Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-22
The New Programme.

DemOcrallc organ VI tnS AVA wa S,
has startled the political world with
an important editorial, which pro-
poses TO reconstruct and resrganize
the Democratic party upon platform
favorable to negro suffrage. The
Times argues, that negro suffrage is
inevitable, and that it is therefore
wise policy for the party to accept
the fact at once. limitations oflike
nature come to us from other quar-
ters. The Washington Correspon,
dent of the Cincinnati Commercial
makes some statements connected
with this matter, which may be found
elsewhere. 1t will also be remem-
bered, that fer several months Hor-
ace Greeley, through the columns OF
the Tribune, has advocated the broad
proposition of anirersal amnesty and
partial suffrage as the true basis OF
reconstruction. And this idea has
found favor with many extreme men
on both sides-extreme radicals
North and extreme radicals South.
This question, thus unexpectedly
sprung upon the country by the
Democratic party itself, naturally
leads the mind to several reflections.
And first, it is not at all improbable
that such a proposition may find IA
yor with the Southern people. If
there is any one thing which the
South earnestly desires, it is that she
may be able to regain political power
and her former supremacy in the
Government. Accustomed for years
to control the administration of the
general Government, and to WELD
its vast powers in her own interest,
she can with difficulty endure to
stand, as she now stands, almost
wholly stripped of political power
and Importance. The proposed Con-
stitutienal Amendment, in the alb
sence of negro suffrage, will virtual
ly base representation in Congress
-npon white population, and thus re-
duce in a large measure the present
representation of the South. The
Amendment adopted ~lIT thus ma
terially decrease the political power
ofthe South, result which the South
above oil things desires to avoid.
But on the other hand, let the South
adopt negro suffrage, and thus make
her immense black population count
in making up her ratio ofrepresenta-
tion, and her power in the general
Government will be largely increas-
ed. 1t is therefore barely possible,
that for the purpose of increasing
their political power, the Southern
people may admit their black popu-
latien to the right of suffrage. Es-
pecially when they may with reason
hope to be able to control theirvote
in their own favor. We can <here-
fore conceive it possible, that this
proposition of the Chicago Times to
reorganize the Democratic party up
on the basis of negro suffrage, may
find favor, if not with the people Of
the South, at least with her shrewd
politicians, who will stop at nothing
that promises them Office and power.
The position thus taken by the
Chicago Times and other leading
Journals of the Democratic party, re-
veals in vivid colors the desperate
straits to which the party is reduced.
1t is IS the drowning man catching
at straws. Il went into the war dis
organized and broken, and came out
Of the war not only disorganized and
broken. but also with the odium at
tached to it of having proved faith
less to the Government in its time OF
trial and need. And to add to its
disgrace, at the Philadelphia Conven-
ton, in order to consumate 8 union
with A. Johnson's party, the grand
old Democratic party there gave up
its party name; abandoned all It's
time -honored principles; declared its
favorite dogma of State rights a
falsehood and myth; pronounced
the war, which during its progress
they denounced as unconstitutional
and tyranical, to be just and nee
essary measure for the preservation
of the union; and consented to throw
aside their own leaders and hence
forth to be led by Andy johnson and
apostates from the Republican party,
men whom at heart they deseised.
Thus did the Democratic party hu-
initiate itself st Philadelphia, in the
vain hope that by the coalition there
formed it might recover Office and
power. Thus it xent into the late
canvas, stripped Of its old name, its
old principles, and its old leaders.
In the result of that canvas, it met
an overwhelming defeat. Crumb-
ling to pecles already, rotten in every
part and member, the burden of
Andy johnson and his. policy filed
up the measure of its grief.
In this desperate condition of az