Proclsms-
tion as it now does in the exercise of the
EE5a-EZ@ |~ tA~s-A-
Of Mr. Conwayis stirring Rppaals-EElan-
cipation is right is necessary; now is
the favorable time-the Golden Hour
uuimproved it never returns. So with the
crisis before US. Negro suffrage is right
It is necessary now is the fitting time, the
Golden Hour; unless improved We shall
have abundant reason 70 regret # in the
future.
The Provisional Governor OF Florida
A well posted friend calls our attention
20 thu fart that we ara in error in annouuc-