The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-06
The Doctrine OF Negro Equality to be En-
doFsed by Congress.

Ohiess We are greatly m siaSen one oi
The FIRST acts of The radical Republican
majority in Congress win be 10 confer The
right of sufrage upon the negroes in he
District of columbia. John w. Fofney,
who seems. 10 delight in groveling in his
degradation, has Ioug letter in yesterday Is
Press, over his signature of "Occasional,H y
in which he argues its adoption. The let
ter concludes with The following words:
f"The district is national ground. II is
exclusively governed by rfle Congress and
the President. Therefore II is moi only
right TO do this ihipg, but il is duiy th al
shonld De cordially acknowledged and
promptly discharged. There is mol near as
much hostility TO impartial suffrage among
me remaining and returned residents as
there was to The act of Emancipation
There is excitement, Of course, among
those who may be voted ont of the Offices
they have held go long by the aid of the
unlenfied Democracy but this will sub
side before what begins to look like The
inevitable. And eysn the pardoned and
einstaIed rebels viii be surprised how
smoothly the experiment will work"
1t will be remembered, thai, Just before
the recent election in this Slate Forney in
letter 10 the Press. repuJiaied the idea
that the Republican party were in any
way committed 10 the doctrine o. negro
suffrage. Either be was guilty Of u,lerine
falsebood then, o. he has changed his
opinion since. That the real leaders Of The
party were fully committed to the odions
doctrine then, we were fully convinced; !;
that they intended 10 agiiate The question
uutil the negro staBds the ackno wledssd
equal of the white man cannot be success-
fully denied now. 1t was only few days
ago that Henry Ward Beeeher used The
following language 10 his paper, the hide
pendent:
'The former aims of the Republican
party are eaded. Did it advocate The non-
extension OF slavery? That was accom-.
piishec, Did IL advocate the prosecution OF
the war; That was accomplished Did it
advocate the constitutional amendment p
That was It's growing appeal. All these
issues are now of the pas. They do not
survive. If now The Republican parry ac-
cepis no new principle, II viii have none al
all. II il will nave none at all il wilt perish
Are We the friends, therefore, or the ene-
4
lis own instruction
A national party mnst have a national
issue. The next issue before this ma ion is
equal rights. The Republican party canno,
escape If the President shall decline il,
then Congress must accept. II Congress
shall decline il, then the next Presidential
canvass will lay it al every mans door for
verdict"
There is philosophy aud political truth in
the uuerances OF that political preacher
The Republican party was born in agitation,
il lived upon agitation, it can never exist
without agitation. And The leaders of the
party, in and out of Congress, recognize the
truth Of Beecher's uuerances and are ready
to act in accordance with his suggestions.
Finding that President Johnson is rot TO
be bent 10 their cherished design OF forcing
negro suffrage upon The people of The Sod;h,
as an aniecedsrt condition 10 the res toration
of the Southern States 10 the Union, aud
fearing 10 take issue with him diTec,lyf they
have resolved that The Issue OF negro equal
ily shall be taken Ut by Congress, and the
fret bold step in that direction made by the
passage of an aci comforting the right of
sOfrage upon the negroes in the District of
Columbia. The solemn enactment Of such
a law by Congress will 20 far 10 crafty the
fanaIicism of the extreme radicals, and, as
Forney hopes, 10 prevent them from making
a split in The ranks of the party. They hope
10 be able 10 influence President Johnson 10
sign such a BILL Whether he will do it or
not remains 10 be seen. We hope and be-
iievs be will have manhood enough 10
refuse.
But, whether he does or not, by tae pas
sage o such an act in regard 10 the District
OF Columbia, the Republican parry will haze
fully committed itself as party to The doc
lrine.of negro suffrage and negro equality.
They cannot then dodge the issue any lon
ger by clubbing resolutions aud lying as
ser,ions lkat il is mol an issue We hoPe
they will thus show lheir hands to the pe0-
pie. They have fooled them by false issues
and betrayed them by lying words long
enough.-LancaStsr IatelFgenesr