The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-24

for denying the south its constitus1cnat fepre-
sentation, gradually raise the character OF the
black laborinp GLASS and impart . stimulus
to production throughout that section which
will yerv soon place il In the forefront of the
Union for solid material wealth Aad prcgrss-
sive promise. IS So
Better and more than this; By pursuing
such course, the negro question will forever
be put ~ rsst between the two sections, an4
the great underlying problems upon whoss
solution depend the prosperity and power Of
the nation,-fnanoe, and trade, and foreign
rslations,-will receive that attention from
the best minds of the country which they have
long demanded. Until this topic of agitation
ia got out of the way, it is plain that no bus
mess will be done by the party now controlk
ing congress- save that alone which is to in.
crease their personal power and gains
By adopting the principle of impartial suffrage,
too, the hollow character of much of this modern
professional philanthropy viii be instantly
covered; the people of the Lorth will be unde-
ceived in respect to these pretensions Of special
love for the black man; the real motive--power
and pelf-will be found out, just as IT operates
the springs and wires of the radical party and
the idol which too many have been led to wor-
ship with the blindness almost OF superstition,
win be dethroned past hope of ever being set up
again by its disheartened devotees. ~
to take. If they adopted the congressional
amendment on compulsion,-and it is offered
them in company with threat,-they could
never consider it in the light of Free real adop-
ton it would not be their act, bat an act which
was inspired from without and performed against
their will. But ifthey set up impartial suffrage
they will have had nothing forced upon them by
congress they will have incorporated into their
suffrage system genuine democratic principle !;
the character and value of their labor win be
elevated and increased they will add to their
representation without having to comply with
offensive party conditions; the negro question
will be cleared out entirely from our national
politics. and radicalism will have nothing left it
to do but yield TO public sentiment, This is the
best way, if it be not the only one, for the south
to retain selfgovernment within state limits,
and to prevent the possibility of that complete
subjugation which is the dream of those who
shape and inspire the party now controlling con-
gress.
If the south would save itself, and the north
too from further invasions by the central power
which is advancing with such alarming strides,
now is the time and this is the way. Those of
the republicans who are sincere, and not mere
ly partisan, in their desire for negro suffrage,
must welcome such q movement with profound
qualification. We of Massachusetts, certainly
cannot ask the people of South Carolina TO be
more liberal in the bestowal of suffrage than
ourselves. No reasonable man, ne man who is
not lost in the wids OF fansticcism, can demand
that citizens should become voters if they were
without fair degree of ordinary Intelligence
and due share of capacity. The fact that con-
gress cannot compel the southern states to thus
establish the suffrage principle, will be so much
in its favor; and it must prove no small incen-
tive besides, to know that its early adoption will
smite radicaiism with fatal palsy, and remove
it forever out of the country's sight. 1t is the
simplest and easiest solution of the dffclties
that environ and threaten to oyerwhem Us all.