The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-12

The old proyerb ''that distance lends enchant-
ment to the view" appears to be specially ap-
piicable TO The action Of our politicians in
regard to the negroes Of The South. The further
we 90 from the Southern States the more the
politicians know-or, at least, think they know
about the proper treatment of the blacks and
the duties OF the government in reference TO
that race Thus in Ohio and Pennsylvania,
which border upon the late slavehoiding States,
and have larger proportion of colored popu-
lation than the more Northern States, the repub-
lican politicians fully endorse and support the
policy of the President in reorganizing the
South. But when we 60 way down East to the
State of Maine-a State which had in 1860 q
colored population of only one thousand three
hundred Of all ages and sexes and decreasing
at rapid rate at thst-we find the politicians
thoroughly versed in the great problem, and
qualified to instruct the President in all his
duties relating to that perplexing question.
Our public men, including our military heroes,
who have had opportunities of practically
studying the negro character as manifested
in the South, look upon the transition of
the blacks from slavery to standard of
equality with their late masters as critical
period, not only to the negro, but to the coun-
try. They have, however, such superior oppor-
tunities in Maine to examine this question in
all its details that no doubts exist there |;
but politicians meet in convention, and inform
the President that 1t is his duty to demand that
there shall be perfect equality of races, and the
removal of all disability of color as the condi-
ton of the return of the Southern States.
The politicians who took part in the recent
republican State convention held at Portland
presented such an incongruity Of ideas in their
resolutions, and labored so hard to denounce
the President and at the same time to keep up
the appearance of supporting him, that we do
not know which to admire the most-the re-
markable knowledge exhibited in regard to
the negroes of the South, or the wonderful
skill shown in the art Of political gymnastics
and tight-ropc performances. They first ex-
pressed entire confidence in President johnson
and pledged him the cordial support of the
Union men in Maine; but, Notwithstanding he
has instructed the officiel appointed for that
purpose to call elections as soon as possible,
they notify Mr.. Johnson that it is his duty to
keep the Southern States under provisional
governments, for they are unsafe repositories
of free republican government. This is fol-
lowed with demand for negro equality, negro
suffrage and removal of distinction Of color.
Then comes a full endorsement Of an express
sion Of the President, that "treason is crime
and must be punished" and call For its full
enforcement against the rebel officials, both
civil and military. This is backed by still
another resolution, containing implied threats
at the President for not trying and executing
jeff Davis at once These, with three or four
others, made up with mixture OF dcnuncia-
ton and praise, in which they recommend an
amendment to the constitution establishing
equality of representation, also declare that
the oolorcd people must have conferred upon
them, In fact AZ well as In name, all
the political rights Of freedom, form the
substance of the singular resolves Ali this.
we take 1t, represents the real plans which
the Chase-radical crusade and the anti-admin-
istration party have assumed. As such 1t ex-
hibits unmistaksble signs OF weakness. The
leaders in the Convention professionally in
tended to oppose the Presidents policy. Yet
their whole course shows great weakness of the
radicals, and want Of confidence in the people,
when they cannot, even in the State Of Maine,
secure the endorsement Of their negro suffrage
schemes without trying 20 sugar coat them
over with an endorsement of Mr.. Johnson.
The action of the Convention furnishes an
other landmark to Judge of the progress Of the
Chase radical anti-adminstration party. Great
and extraordinary efforts have been made by
Chase and his followers to force their plans
upon the people of the North, and to organize
party in opposition to the President, based
upon negro suffrage and social equality of
races Justice Chase Get the ball in motion by
writing letter to his friends in Cincinnati in
forming them that the time had come to organ
izc new party, and then, leaving them to set
the ball in motion In tho West started South to
consult with and notify his colored brethren
what he was doing In their behalf Senator
Sumner took up the work in New England,
and, fearing that the negroes would spoil
the plans by manifesting their satisfaction
with the course of President Johnson,
writes a letter, addressed TO himself, and
sends il to North Carolina, for the negroes
TO sign and return to him. He thus obtained
an opportunity to notify the negroes that they
were entitled to vote, urging them TO exercise
that right, and declaring that oil who opposed
them were their enemies. The next chapter in
the movement was the famous pow-wow Of the
Jacobins in Faneuil Hall, where the negro was
extolled and glorided, end a war proclaimed
If universal negro suffrage were not granted.
Since that time general guerilla warfare has
been kept up by the abolition orators and
organs while the Chief Justice has been
engaged in canvassing the New England States
in behalf Of his special party schemes.
The republican State conventions have, in
the meantime, been held in four States, and the
cooro s,,0rara ruoat;ou iuuorod 4, oil hrt