Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-11-16
TaEPARTLAE SUFFRAGE.

ne sudden vault OF the CnlcagO
Times from extreme pro-slavery De
mocraey to extreme negro-suffrage
Radicalism is after all, not surprising
There Is little doubt that many of the
leading spirits of the Democratic par
ty have for some time contemplated a
similar change Of base Immediately
after the surrender of johnson the
New York Herald, an influential Dem
ocratic sheet, strongly advocated suf-
frage for the colored race, declaring
that it must come to them in the order
of things and the sooner the better.
President johnson himself said not
many months ago that if he were in
Tennessee he would favor franchise
for the negro. Ex-Governor Horatio
Seymour, an able Democrat, recently
declared that if he were in the South
he would advocate negro suffrage, and
even an member of the rebel Cabi-
net, Mr.. Reagan, has published a strong
argument for giving equal rights, civil
and political, to the freedmen.
The Chicago Times is, therefore, on
" following in the wake Of some of
its abler compeers in Democracy. The
motives for this singular change Of
opinion would be apparent even if not
confessed. The Times does not say
it is in in favor Of negro suffrage be
cause it is just and right. but because
it is inevitable. 1t acknowledges the
principle to be unpalatable to
large mass of Democrats but declares
that to espouse it is the only possible,
salvation for its party. The remedy is
nauseous but the disease is terrible.
The Democratic party has again been
beaten, fearfully beaten. Ever since
the palmy days of Pierce and Bu-
chanan it has had to eat the bitter
ashes of defeat. Republieanism has
grown stronger and stronger while
Democracy has waned and dwindled
Something must be done, and as the
case is desperate so must be the rene
dy. The revilers and abusers of the
colored man must become his champe-
ons. They who have so long spurned
him as chattel, having no rights and
unworthy of equality social or politi-
cal, must consent to respect him as a
man and a peer. They who have op-
posed and denounced every measure
looking to his enfranchisement or am
eIioration must consent to have him
go with them to the polls and exercise
the highest right of a freeman. To
this, says the Times, must the Democ-
racy come. And all for what ? Not
to benefit the negro but to beat the
Republicans-to ''crush the worst par
ty that ever existed" The Radicals
are now to be hoisted with their own
petard, eheckmated with their own de-
vices and their works carried from the
rear. The Democratic party is to do
this not as a matter of principle but as
a feat of strategy.
But whatever may be the impelIing
motives this change in Democratic
sentiment is hopeful sign. Demo
oracy has long stouted it out against
light and reason, and it is satisfae-
ton to see it bowing at length to the |
inexorible logic of events. There
are many reasons to hope the party
will follow the advice of the Chicago
Times, and that its next platform viii |
offer franchise to the freedmen
When this occurs we may confidently
expect the Southern States to enfran-
chise the blacks at once. The second !
and third sections of the Constitution
al Amendment might then be remit
ted, since the necessity for them would |
be taken away. The futility of test
oaths is demonstrated at every election
in the i1surgent States. The worst 1
rebels take them without oompunotion, /
and in spite of all such safeguards |
treason will creep into the ballot box.
The best remedy for this is to put in
enough loyalty to neutralize its effect.
Let all loyal men, as we'll as all rebels /
have the ballot and there need be no
test oaths or political disqualifcations.
Loyalty can safely take its chances in
a fair fight with disloyalty. and dis
pense with those artificial helps which
must ever prove one of the most dis
turbing elements in our politics. The
sooner, therefore, Democrats North
and South, embrace this just and safe
of reconstruction the better,
and all symptoms of movement in
that direction, from W hatever motive
Or source, ought to be encouraged.
But we have little faith that the
Democratic party will ever plant it.
self upon the doctriue Of impair
IjaE suffrage. The Times does not go /
10 far but proposes qualifications. IF