Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-13
soiiloquy of a Radical.
NO. 5.

Whilst still incline to. be Radical, yet
feel ought to be Democrat.
Old Tom, with his "prospec of de quality
law" is about the best joke neighbol
Brown has ever had upon me. The Ten
nessee election looks blue-or rather blue
black to me. A State transferred to the
Negroes may work we'll for the present fol
political purposes; but it is certainly hu
initiating spectacle. A war for the Union
that leaves US with Union part Black an6
part White. appears to me about as bad, II
| not little worse, than Union part slave
and part free. 1t is too much like driving
out bad man to make room for the Devil
White men when clothed with power uni
versally become intollerant.
But how will it be with these Negroes in
future? viii they not become the most
saucy, overbearing beings in the world?
If the Whites ever get the power, black
man will pay for all this. If Black man
keeps the power the Whites will suffer fol
all time to come. The past inequality ol
races is not likely to be forgotten for few
centuries at least. L fear it will make
bloody work. At least, if were White
man, and in the power of the Blacks, and
there was no other remedy I would feel
like making it bloody.
Some of my Radical friends claim Negro
will vote, but will not desire office. That
is good deal like learning hungry horse
to plow in a field of large corn without
nipping the blades. Besides, some of the
Radical leaders are advocating the eleva-
tion of Negroes to Office. The truth is, the
whole thing is political juggle-a des-
white people submit? If they are all as
obstinate as 1 appear to be, perhaps they
will for time. But reaction will come.
That is, that will be the natural result of
things.
Reaction has overtaken and swallowed
up every political party that ever existed
in this country for time at least, and its
resumption of power depended entirely
upon the conservatism and wisdom of its
policy aud principles.
If that is the real test, if we are ever
overpow cred, 1 fear our chan ces for being
re-invested with power will be slim.
In view OF all these matters is it sur
prising that wonder how came to be a
Radical?
My Radical friends justify changing the
Constitution upon the theory of progress.
cannot subscribe to this theory either
For if progress is the order of the day there
Is no telling where we will land. The Re-
ligion of the blessed Saviour admits of no
progress, so called. II it did,
what a mess of stuff it would consist of
now. And so with Government. What
was good for ADAMS is good for us. What
was good for Washington and that gener-
tion is certainly as good for us as it was
for them.
All the follies of the past were nurtured
under the guise of progress. So we must
be careful how we apply the term.
But all this arguing amounts to nothing,
unless come to conclusion.
And if Pm bent on being a Radical,
might as well conclude my reflections and
prepare to follow my leaders.
If it were not for my religious obliga-
tions this would be easy enough.
But there's the rub. Can /, as a good
citizen and Christian, do that which my
Judgment disapproves of?
Ny Radical friends claim the Democrats
are all rebels. fused to say so too. But
as saying so does not make it so. The
Jews claimed the Savior was traitor, and
convicted him of it before a court resem-
bling one of our Military Commissions and
executed him. Sometimes I feel as if 1
were JUDAS and engaged in betraying
my country. Then again 1 feel loyal and
play the Radical. 1 suppose JUDAS felt
ind acted the same way.
But this is digressing. The real ques-
ion is, "Shall vote for HAYES ?"
see he has been making speech. His
ext appears to be "all men are created
equal" The result of his reasoning upon
hat subject is the old proposition of
that the men who adopted those
words as expressive of their sentiments
rave them the lie by their conduct through
life. That's-too old and stale for consider
ltion.
Those words were used to express ideas
md those ideas were faithfully embodied
n the laws of the country.
He quotes our late President as his
,racle. like that. If he will stick to
hat will stick to him.
That quotation is not as definite as some
,thers he might have made.
AS suffrage and political equality is now
he plain issue, wonder why he did not
Iuote Mr.. LINcoLN's views upon that sub
ect. Let me see. His speech would then
ave read:
president Lincoln began his memorable
ddress at the dedication of the Gettys-
,urg National Cemetery with these words: |
"tFour score and seven years ago our
athers brought forth on this continent a
ew nation, conceived in liberty and dedi-
ated to the proposition that all men are
reated equal"
But Mr.. LINCOLN did not mean by this to
onvey the idea that men being created
quail were entitled to the same rights and |
privileges in conducting Governments. 1fI
o, the exclusion of women from the decla- |
alton would admit of being construed
gnored. Or if included, they too would
,e entitled to equal rights.
But. my fellow Radicals, Mr.. LINCOLN
lid not leave US in the dark in regard to his |
riews upon this subject. When called
lpon to define his position fully, he said I:
81 will say then that am not nor never |
lave been, in favor of bringing abont, in any
oay the social and political equality the aohite
md black races !; that l am not nor never
have been in favor of making Uoters or jurors