Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-11-20
The Democratic Party to be Re-0rgan-
ICED.

vi luLC VIC HafC ActEu IcdulI1
democrats say, 81 ain in favor of
these constitutional amendments. -
Another Il favor intclligcntTy
qualified colorcd suffrage Another:
"Sccing there can be no sound argu-
ment against negro suffrage SO long
as the blacks are taxed and made to
be ! arms for the defense Of the
country, | shall in the future support
this radical measure" Still another:
"Tho democratic party cannot sue
cessfully oppose free suffrage by ap-
peals to prejudice
So we knew there would soon
something happen in high democrat
ic quarters. Sure enough tho. other
day the Chicago Times came out urg-
ing the democratic party to adopt
radical principles and policies, as APP
pears from tho article we copy from
he Times this week.
There are two ways urged for set
Ting with the rebel states, one or the
other of which will be adopted
Manhood suffrage alone, untrammcl-
led with conditions and qualified
suffragc-cdueatio and property rs
conditiOns.1s But the New York Irtb-
unes Original plan is the one we
should prefer, free and unconditlon.
sl suffrage of the negros and general
amnesty toward all who have COM
mitted treason" 1t is more than
likely that the south will fall in with
this method last named ; if so its
adoption is certain because the north
ern democracy would support it.
And here is where the Chicago
Times exhibits grand stretch of sa-
gacity in supporting SO long in adj
vance what the south it now seems,
are to be cntrapped into supporting
general suffrage and general amnes,
ty, and thus hold the south united
with the northern democracy, and
thus hold on to n national party.
In this positive shadowing of ne
gro suffrage as a cardinal doctrine Of
the democratic party, there will be
for o while somo resistance in the
party. Some of the party who have
argued against negro voting, or as
they have called it, negro equality"
until they have come to believe their
own nonsense, will BIO slow to adopt
the new party faith. The Tines pro-
poses to make the rule the same as
I'M Massachusetts, where the suffrage
is confined to those, who can read
and write and it thinks the South
will adopt this rule. Mover was
there more ogrcgious error. Such
. rulo would disqualify n large pro-
portion Of the white adults of those
States. If representation be based
upon q suffrage regulated by such
rule as that, then better have negro
suffrage without restriction. The
South would never agree to an edu-
eational standard. 1t would be cru
city to her free white people, who
need the ballot to defend themselves
sven moro than the wealthy and cd.
'tfcated classes. -
H. The Times also consigns Pres.
Johnson to righteous contempt, and
prefers afiiliating with negro voters
70 q President and party with no
influence at all beyond his own Office
holders. The Times wants the demo-
cratic party born again. How far
that paper may be able to influence
it's party in the west and throughout
The nation is a question of the hour.
There will be for q while q vigorous
contest inside the democratic party
between the free suffrage mon and
the anti-politicaI equality men, and
for time tho issue may be doubt
ful-iust as the issue has been within
the Republican party, long one and
long q doubtful one. However, free
manhood suffrage never WAS dis.
tinct issue in the Republican party
And we think the democrats, as q
party, will be slow to adopt it in
4hcir party faith. The truth is,
nothing was ever nearer the zenith
of righteousness than free and uni
yersal manhood sutfrage-and this
without any conditions. If we OK
act of tho black man education as q
condition of his voting, we must ask
the same of the white man-for in
war such condition is net thought of,
nor yet in the matter of taxation.
1t is not the rule that the glorious
privilege Of taxation shall be confin-
ed to educated men, tho ignorant to
be free from taxation. We prefer q
national law that all states shall see
TO it that good and efficient school
j.. laws are provided, into which all
children between certain ages shall
be freely admitted.
In Grant County the democratic
party will be easily led to adopt free
suffrage, as the leaders are right
down cold and hungry officially
We promise to be with them at the
.regenoration-as we met with the
Republican party at their rcgcnera-
tion and birth. AS we understand it
now, all arc abolitionists, which is a
long step. Next in the way comes
free manhood suffrage. How are
yea, democrats shake Of the band
and long life to.yo!
Oshkosh and Mississippi Railroad.