Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-18
THE MICRO EQUALITY QUESTION.

washington should vote on thursday next.
AL, whether for or against negro suffrage
here should vote, in order that Congress and
the President may know exactly what is the
real sentiment of the citizens Of this city upon
the subject. The President, il will be renem-
bered. has distinctly taken ground in his mes
sage that he cannot and will not aid in forcing
negro suffrage on any community OF voters
who do not desire the changes IN their affairs
which the extension OF suffrage to negroes in
wolves. There can be no doubt whatever that
he will not abandon that fundamental princi-
pie which underlies the whole theory Of our
Government, in acting on the affairs Of this
District, when he insists that even the citizens
ofthe States lately IN rebellion shall be pro-
tected in their right to determine whether they
will adopt or REJECT negro political equality
The recent refusal of the citizens of Iowa,
Wisconsin and Connecticut to adopt the change
proposed here, assures him Enthusiastically
that when driven by the ultraists to appeal to
the nation, the correctness of his position will
be amply indicated by the people of every
State. from the 81. Lawrence to the Potomac
and from the Atlantic 20 the Pacific. These
here who approve his views should one and
all he sure to attend the polls on Thursday. Its
notorious that in this population of q hundred
thousand souls, there are not more than some
three hundred voters Who desire to confer the
We repeat: il 10 imperative that every man
opposed to il shall aid the President in the
contest before the nation over the point which
is not long hence to occur Then let them all
vote, and each oSe strive to give the friends Of
negro suffrage every possible opportunity to
record themselves in its favor. And all, too.
should be most careful 10 conduct themselves
with decorum throughout the day, least some
collision with negroes should occur by which
fhpir No, "A
While upon this subject We deem At proper to
notice two communications, appearing in this
mornings CAronieIe, the mouthpiece of those
IN our midst fayoring the proposed change.
The first, signed by Sayles J. Bowen, will
be recognized by all our fellow citizens,
whether for or against the change, as being but
little more than n tissue of mendacious false.
hoods and INSCRIPTIONS accusations against
this comm unity. No s.traitor who lef, the city
during the war and took up arms against the
Government. and has returned to curse us
with his presence" will vote for ii, as he al
leges; as no such person has now the right toyote
here under the. law. Scarcely a single citizen
of the District who fought for the Union in the
war, or who sent his son or sons to fight for it,
Will vote for the proposition; its friends among
the Washington voters being entirely from the
class who took precious good care not to risk
their carcasses or their property (where they
have any jim defense the life of the Union: men
like Say lies Bowen, notorious for but profiting,
Unfortunately, out of the calamity of their coun- |
try. Never was there penned more sweeping |
falsehoods than are involved in Mr.. Bowens |
accusation OF unfairness in the exec tion of the
City's Registry Law, and the character of the
persons commissioned 10 hold the election. MOI
ten men in a thousand legally entitled to vote
here will fail to find their names duly recorded
an all such who may not be recorded are
themselves alone blameaDle for the fact; being
comparative strangers here and having failed
to attend TO their own plain duty in the prem.
lses That is: 10 give in to the registers their re.
spectiye names And residences There is NO
community on this continent where the right |
of suffrage is more surely accorded and Sc.
cured to all entitled TO il under the law than in
Washin gtOn city for some years past No one
knows this fact more surely than Sayles T.
Bowen; and that he should deny 1t will be re. |
ceiyed BY his fellow-citizens Of all views ON
the question, as proof positive that where his
prejudices are concerned the truth is not in him |
His appeal TO the few friends Of the measure
to abstain from voting, is merely a dodge, as
dishonest as disreputable, by which he would
If possible, conceal from the world the fact that
not one voter in fifty in this city (which
throughout the war sustained the Government
"a manfully as any other in the Unlon) is
willing to commit his political rights and his
property 10 the keeping of the few demagosues
who seek TO clutch ii by controlling the pros
pectiye votes OF the many thousands of most
ignorant and incapable contraband negroes
who have been precipitated upon US by the war \
It's indeed, in fair keeping with the insane ran
cor and malign bitterness which Sayles j. Bow. |
en- has pertnaeiously manifested towards our
city, its citizens, one and ALL and their interests
since coming among US a few years ago as !
wZI kxlz4
signally against them in this matter, than 1t has
always been throughout his career (by ap-
pointment-not by election) as a member of the
Levy Court, President of the Police Board and
City Postmaster, in all which positions he has
apparently evinced as deep emnity against
warrington and its citizens, as might be sx. 1
pected from one W no in the exercise of execu. |
tive functions has justly earned the reputation
of being the most tyranical and unjust man
towards his subordlnates who has ever held
Office in our midst; a white slaye-driver of the
first water, If ever there existed q black slave
driver on this continent.
The other communication in the Chronicle to
" hieh we refer, simply bases the riEhtfuiness
OF the proposed change on the righteousness of
the course of the demons W no led in the muir
ders, pIlIage and sacriiege Of the never to- be
forgotten French revolution. Its argument in
favor OF the proposed inflammation Of this
community is too happy; SO we leaveit to stand
SIN ply on its own merits.
The proposition is plainly the opening Of a
war on the rights OF the white laboring men of |
the whole Union, and will be SO recognized by |
them all. They will everywhere respond |
promptly and with unparalleled unaniInty to |
the call which the President will inevitably
make UP on thtm If Congress passes the pro-
posed change, TO sustain him in the yindica-
ton of the great fundamental principle Of our \
Government, and OF the present social and po-
htical status OF their families and themselves
Again we appeal TO every voter in Washing |
ton-and The iGw Oiiclcs erery 'ohits citizen Of tie
United States rh0 can IrOue Oa< years residence
here 10 rois--io be sure to vote ON Thursday J
next: II the opponents of the proposition to |
nfricanize This cIty yoteone and al, there can be
no fear that II will become a law. The Presi- |
cent, We feel assured, will stand fearlessly by |