New-York tribune., 1867-04-22
THE ,SOUTH IN 1867.


States, speaking once or more in each State as
opportunity may be presented. Gen. Wilson was
an earnest, avowed opponent of Slavery long
before the Republican party was formed, as he
has since been one of that party's fore
most champions. Born to poverty he
has preserved that inheritance unimparedj
Injured from childhood to labor and frugality,
his education is that of the common people,
but is such as only New England and the COM
munities sprung from her loins have hitherto
proffered to the children of the poor. In his
history, his character, and his convictions, Gen.
Wilson fairly represents and emb0dies that
great party which has raised -Four Millions OF
our countrymen from brute chattelhOOd and law
guarded ignorance to the dignity of free man
hood and the rights of American citizenship His
journey southwark is designed to commend the
fundamental truths whereon the Republican
party is based to the understandings of
those who have hitherto heard of them only
through the prejudiced Misrepresentation OF
that party's enemies, and to the acceptance OF
all who would have true and lasting concord
between the North and the South based on
Universal Justice and Impartial Freedom.
They do grievously msapprehend us who
imagine that "the Radicals would array the
Blacks of the South against the Whites. Right
is of no particular color and genuine aristoc-
racy makes no more account of mans hue
than of his stature. Most men would rather be
six feet high than five feet; yet those OF the
lesser stature. though in a certain sense un-
equal to their taller neghbors, have equal rights
in the laws eye, and are equally entitled to
vote to SIT OH jurics, and to hold office if duly
elected. If any class or race are generally un-
qualified to fulfill certain public trusts, let others
be preferred because of their superior qualif-
cations, which afford good reason for the
preference-not of their lineage, which affords
no reason at all.
The Republican party is TO be organized in
tho South because it is eminently needed there.
Its principles, fairly expounded and heartily ac-
ceptcd, will Danish fcuds and insure general
harmony. We have already joyful prem)ni
tions of "the good time coming in "Conse:va-
"tive" meetings 10 prepare for State organza-
tion wherein Whites and Blacks are mingled as
officers and speakers and special efforts are
made To win the sufiTages of Negroes. IL
any regard these meetings with dlsfayor
because they are calculated TO win votes
away from our tickets, we do not. Since our
principles triumph what matter if our party
suffcrsH There are many Blacks who are in
kindly relations with their old masters, who
still employ them, on whose estates they live,
and whom they have ever regarded with adj
miring pride and affection. These will prob
ably vote with those old masters, provided
they feel sure that this does not involve
voting against themselves and their children.
We look, therefore, for considerable
Negro vote for the Conservative tickets, mainly
in the more secluded rural districts. where
the Republicans are known only through the
nculpatOns of their adversares. STILL the law
OF gravitation everywhere vindicates itself--as
truly in the ascent of balloon as in the fall
of stOne-and our adversares can only secure
Black votes by very close approximation lin
profession, at lcasD to our principles. Our loss
of few seats in Congress and other offices
will thus be bounteously compensated.
Wendell Phillips lectures tomorrow evening
in Brooklyn on National Affairs. II is his Gus
tom to speak disparagingly of Henry Wilson
to characterize him as a trimmer, and even as
unfaithful to the cause of Impartial Freedom.
We would not retort these imputations Mr..
Phillips has won wide and enduring renown by
his lifelong and unselish devotion to the cause
of the Slave. To assert that he has often erred
in his manner of commencing that cause is
only to say that he is human. Had it pleased
God to make him more charitable and consider
ate, enabling him to see that those who differed
from him were not necessarily towards nor
villains, he might have done the good cause
better service; but then it is high praise to
say that he has done what he coud. Know
ing Henry Wilson intimately, we are sure
that his devotion to Human Liberty has been
as thorough as that of his defamer while
we Judge that it has been decidedly more
practical, and thus more efficient.
There are beings mean enough to insist that
Mr.. Phillips has been well paid for his anti
Slavery lectures, just as there those who will
say that Gen. Wilson has achieved and re-
tained desirable positions by his anti i-Slavery
politics. We despise these diverse detractors
with equal heartiness. Mr.. Phillips need not
have been an Abolitionist in order to attract
large and paying audiences; and Gen. Wilson
renounced the party which steadily ruled
Massachusetts, and seemed likely to rule her
forever, in order that he might more effectively
uphold the Equal Rights of Man. Let each
have his need of honor; for each has de-
served it.
Cannot Mr.. Phillips be persuaded to traverse
the South and address her people? He would,
of course, have large audiences, with rare oppor-
tunities for doing good. Though he has never
vet supported a Republican candidate for Pres
ident, and has rarely spoken Of any act of
the party otherwise than in disparagement or
depreciation, he would be heard with interest by
the Southern Republicans and might give them
timely counsel. We believe he might learn