The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-01
the NEW YORK PRESS.
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nay FoR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.

The Political Revolution Down south
New Age OF Negro WOrshtpping.
From The Herald.
"Lord, we know what we are, but know not
what we may be, " says the unhappy ophelia;
and how forcibly is this solemn fact impressed
upon us when we look at the vicissitudes and
transformations in our party politics and poll
ticians of the last half dozen years 1t seems
as if it were but yesterday that we mad deci-
sion from the Supreme Court of the United
States affirming that 'the negro, under the
Constitution, has no rights which white man
is bound to respect" But where stands Sambo
now? On the French tripod Of Liberty,
EQUALITY, and Fraternity" " he has become the
Hfndoo Brahma of American politics. To the
disgust of Wendell Phillips, even the old line
Democracy and the late higher caste South
ern cbivairv are down in the dirt muttering
their prayers and promises to ''the almighty
Niger" Truly, in this political revolution,
as in the Niagara Falls and the big oedars OF
California fat women and living skeletons,
and various other things, America beats the
world.
Hinder "the Union as it was" General Wade
Hampton. with the addition of a thousand
negro slaves absolutely his, was the Duke of
Deyonsbire of South Carolina. His favorite
and hospitable country seat at Columbia was
that of prncipality in its luxurious appoint
ments, accessories, and surroundings. His
dependents and his slaves, his cotton fields,
vineyards, flower gardens, stables, and grana-
ries were those of prince. "Fallen from his
high estate what is he nowi We will let
him answer for himself as he spoke at Colum-
bia the other day, in his fraternizing speech to
the svmpathetic blacks for their political
fusion with their late white masters. No per-
sonal motives he cOntended, could influence
him in this appeal; .'for" said he Il am no
longer citizen OF the United States, or of
South Carolina. The bill which gives the
right of suffrage to you (his emancipated
slaves disfranchises me. | have not even
home here for my home, and the homes of all
who love my name, have been laid in ashes.
/ have no political rights. have nothing to
bind me to this ruined land but the memories
of the past, the affections l cherish for its
people, and the graves of my kindred" How
cold and pointless, compared with this warm
and living picture, is the figure of Marius
brooding over the ruins of CARTHAGE
But our point in this case is the negro vote
of the South. 1t is a Southern political
balance of power; it covers the popular majo-
Tity in South Carolina, the importance of
which to the ruling white class is thoroughly
grasped by Hampton. Like a wise man, he
the terms of Congress-. He appeals to the
blacks, lately his slaves, as his political supe-
TiOrs to try the political experiment of har-
mOnizing with their late white masters before
they go over into the political service of
strangers. There is in this appeal degree
of chiyalry and political sagacity far higher
than anything else in the line of chivalry
of which South Carolina can justly boast.
The broad fact that the two races in the
South must henceforth harmonic on
political basis to avoid a bloody conflict of
races is the ground covered by Wade Hamp-
ton. But the Northern radicals, and even the
old Northern Bourbon Democracy, are in the
field for this Southern negro balance of power.
What, then, is likely to follow from this
rivalry for the smiles of Sambo
Black though it may be, we have to look
this thing in the face. You cannot give "the
Southern colOred gentleman" the ballot and
still expect to keep him out of office. Where
he has the majority in the matter of color
he must be brought of, or the white man
must stand back when the time comes. From
the political necessities of this party or that
party, therefore, it will be no matter for
surprise if we have in the next Congress from
the South five, ten or fifteen or twenty mem
bers of the House, and a scattering shot or
two in the shape of a clark complicated"
Senator. Colored gentlemen for foreign mis-
sions, the Cabinet, and the White House
will then be in order. When James Buchanan
was our Minister at London, ON one occa-
sion at a court reception he was asked what
he thought of the ambassador from Hayti,
a strapping African, gorgeous in gold lace, at
his elbow. 81 think, said "Old Buck, " quiz
zing the glittering negro; 81 think that that
fellow would fetch fifteen hundred dollars il
New Orleans" Upon that platform ''tht
favorite son of Pennsylvania co Moses y
m 1856 was elected President by the. Southern
white balance of power. But now, slavery
out of the way, the contest is for the Southern
black balance Of power, and unless the radi
Gals in the North prove their professions BY
their acts they will lose it, notwithstanding
the Southern machinery is in the hands o
Secretary Stanton. Frederick Douglass tn
Rev. Mr.. Smith or Box Brown, as representa-
tive blacks of the North, must be advanced t
equal suffrage and division of the spoils, o
Sambo and Pompey in the South will follow
the Southern banner of Wade Hampton, Gov
ernor Brown Longstreet, and Lee. The logi
cal programme from negro suffrage in tn
South must be carried out by the Republican
in the North, or the party will be broken t
pieces. Thus there is a fair prospect that tn
radical Wade Hampton, of South Carolina
on his Southern platform, will yet be NOR
than match for the radicals of Massachusetts,
More Reconstruction.
EJ.o,,i fbe Jgg,os