Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-19
New IRRueA.

The leading organs Of the Democratic
party, for some days past, have devoted
much Of their time and space, TO print.
ing aad praising letters from leading
and distinguished abolitionista, in
ssting that the President shall par
don all the rebels aud punish none.
Gerrit Smith, of New York, has
all at once become a particular IA
vorite with his former most violent
enemies His letter, assigning reasons
why rebels ought not to be punished,
constitutes at present one of the choicest
gems Of Democratic literature The
Democracy are somewhat celebrated for
going to extremes. They have been
everything by turns, and nothing long.
The party, as political organization,
has hitherto been able to adapt itself to
all shades of opinion in all parts Of the
country. In 1874 it was high protective
tarif in Pennsylvaaia, and free trade in
South Carolina. In ls49 it was op-
posed to the extension of slavery into
the territories, end regarded military
men as Objectionable Presidential candi-
dates. In 1856 it went to the extreme
ofpro' slavery propagandism and pledged
the South, through Mr.. Black--James
Buchanan's spokesman in the Cincin-
matt Convontion--that II Black Re-
publican should be elected as his sue
cessor Mr.. Buchanan would recognize
the right of the States to secede, and
would do nothing to interfere with the
exercise of it. The pledge was made
good beth in the letter and spirit
But new issues must come up. The
war has made the extension of slavery
an Improbable political investment
The Administration, by virtue of the war
power, has struck the shackles from
near 100000 of slaves. The fixing
the status of these freedmen will form
an important feature of future political
organizations and discussions. The De
mocracy are already in the field. Some Of
their most influential papers are taking
ground in favor Of negro suffrage. They
seem to think that the negro vote may
be obtained for that party, provided they
bid large enough for it, and show them.
selves its most earnest and earliest
champions. The New York World, the
leading Democratic organ of the North,
(and, since the fight of JEFF. Davis and
aud the suppression of the Richmond
Enquirer, the leading organ of its kind
in the United States forsees the result
to which we have referred, and, in the
course of long article on the subject,
says:
During the reconstruction cycle
which with good management cannot be
very long-the negroes viii be unfit to
take part in the decision of the great
questions involved in the adjustment
But if, when they begin to acquire pro-
perty and intelligence, steps shall be
taken to admit them, gradually, to full
political equality, the measure will be
wise, safe and Democratic. But of the
time for doing this only those can Judge
who live among the negroes with oppor-
tunities to observe their progress"
The World moves cautiously as if
stepping on eggs, but it moves steadily
in one direction. IL evidently regards
the time ms swiftly approaching when, il
steps shall be taken to admit the negroes,
gradually, to full political equality, "the
measure will be wise, safe and Demo
cratic" 1t is bat short step from
praising Gsrrit Smith to endorsing ne
gro suffrage and political equality, aud
We are pleased to place the World on
the record on this important question.
But the World ia not the only negro
hating journal in the country that has
declared in favor of negro suffrage. The
New York Herald, even more directly
than its rival, comes to the point as fol-
lows:
"What we want now 10 a 6nal settle
ment with these disorganized sectional
factions on the slavery question and the
negro question. The war has killed
| Southern slavery. Let it be buried and
put out of the way as soen as possible.
It ends the slavery agitation. Bat there
is yet something left for abolition capt
: tai in the negro agitation. Against this
demand that as slavery is abolished, and
that as the African race have powerfully
assisted US in putting down the rebellion
and saving the life of the nation, they
should have share in the political rirht
of the ballot-hox, what valid objection
can be made7 We cannot long resist
this demand, in view of the extinction
l. of slavery and the services of the South
!. ern blacks during the war. With every
q opportunity and in every way they have
been our faithful allies. We have had
!. two hundred and fifty thousand of them
in the service of the army and navy
Their battle of emancipation, involving
l. four millions of their race, has turned
the scale in our favor, and We must yield
|. to the ssgacity of President Lincoln's