The tri-weekly standard., 1867-04-23
The Duty of the. Party to the South.

| u0 DuSy VI NV oisy w INC, SOuSA
In the organization of the Republican par
ty in the South, one thing is to be remember
ed-that the principles of Republicanism for
bid any attempt to control and use the col
ored vote, as something dependent upon the
party. Except in ordinary political calcula,
tions which are based on population, the
Republican party knows no colored vote
1t knows the people only, and between white
and black can make no distinction.
Thus far the Southern Republicans have
acted upon these principles. The North
Carolina Convention did not acknowledge
| any difference of the races, and divided the
offices equally between them; at the Arkan-
sas Convention, April 2, it was resolved that
the terms white and black should not be
used, though colOred delegates were present :;
the call of a Republican Convention in Ten
nessee said we do not appeal to Whites or
to Blacks we appeal to Men" 1t is only
upon this honorable and just basis that the
party can hope to establish itself perma-
nently in the South The colored voters do
not intend to be patronized by any political
organization; they expect equal rights, full
representation in party councils, and the
power they are entitled to, not only by intel
ligence but numbers Therefore, any at
tempt to organize "Black Party" will be
defeated by the colored voters themselves
In the war they were willing to fight in sep
arate regiments, but they will not vote so.
The Republican party needs only plat
form of absolute equality to embody-not
attach or anneX-the ma jority of the colored
voters in itself. 1t, as the party which freed
the slave, and gave him the ballot, has
claim upon his confidence, which no sophis-
try can destroy. The colored men uniyer
sally understand this, and nothing but local
interests will cause them to vote against Re-
publican candidates. But this advantage is
counter-balanced by the want of thorough
organization in the Southern States, a want
which, unless speedily supplied, must lose
the Republican party thousands of votes.-
True there is not Il State in which good Un-
ION men have not taken some steps toward
State organization, signally in Alabama and
North Carolina; but the great deficiency is
in the counties and districts. A Republican
Convention in Raleigh or Little Rock does
not necessarily imply that the Republican
party, as living, working organization,
will be carried into every corner of North
Carolina and Arkansas. That machinery of
local committees and Uuion Leagues, which
in New-York or Pennsylvania disseminates
a knowledge of men and principles through
out the State, does not exist for the Repub-
lican party iii the South. but it does exist for
our opponents there. They have the State
Governments, the county officers their lead
ers hold all civil authority they have three
tourths of the newspapers; and this machin
cry which was used to accomplish Secession,
and sustain Rebellion, is equally valuable to
oppose the progress of Republican princi-
pies. 1t vet remains to he seen whether the
Reconstruction law itself may not be used
against US it provides for the appointment
of Boards of Registration to determine who
are legal voters but it does not prescribe the
manner in which these Boards shall be form
ed. We hold that it is the duty of the Dis
trict Commanders, Independently of all par
ties, to see that both white and black citi-
Zens are intrusted with a work so impor-
tant.
Thus deficient in organization, though
with ample power in numbers and enthusi-
asm, the success of the Republican party in
the South, depends very much upon the
energy Of the Republicans in the North. |
We must give them what we have-speak
ers, newspapers, labor, money, organization.
We must begin at once with this work the
loyal men Of the South will do the rest
Neto York Tribune.
The above remarks of the Tribune are op-
perfume and to the point. We are always
glad to have speakers from the North among
US, but we have many native speakers who
can work with marked effect among our
people. We shall have thorough organiza-
ton in due time, but money is needed to
effect organization, and especially to support
our colored speakers while canvassing the
State. We have colored speakers and work
ers-gifted and Jealous men-who ought to
be enabled by the first of October next to
visit every ne:ighborhood in the State. But
we want the means to support them in this
work Now, friend Tribune help us Send
us speakers, and documents and money, and
we will present old North Carolina in due
time every whit whole" as loyal, Repub
lcan Ru1licoI State. Let us in thus and we
will vote in 1858 for the Republican candi-
date for President, and we will adopt such
measures in our Convention as will keep the
State in Republican hands; neglect US and
keep us out, and we shall not only suffer
still more, the innocent with the guilty, but
the Republi can party may be weakened and
injured.