The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-06-06
NO. 2.

energies 10 our interests We are safc."
Then feeling safo being sure of their triend'
these men fell tooth and hail upon the hapless
victim Of their aired and the Presidents
policy. Every statement every record, every
sktetter, every speech, every report that has
found its way to paper or print North or South
goes to prove that; from the mement the posi-
ton OF the President was fairly and fully
understood in theSouth tn display of cruelty,
the persecution Of the freedmen has fright
fully increased and intensified. l solemnly
"eleve, as make the tremendous charge that
mad Andrew Johnaon maintained the position
he assumed twelve months ago. tho massacre
p oil Memphl, would have been impossible; that
Dut Tor the favor he has shown the spirit of
caste. rebellion, and slavery. and the insults
he has hoaped upon tho patient and helpless
blacks, humanity would not have appalled, as
it was through those thee days of crueltes 80
abominable and atrocities so hideous that the
pen refuses to write, the tongue to speak, or
the car to listen to the tale.
l Isqy because believe am compelled to
say that | would pray for the rocks to fall
upon and annihilate me, rather than stand in
the place OF the President of the United s ates
when the Great Master makcth inquistiop for
the blood of the slain in the streets of that
city ofTcnnessee. My friends, let us consid-
or this scene we'll and carefully for Memphis
is but type Of the spectacle the whole South
will present if the troops be withdrawn, the
civil power rec stablshed the Rebels enfran-
chi3ed, the black loyaljst DISTINGUISHED, tho
States restored to their old basis, in q word, if
the Presidents policy be est blished in goY-
cmmcnt. Never conld there be more over
whelming rcfutation of The Presidents theory
that the ballot would supcrnducc a war of
races and the consequent determination ofthe
blacks, than in the recent riot at Memphis.
Does any one suppose, il those blacks
had fair opportunity to defend them
selves by The ballot, if the authorities
and city officials had aught to gain or TO
lose by some thousands of their votes,
that these outrages would have been
tolerated for an hour? Sef-interest is
stronger than hatred. If black votes
could hurl them from their places, they
world soc that the black voters were
protected, their friendship gained, and
their ballots secured.
An history demonstrates that ono hu.
man being never is safe in the hands Of
another. When Emperor Nicholas was
told that his character was as good as
Constitution TO his people, "Then,'' SAID
he II am but a lucky accident" and of
surety such lucky accidents do not
abound in the South. The only securi,
ty for the welfare of tn, SO people, aud
consequent peace of the republic, is by
grantingto to all its citizens absolute eduali.
ty before the law, and, as De Tocquevils
has somewhere said :-"I know of only
two methods of establishing equality in
the political world. Every citizen must
be put in possession of his rights; or
rights must be granted TO nono.'
"A war OF races, forsooth Why.
what is this of whichthe President talksi
The argument was worn threadbare in
the service of slavery, by more cunning
and subtle takers than he, before he
had acquired even the alphabet of op.
preston.
A war of races Does the President
remember that black men voted under
the Articles of Confederation, and at the
ratification of the Constitution in 1889.
In every State save South Carolina? {?
that in the Congressional legislation for
the Territories, freedom, not color, was
the only test OF citizenship, up to the
year 1872! That it was the boast of Mr.,
Badger, of North Carolina, and John
Bell, of Tennessee, that they each took
their seats in the United States House
Of Representatives on a majority of black
votes. Does the President remember
that black men voted in Maryland until
1888. In North Carolina until 1885.
In Pennsylvania until 1888. And that
in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
York, and somo of the Western States,
they vote to-day? Has this anywhere
supernduced war of races? The
President is fond of declaring that hs
troads closely in the footsteps Of his mar,
tyred predecessor. Does he remember
what Mr.. Lincoln said shortly before
his death, in conversation with General
Wadsworth, "If | grant universal am,
nesty shall create universal suffrage /"
ID )es any one Tor an instant suppose that
our good dead President devised in his
kindly hear tie horrors of war of races
thercby9 Does the Presiden remember
what one Andrew Johnson said In Nash,
vile on the oath OF October, lS64?-
"Rebeion and slavery shall no longer
polute onr State; loyal men, whether
white or black, shall alone control her
destiniesl :" speak now as one who
feels the world to be his country. and
all who love equal rights his friends!"
Did Andrew Johnson plan, when he
spoke these noble and heroic words, to
entail upon his own State the misery Of
q war of races l trow not. appeal
from February and May. 1866, to Octos
Der, 1864 appeal from "Ph,llp drunk
to Dh,l;, onhar