The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-14
A cIeom of Sound Sense.

the head of "Political News" in our paper
to-day, from the Chicago Times, the leading
Democratic organ in the Northwest. 1t IS a
thoroughly partisan article--that is, the sub
iects 1t discusses are looked upon solely with
reference to the interests of the Democratic
party-but is, perhaps all the more instruc-
tive on that account. 1t assumes that the
country has deflnitively and irrevers billy
decided against the policy proposed by the
Democratic party, and that said party has
only the alternative of sitting down in help
less and decaying inactivity"-a mere hold
back or conservative party-or. by boldly
striking out upon new issue, with reference
to things as they are, and becoming once
more progressive and an aggressive party,
70 regain its pristine power and glory.
The "new line" proposed by the Times is at
once to cut loose from the Administration of
Andrew johnson, "and leave that hybrid
concern TO float on the sea of public contempt,
rom which no power can rescue it." Next,
TO recognize the ineUitdbte-said inevitable
being negro suffrage, either impartial or
universal. Until the negro question is dis
posed of in some way, the success of the
Democracy is impossible. But, by accepting
the inevitable, they can secure impartial sut-
frage-that is, suffrage qualified by intelli-
gence-instead of universal suffrage. This
the Democracy should now urge upon the
South, and the South should not wait even to
be urged thereto, but should at once take the
initiative, and put in motion the machinery
necessary TO save itself from humiliation, and
"rld the country of the most veXatious ques-
ton that ever distracted it."
This is the programme marked out by the
leading Democratic organ of the West as
afordlng the only possible hope ior the saliva
ton of the Democratic party. II acknow-
lodges that the medicine is bitter one, but
then the party is nearly IN drticulo mortiS,
and it is mere question of life and death.
There are thousands and tens OF thousands
of Democrats who will accede to this view of
the case. 1t has, too, this recommendation.
that while it IS the only hopeful line oil
policy for the party 10 pursue, it at the same
time corresponds with the demands OF JUS
tice. 1t gives the Democratic party at last
W COuJcuu ISduy
principle, something that it has not done now
for many a long year. Every distinction in
our laws based upon color alone is essentially
unjust. 1t has no foundation in reason, in
right, or in sound policy. Nor can it long
stand before the growing intelligence and
ripening moral sense OF the times. Our laws
should be equal. impartial, strictly just. To
this standard they must finally come. "Who-
ever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken,
but upon whomsoever it shall fall, it will
grind him to powder"
We are glad that the leaders of the Demo
cratic party are beginning to see this great
truth, and we shall be glad to see them fall
in with it, even from no higher motives than
those OF mere party policy. If their doing so
shall result in forever removing the negro
question" from American politics, we shall be
mong the first to say Amen thereto.