Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-20
VIEWS FROM ABROAD OF THE pOsErE-
CAK SEEEGyEDN

VIEWS FROM ABROAD OF THE pOsErE-
CAF. SITUATION.
We do not know whether, in the present |
condition of public affairs, the nation is in |
temper to learn anything from lockers on at a |
distance; but when so many angry passions |!
are aroused on all sides, it may perhaps be |
wise to learn what views are entertained |
abroad upon questions which have of late pro- |
Voked so much of bitter denunciation and re- !
elimination, from men here protesting any |
amount of earnest benevolence and Christian |
philanthropy. That it is the last misfortune |
for the colored man that he is made once
more the football of parties, that he cannot |
be kept out of the political arena, is evident |
to every sound thinker; and, if his peculiar |
patrons cannot see that so long as his fortunes
are made to rise or fall on the shifting sands
of politics, he never will achieve a future
worth having, it is time they took that view of
the case, since the negro is actually further off
to-day from the privilege of sufrage-made
free as he has been-than he was twenty or
thirty years since when lie was q slave. Whilst
in the past history Of the Republic he was
really conceded the use Of the ballot in various
Of the slave States, Maryland inclusive-recent
discussions and quarrels have so limited his
chances, that even the ''radicals' here and
elsewhere are compelled to disclaim the wish
or purpose OF accomplishing 'inegro suffrage
If they would stand any chance at all before
the great body of the people-so that=-we
repeat-whilst furious efforts have been max
ing to thrust him to the front and to win for
him, tEac,1a lify - ba Inc en-.
behind; that is, if the standard of his success
is to be measured by the coveted right to vote.
1t would be unfortunate enough if his i'll
success was to be limited to the degree of
failure already experienced, but when we see
additionally, enmities provoked which threaten
his welfare in every respect, in some cases his
very existence, the case becomes still more
deplorable, and all true friends of progress
are left to lament the pre- ence and indulgence
OF that folly which is inevitably fraught with
so much of evil.
We have said that the status of the negro
made dependent on the requirements of party
is terribly unfortunate for him-a view of the
case so obvious, that all unprecedented OBJ
servers must see it except those who expect
to drag the negro along with them, in their
way TO anticipated party triumphs. And now
let US, on this subject, hear froma late issue of
the London Times, which, conceding the
great difficulties OF the case, goes on to say:
In this embodiment the most satisfactory feature
OF affairs is the consistent, sincere and iate3igea pollen
OF the President himself We should be begging the
question if we said that this policy was the only true
one; but it is at any rate uniform in character and
reasonable in n.n 1ra Jouh - H.,
been honestly conceived and As honestly entertained
Adb0dy accuses hnGrew johnson Of oliticGy c8,Jiion
or intrigue. lie has declared that he has no affection
for power and no wish to have his tenure Of oYic5
prolonged. lie is a Southerncr by extraction and |
knows from experience what the slave States were,
and can guess what they are likely to become. lie
knows also what the is, and if his impressions
on this point are rather unfay0rabo to the perect
blitty OF the black, he could produce abundant au
thority IN support Of the conclusion. But lie is GER
tainly not hostile to the negro or Indifferent to his
fate on the contrary he propounds his policy in the
interest OF the black himself properly understood.
Inc war. be 1t remembered, has clnancipated, sud-
denly and violently, three millions Of negroes and
has lett them free citizens among six millions of |
whites What is to be their position? They form Ii
distinct race-a always looked upon as inferior
and lately held in bondage. They are now free but
they are not the political equals of the whites They
must i've, however, and they must work. and they |
must find. have found for them some vos;tion in |
the social body. What in its general features ought
that position to be?
Fir johnson maintains that it would be impoIitic
II not lmpraet!cabie to establish tho negro in any
position OF antagonism towards his former masters
Convictions founded on these views must
necessarily place the President in opposition to the
dominant party in Congress- That party oyfensiLh, |
IN the interests of the negro, but obviously to some
extent for political interests of its own would deal
with the question IN verg different spirit. The
radicals desire to establish Immediately a comD2ee
equality between black and white. They would give
the negro the right OF suffrage and remove all his
disabilities. 1t has been proposed to present
every emancipated slave with homestead of confs- |
Gated land, and by an elaborate system of admins
tratlye machinery to make the negro and keep him |
inc equal OF his former master To all these propo-
sais' apart from their intrinsic justice or injustice |
Mr. johnson objects that they would tend to the ruin
of the black and practically consummate his doom |
by making the white man his enomy. The old spirit |
OF the southerners-a spirit which it is impossible to
eradicate In amoment-was never unfriendly towards
the negro regarded as dependent, but it always re-
beiled against the notion of making him an equal
Ii the blacks set up in the position contemplated
by the radicals they viii have the hand of every |
white man against them, and that enmity can never |
be compensated by government protection. The |
radicals know full well that the oooptton of their |
policy toond establish eDerlostina end bet,geea the
ttoo races IN the South but their desire to depress and
humlilate the Southorncr is strong that it governs
their views of the entire question. They profess to
expect that by special legislation and official agency
they could protect and maintain tho black in this
artificial position against all the Jealousy or hatred
OF the whites. They know that society in the South
would be IN state OF war; not peace but they think
they could make the negro so strong and his former
master so weak, that the trial might be sustained
Mr. johnson replies hat this is impoasibty that
the SIX millions of Southern citizens must prevail
against the cumbTOuS and |
partment and that if the negro in the South is d.
prlVed Of tao sympathy and good will of the white
population he will, in tho end. degenerate die cut
and disappear.
1t appears to that the President has not only the
balance of reason on his side but the 55vartsas of
sincerity also. When Mr.. johnson states his views
we do not suspect that he is influenced by any other
motives than those which he avows. There Is in
deed no ground for supposing that any part OF his
reconstruction policy he has been aotuated by apv
but honest and straightforward convictions But az
much cannot be said for the radicals We are not
entitled to condemn them in q body but their rro |
ceedings in Congress during the present session ire
sisby suggest the conclusion that they are animated
as Iuch by the Split OF party By any pure political
principle. We cannot imagine that Mr. johnson ,
has any wish but to do what ne thinks best whether
rightly or wrongly. for the American Union. We can
very easily Imagine that the radicals beyond or be-
Sides sucE motive, wish to keep the democrats out
and themselves in and that when they propose their
legislation for the Southern blacks they are really
aiming blow at their political opponents, tho !
Southern whites. In the meantime, however ones
ton which would tax to the utmost the wisdom of
the Wlsest government is thus debated or gro,,ds
ruth ohSch 'sisdo has aoting to do and one of the
greatest problems Of modern days is left to find its
own solution IN the accidents and chances Of party
conflict.
SAsi0riclg Style. | I
Inc country between Gettysburg and tha South | i
mountain range consists of ridges running parallel
with the mountain range with intervening vaIIevs
and plains; In Swi nton's history of the Armvorth
potomac the following description of hat ~ Sno