The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-14

dated by the organized opponents Of the law
The Northern Democrats. meanwbile bavs
lost no opportunity of proving their title TO
the oonfdence Of the negrophobists of the
South. Again and again within the last few
mOnths they have reafirmeda adherence To the
maxim that "ths is a white mans Govern
ment, >" and that the black man shall have no
lot or part in IL. The bold and sagacious bid
of the Chicago Times and the prudent prompt
ings of the World have been systematically
disregarded by their party, the great majority
OF whom are today as bitterly hostile to the
recognition of the negro's political equality as
though the events OF the last six wears had
not been heard Of The latest evidence has
been afforded by the Pennsylvania Democratic
Convention, which met at Harrisburg on
Tuesday. Not content with general and
most malignant attack upon the policy of Con-
gress, it adopted a resolution pledging the
party to oppose any amendment of the Consti-
tuition of the State giving to negroes the right
of suffrage. In Pennsylvania, therefore, as in
Ohio and generally throughout the North. the
party at this moment stands committed
against the principle of political equality re-
gardless of color or race, which forms the
foundation of Southern reconstruotion. On
this ground coupled with denial of the
right of Congress to meddle with the suffrage
at all, the party has hoped to commend itself
to the South, with view to partisan effect
after the States shall have been readmitted to
the Union. .-...,..-
Nothing, however, could more surely secure
the permanent defeat of the Democratic party
IL cannot hope to carry the North on an issue
adverse to the whole action of Congress-. And
1t cannot by any possibility obtain the future
control of the South by hostility to the race
whose votes will hereafter be an important ele-
ment in Southern political affairs. With
IL III
themselves, the Southern people will naturally
affiliate with that party at the North which
favors the voluntary adoption by all the
States of the principle which is being forced
upon the South. General LOngstreet has well
stated this aspect of the case, in these terms:-
"lf appreciate the principles of the Demo-
cratic party, It's prominent features oppose the
enfranchisement of the colored man. and deny
the right to legislate upon the subject of suf
frage. except by the States individually. These
two features have tendency TO exclude South
ern men from that party; for the colored man
is already euIranchised there, and we cannot
his rights The exclusive right OF the States to
legislate upon suffrage will make the enfran-
chisement of the blacks, whether for better or
for worse, fixture among us IL appears,
therefore, that those who cry loudest again st
TINS new order OF things as public calamity
without q remedy. Hence IL becomes us to in
sist that suffrage should be extended TO all OF
the States, and fully tested. Tue people OF the
North should adopt what they have forced
upon us; and il IL be proved 10 be a mistake,
they should remove IL by the remedy under
republican principles of uniform laws upon
suffrage"
The Northern Democracy, then, by arraying
themselves as patty against negro suffrage,
overshoot the mark. They are fighting
against facts and fate. For negro suffrage, as
a powerful political element at the South, is
already an established fact. And the neces-
sity of adapting themselves to the situation,
and making the best of events which are not
likely to be reversed, is forcing itself upon the
minds of the leading men of the South with a
rapidity which we are apt to underestimate.
Governor Orr is not the only Southern leader
who has an account to settle with the party
which tempted and then deserted his section.
And General Longstreet expresses the oonvic-
ten of an influential class, when he refuses to
serve under the banner of the Democratic
party because its leading ideas and principles
are of the past. A party which clings to the
prejudices of caste begotten of slavery after
slavery has been abolished, cannot hope to
regain the direction of national affairs.