Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-06-27

ana tnuS, among bnOSo VIII uhuSiSluhu
IL truly, 1t has made Instructions and
revolutions unnecessary. IT may, as /
said before, be liable to abuse, anu give
rise to certain evils, like every other hu-
man institution, but, on the whole, 1t
has done wonders as an instrument OF
liberty, Justice and civilization.
IFS NECESSITY WITH US AS A PREsERvER
OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
Abstracting altogether from the ques-
ton of right, but viewed merely as u
policy and means of self-protection,
Suffrage is Indispensable to our Ameri-
can system and people. Considering the
strong, self-asserting never-minding in-
dividuality, pushing impetuosity, rest
less energy and settled disregard not
only of obstacles, but frequently also of
the rights and feelings of Others, which
distinguished Angolo-SaXon character
alloyerth world, and considering further
that the idea of sel-protection or pro-
lection from below upwards, underlics
our social and political organization, we
must come to the irresistible conclusion
that no class of our community could
practically enjoy that security, comfort
and patriotism which, in theory, we want
it to enjoy, unless armed with that awe
inspiring NJ d Incompatible defensive
weapon, the right to vote.
five want peace and order In orr
American communities, there must not
be n rghtlcss class. There must not be
class o par abs Ce rived of the politi-
cal privileges which all others ENJOY
Deprive II class of the defensive weapon
Which we respect, which influences all
others, and the effects of which prevade
all our institutions, and you at once doom
that unfortunate class to persecution and
oppression. Deprive n class of the pro-
lection ofsuffrage, and that self-asserting
and conquering spirit of our people which
has cleared away wilderness, redeemed
continent, shaken off the yoke of the
| then greatest maritime power of the
world, that spirit which recognizes no
| impossibility and shrinks from no obsta-
! Gle, will Immediately weigh down and
| oppress that class, and either deprive it
of all rights, or set their remaining rights
at naught by that powerful control and
wrong, well directed or misguided, in
variably exercises over municipal au-
thorities, courts of justice and all other
branches and departments Of Govern
mcnt.
Hence If you want peace and security
for yourselves, if you want our machinery
of Government to roll on smoothly and
harmoniously, let there be no man with
out that shield which even the mighty,
the strong and the powerful cannot fail
to respect. Let there be no man without
that magic wand which transfo rms the
great Government of to-day, represent
ing the sovereignty of millions of people,
into the atfable candidate of tomorrow
who anXiously and sympathctically en-
quires for your dear health, and the we'll
being of your good lady and children.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE
For these reasons we said to the negro
i'm the Southern States: "Friend! we
have done the best to protect you. We
have tried it from above downward and
il would not do. We passed Freedmen
Bureau and Civil Rights Bills, and they
gave you no security. We must now
adopt the American plan of self-protcc-
ton, and try il from below upwards
We will clotho you with that power
which alone affords security and II fail
start in nlile-the right To vote. Take the
ballot and protect yOurself!" And
sir, this remedy at once effected the de-
sired cure. The poor contrabnnd is nc
longer the prosecuted outlaw whom i'll
corrigble rebels might kick and kill witt
impunity, but he ut once became "0ul
colored low-citizcn" i'm whose we'll
being his former master takes the liveli
est interest. Thus by bringing the ne.
, gro under the American system, we have
completed his emancipation. He has
ceased to be u parlah. From an outcasI
, he has been transformed into human
being, invested with the great nationa
attribute of sclf-protcction and the re-
establishment of peace and order ant
security, the revival of business nnt
, trade, and the restoration of the South
ern States on the basis of loyalty ant
equal justice to all, will be the happy re
suits of this astonishing metamorphosis
l provided the party which has Inaugural
ted this policy remains in pOwerto carr,
| 1t out. If, however, the reins of govern
! ment should fall into the hands of tn
7: party whose leading principle is opposl
! tion to that policy, the great pcace-worI
: now accomplished would be undone, tn
n foundations which we have laid for tn
! now -edifce would soon be torn down
@ the storm of passion and hatred woul
= break loose anew, and anarchy, confu
n sion, bloodshed, and perhaps war {
races would again devastatc the Sout
= and prevent perhaps for generations
: come, TINT peaceful and prosperous d,
vclopement which u few years more
r republican rule will secure.
THE OPPOSITION or PREJUDICE.
t While endeavorin2 to extend to tn
: negro, In Justice to him and for reason
= of public policy and peace, our system {
L self-protection, i liz natural that we shoul
u ollchu certuiu plcJN'lceS Suiluuutllittnlc
q the results of the wrongs the white rae
l. has inflicted on the black. "We gene
= ally dislike those whom we injure
d is an old saying, verified by the Demt
II cratic party in this case. But, If any
@ thing distinguishes our people, 1t is til
Is facility with which they overcome nj
q solute prejudices. Look back ut our shol
}. history, and you will behold with n
IS tonlshment how many prcludices an
), popular errors we have overcome. w
l. have overcome tho mistaken belief |
70 the necessity of II State church, a. pr,
% judlce from which European nations ~
n not yet emancipated. We have owe
= come the tlmc-hOnored prejudice in fav,
4 of hereditary aristocracies. We hay
le overcome that mean relic of barbarlsm
l. the prejudice against Jews-whlch iii
le graced European civilization for so man
l. centuries, We have overcome that pr
N judlco and timidity with which, duril
@, the war, we approached the first ste
ID toward emancipation. We have owe
10 como the prejudice against negro soldier
@. 50 deXter0usly famed and stimulated
,e the Democratic party.
of Now II you consider how little tim
10 comparatively, 1t took to overcome ca,
,e of the prejudices have referred TO, v,
4 4 ..WtN n. A. A n