The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-09
Negroes and Their Rights.

From the Tribune = i..3.li r. 1e..IsI t.It I
The radical basis of government is equal
rights for all citizens. In filling public sta
tions, capacity, merit, fitness are to be SUI
premely regarded, but nothing so irrelevant
as the candidates color. Such, we are sure,
is the view Of nearly all Republicans, whether
black or white, Northern or Southern. r
There is a small band, however, wherein
Wendell Phillips is conspicuous, who seem re-
solved that some men shall be chosen to office
because they are black. This seems to us akin
to the Democratic error which would ercIude
men from Office for that identical reason. Far
hence be the day when man shall be chosen
to Office mainly because he is black or because
he is white f.
A certain Charles E. Moss sometimes called
"Colonel Moss'') writes as follows to the Anti-
SlGvery Standard:
speaking Of Vice Presidents, certain distin-
guished senators and Representatives, in Con
gress who have been couTting the negro vote, In
The expect alton of getting That position, viii
wake up some fine morning and find them
selves wonderfully mistaken, The African vole
will be the ruling vote in eleven States of this
that will determine the result of the election.
Tuat fact the intelligent African understands,
and is laying his plans. He understands we'll
that, without the negro vote, Republican
candidate for President cannot be elected.
Understanding
declare emphatically that the Republican party
shall not use them as material for carrying
elections, and then turn them aside, insthe dis
position of the public patronage They say that
furnishing votes must be reclprocated by
receiving just share of the offices. And in that
they are right. 1t is but simple justice to those
men who do the voting to grant them fair pro-
portion of the official positions, There are
Several negroes fitted for the position of Vice
President, and that race CLAIM that the second
office in the gift of the nation shall be filled by
negro That tShey LIN US say nnS,; must be accorded to
proof of the honesty OF It's profession OF attach
ment to the PRINCIPLES of equal rights 20 all
men, regardless of race color If that de-
mand IL refused, they VIII consider the Repub-
lican party dishonest in its professions and vote
against IL in the Presidential election.
1'In that view the negro is right, and it Is TO
be hoped he will put the party TO that test.
S3nn I m LsngsCon' oI Vndo, rs weil quaiinsu 10
negro need never be ashamed OF insisting upon
! the Republican party placing him upon the
t cket as The condition OF receiving their sup
port Such an act would complete the triumph
of right and justice so far the equality ofraee
is concerned. II would also put an end to the
trimming, Intriguing conduct of white seekers
for that position, and leave them at liberty TO
act honestly for the next four years g,.,L
"Such a demand, resOlutely backed up by the
negro. viii be sure to succe ed as the Republican
party could not do without that vote, The
negro vote in 1868 Will number alb out $50 900, so
scattered over eleven States TO turn the cleo
tions in such directions as they shall see a..
There are. Also about SOC, 900 votes In the North
| that would join in supporting such nomtna-
| ton, and That vote Is so located as 70 turn the
| elections into Whatever QlGecllOn LnSy CHOOSE
in eight or nine other States. The Republican
party, therefore, dare not refuse TO nominate
| Mr.. Langston, or some other member OF the
| African race, If that people resolutely require
| IT,. That they will require IT., have the best OF
| reasons for believing. Stranger aud infinitely
more disreputable things have happened In this
nation than would be the election of Wendell
Phillips as President and John M. Langston as
| Nhe.President in 1868 The Republican party
| w uld not dare refuse the nomination OF thus
ticket II resolutely pressed" ...
Comments by the Tribune. llr
]. The Republican party has signally tri-
umphed at the last two Presidential elections.
as also in the State contests of 1865 and 1866,
by white votes almost exclusively. We do
not know that single Lincoln elector was
chosen at either election by black votes, nor
that any Governor or Member Of Congress
owes his position to negro votes. Il is sheer
assumption that it may not succeed In '68 as il
did in go, '64 '65, and '66.
III. There is no proof but naked assertion
that the blacks want one of their number
placed on the Republican national ticket. The
Indications all point the other way. In Wash
ington city, in Mobile, and elsewhere. the
blacks being urged TO- present negro candidates.
. have declined, preferring whites as more expe,