Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-11-16
The Future.

! the opponents of the Will of free and mighty
| people, have been recorded. The voice of
the partisan is hushed and the angry passions
engendersd by political strife, have had time
to cool. Political prejudice and party bias,
which for the time being had swayed and
divided the public mind, have disappeared
under the influence of that powerful seda-
tive-the peoples decision. As the smoke
of battle rolls back from the field, we are
enabled to obtain a clearer view of the situa-
ton of the contending parties. note the effect
of the conflict upon each and mark its re-
suits. To say the least, the elections recent
| ly held in the Atlantic States have not
resulted in manner calculated to build up
and strengthen the Union party, or to crafty
Union men. In each one of the States in
| which elections were held in October and
November, the Democrats have gained large
ly; in a number of instances sufficiently to
win. Five States which have given Union
majorities since the outbreaking of the rebel
California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania,
&NC" 1Oih diiN -NCh vCiSSl -IidNG ILLS dill
declared in favor of Democracy, and the
others nave gone Union by greatly diminish
ed majorities. These facts, however dis
tasteful they may be to Union men, should
be looked squarely in the face instead of
being ignored, and measures be taken to
avert the impending calamity of the election
of Democratic PraSidant in 1890 T, ~.
only dangerous, but suicidal, to risk the
result of the great contest next Fall upon the
mistaken idea that we owe our present defeat
solely to local issues. 1t may give satisfac-
ton to some people to hug such delusion,
but they will be cruelty undeceived in No
vember next unless they awake to a true
sense of the situation. Every effect must
have its cause, and the change which public
sentiment has undergone during the past
year, is no exception to the rule. Now,
without protesting to be the possessor
of inordinate sagacity and foresight, or to be
skilled in the science of political horoscopy,
but simply regarding the past in reasonable
light and judging the future by it, we are
firmly of the opinion that. unless the Union
party takes ground against indiscriminate
suffrage SO plainly that its position cannot
be mistaken, Democrat will occupy the
Presidential chair when johnson yacates it.
We do not wish to be misunderstood on this
point. By ''indiscriminate suffrage" we do
not mean giving the negro the ballot in the
South; we do not refer to the seeded States
at all. The reconstruction measures of Con-
gress, which have placed the ballot in the
hands of loyal men in the South, without
distinction of color, have been heartily en-
dorsed by the people. Men pledged to the
fulillment of this doctrine were elected to
Congress in nearly all of the loyal States
Immediately after Johnson's "swing" last
year. Negro suffrage, in the seeded States,
is the most potent means which can be used
for their rehabilitation, and if it is distasteful
to the chivalry they should recollect that
they forced it upon themselves by their
obstinacy. But because negro suffrage is
necessary to reconstruct rebels, is no reason
why loyal men should be made to suffer the
the equal of the white. intellectually, and
should enjoy the same rights, socially and
politically, is an abstract question which we
do not care to discuss but we do say, and
the logic of events proves the assertion, that
whether indlscriminate suffrage in the loyal
States be right or wrong. morally speaking,
the American people are not yet prepared to
receive it. We do not recognize the neces-
sity of urging the question at present.
Whether negroes shall vote in the loyal
States or not is not vital issue in the settle
ment of the vexatious questions which are
distracting the public mind. The age is
progressive one and right will ultimately
prevail. Let the problem solve itself. The
Union party has yet great work to per-
form, and unless it presses steadily onward,
ignoring minor issues which are distasteful
to the people, it will be hopelessly wrecked
ere its mission is performed. The party was
formed for one great object: The preserva-
ton of the Union" 1t has fought down the
armed foes of the country and quenched the
fires of rebellion. Its great fundamental
principle now is, The Union must be
restored" In order to accomplish this,
negro suffrage in the loyal States is not nee
essary, is unpopular and will defeat any
party which advocates it. 1t is not reason
able to suppose that men will fight for a
principle which they will not vote fol. The
/ loyal men of the North, members of the
Union party, poured out their blood like
water in defence of TIE Union. and hereto
fore have voted the way they fought. Their
refusal to do so in the last elections is proof
| positive that the party has adopted some
measure which they dislike. In our opin-
ion it is negro suffrage in the North. No
members of Congress were elected this year,
except in California, so that in reality the
Democratic victories are barren 50 far as an
increase of strength in the national councils
is concerned. 1t is not yet too late to rec
tify our mistake. With Grant, Sherman or
Sheridan as our candidate for the Presidency,
standing on platform from which is ex-
cluded all side issues, we can be successful
next Fall.
PROFESSOR BLAKE, one of the most dis
tnguished mineralogists in the State, paid
our town visit last week. The Professor
has travelled over every portion of the State,
and understands better than any man in it