New-York tribune., 1866-04-30

to be enforced IN tne SOUTHERN olates many lnouSut
that such vote would operate as censure upon Mr.
johnson; and they were unwilling to make an issue
with him upon that point. No sensible man can
doubt that if the President had insisted upon equal
suffrage at the South it would have been adopted by
decisive majorties at the North.
In the next place, we ask consideration for the OBJ
yous fact that the doctrine Of equality is rapidly and
surely gaining ground. Often it has been defeated
it has with every succeeding election received larger
proportion of the votes cast 1t is absolutely certain
TO win in the end and no shrewd politician will un.
deryaluo the Importance of anticipating little the
ultimate popular verdict Nothing gives such lasting
popularity as the courage and foresight which enables
man. known to be practical, to go patiently under
temporary cloud, if he is finally proved to have been
right. Trmmers and shutters are not respected by
any party Is there any issue before the people which
will more certainly compensate for brief period ol
unpopularty than that of which we now speak
II must also be remembered that the people never
fight long over dead issue. Whom a question has
really been irreyocably settled those who do not fully
approve of the settlement nevertheless speedily
acauiesce and forget their resentment toward those
who achieved the work. This has been illustrated a
hundred times, and is again proved BY the present
disposition of the proSlayery Democracy to makepes
OF Democrats who voted to abolish Slavery Now, II
there is any one thing which more than all others Is
irrovocabie, it Is a wide extension OF the elective
achise. If the mass ofthe coorcd people are once
endowed with the right of suffrage it will be as i'm
possible 10 take away from them as it would be to
drive the waters Of the Atlantic from their bed. The
work once done would be done forever
IT, then, the Southern States were restored to their
places with equal suffrage established by constitu-
tona Congressional enactment, it would be impossl-
bic to maintain any long controversy upon the sub
iect The worst conceivable result would be defeat
like that Of 1862, having no permanent effect, and
fully recovered in the of year Such an oc-
casiona defeat must be sustained under any magma
BILE policy. Uniform and unbroken victory cannot be
hoped for by any political party; indeed, 1t is not
really desirable. On the other hand, who can esti-
mate the permanent addition to the strength oil Il
party which creates 100000 new voters by single
measure, all of whom know that they owe to every
privilege that they enjoy'
Contrast with this prospect the chances for plan
of mere exclusion. Such policy must of necessity
be trausitory What strength will it add to the party
enforcing itl Whose affections will it win' Who
will remember it with any personal sense OF pleasure
or pride Consider, too that one disastrous election
would suffice to break down the whole scheme. Even
during the brief period of its existence it would be in
continual peril The mind OF tho country would
never be al rest Either branch Of Congress might at
any moment nullfy the most stringent laws Of exclu-
sion. and in dag undo the work of years. And here
the very converse of what we have said concerning
| Il, frua Of of eXclu-
sion. Once broken down, it could never be re-
stored. A single defeat would be certainly ia'al
to the policy, and probably fatal to the party which
supported it. II would be absurd to try to deprive
eleven States of their representation after it had once
been conceded as it would bo to attempt to take the
franchise away from vast class Of men who had once
exercised it,
These reflections lead W. to the conclusion that the
great want Of our statesmen at the present moment
is conrdge They are afraid to trust the people upon
a platform at all in advance Of the current popular
sentiment They aren danger of drifting behind the
tide through fear Of putting up their sails. They
dread to be in advance Of their agei forgetting that
they are really behind the mass Of the party which
elected them Real prudence now consists in the ut
most bolness for good cause If general waited for
ulS troops, OF even loI OANclri " D'N'O ""'-'
nous In favor of forward movement, when would he
attack the enemyl Ii he waited for all the stragglers
to come in, when would be march
Gentlemen Of Congress! youarc the leaders OF the
Union army II looks 10 you for the word of COM
mand If you wait for its unanimous advice and con-
sent, you may wait forever Seyen-eighhs of the rank
and fle, you well know, desire a broad and enduring
policy The minority still hold back, and will threaten
disahection, and even desertion, so long as such
threats will avail. Bat you should not fear such NUT
terings Lead tho battlc-do not follow in il merely.
Commit yourselves to decisive action, according to
the dictates of your conscience and your judgment.
Learn wisdom from the children OF darkness. What
carried the South into and through four years
of desolating war; What brought about the marvel
Gus unanimity Of its Whites What but the daring,
the boldnes the audacity, Of its political leaders
Initiate the example in better cause. Your con-
sttuent5 cannot and dare not desert you The mass
of them have no disposition to do so and they will
bring up the few Stragglers. Victory will surely at
tend bold and comprehensive measures; while timidiy
and temporizing will lead to irretrevable defeat