The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-24

uhb UOinlnR OF lFf own lett 10 6tTuUgIc Tor that
u retains none of the principles which called it
into existence, it announces that its mission is
ended, and that II has no further excuse for
existing. The spectacle Of political organiza-
tton looking about for some "cry" that will
enable IL TO regain power, is a most immoral
and disgrdceiul one, and one which no public
of average virtue or intellioence will tolerate
IL must be remembered that The negro suffrage
or impartial suffrage" is not and cannot be-
come, part OF the Democratic line OF operations
1t is not legitimate result of any of its teach
ings and is not developed by its creed I'D to
the present moment the party has followed a
Plaln' loelcal, and consistent course, IL was
natural and logical that pro-savery man
should oppose the war, and that an opponent OF
the war should favor the admission OF the South
without conditions; but ii is not either natural
or logical that friend of negro slavery should
call for negro suffrage. All the arguments by
Whlch slavery was ever defended may be used
against the admission of negroes TO the
franchise.
If, however, the country were disposed to
pass over the outrageous impudence and incon-
slstency of a cry for impartial suffrage from the
friends OF a 'white mans" government, 1t could
not get over the fact that the means by which
the Democratic journals propose TO secure negro
suffrage leave the main question between the
North and South still untouched. The conces-
sion of the franchise to the negroes by amend
ments TO the State Constitutions would settle
nothing and satisfy nobody; and yet this is the
way the Chicago Times proposes to have it
done. In the first place, if 1t were done now, 1t
woulS be looked on by the entire North as sim
ply an eXpedIent for getting into Congress. 1t
would oher no guarantee AGAINST the subse.
quent repeal OF the measure when the occasion
which led to it bad passed away. None
those who are Interested In the question o
reconstruction, mainly for the sake of the
blacks, would give five cents FOR rights which
had no better security than Southern pro.
misses. In the second place, 1t would not
satisfy those 10 whom the question of the COM
potency OF the North TO impose conditions of
1eadmission possesses the highest constitutional
importance. To them the concession of negro
suffrage by State conventions is of no sort of
consequence. 1t may indicate the desire of the
South 10 get back into its old place, or the
growth OF higher feeling of justice and
humanity, or of a sounder view of political eX-
pediency; but whether it indicated one or all of
these, IT would leave the main question unset
tled-Che question whether the Congress now
sitting, ana which has carried on tue war, is or
is not the true Government OF the United States
and, ii it is, whether it has the exclusive right
and power to impose on an enemy, strong
enough TO wage four years war, and whose
hostility is not only unabated, but gloried in,
such conditions Of peace and reunion as it may
deem necessary Tor the public safety.
IL the South gave every black on its soil two
votes, of its own mere motion and yet left the
above question unans Wered, we have NO hesi-
tatlon In saying that the peace would sin oe
the veriest mockery by which a nation was
ever cheated. For negro suffrage, it ought TO
be well understood, is not enough. There is no
use in Offering il to the North as a sign of sub
mission. We must have it eranted In such a
way tnat the faith of the whole nation shall be
pledged tor its permanence. And even then,
IL would still be insufficient. We must have it
placed on record, for the warning and lnstruc-
tion of all future generations, that rebellion
in thus country Is not simply process outside
the law for settling legal controversy-which
when over leaves the Rebels where they stood
before they drew the sword-a kind of bloody
demurrer, which does not prevent the party
from "pieading over after Judgment has gone
against him; but real war, attended with all
the incidents and conditions of war, and that
Its suppression leaves the victor not only master
OF the field but master OF the situation, and
bound by the most solemn of obligations TO see
10 it that the conflict neither impairs the na-
tional vitality nor shakes the popular confidence
in the national stability.