Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-29


ed Into their heads, beyond somesmall con-
tflvancc 20 conceal their real sentiments
from the peoplehntll the current Of public
opinion indicates how matters wiz run.
This iactwas strikingly illustrated last
session, when the very resolution of the
Union S0ate Convention, cheerfully indors-
ing the policy of the Administration for
3 the restoration Of peace and civil order In
the so-called seeded States, upon which
platform their own election had been Sc
cured, was referred 10 committee, to hold
subject to such action as Congress might
take In the pending controversy with the
President. The members dared not to ex-
press any Independent opinion of their
own, although they had been elected the
year subsequent to the Congressman, and,
therefore, might be supposed to understand
better the sentiments OF the people, who
ought to control their Representatives at
Washington, rather than be dictated to by
thPm. Y .Li
The same paralysis seems to afflct them
during the present session, judging from
the frequent and prolonged caucus con
snltations about the expediency of trying
to conceal any longer their avorite princi-
pie OF negro suffrage and negro equality,
by denying that issue in the ensuing politi-
every conceivable form has committed it.
self to the dogma by voting for candidates
and sustaining measures to force the OBJ
noxious dose upon other people, who are
denied any voice in the matter. The dis
cussions so far in the Radical caucus ex-
hibit the fact of entire unanimity, as to the
rightfulness of negro suffrage, but hesi-
fancy about facing the music before their
constituents, to whom some of the weak
kneed brethren have heretofore been in the
habit Of singing different song. Cannot
Ohio Radicalism appreciate the meanness
! Of Its position in clamoring through its
representatives In Congress to force an
elective franchise upon others, which it has
not the maniness to propose, to practically
enforce at home, for fear of losing office? Is
the high-strung morality of these hot-gos-
pelers of universal brotherhood, intended
only for the benefit of the "outside
heathen," neglecting altogether the field of
home missionary enttrprize9 Why, then.
tremble about walking up to the scratch,
and submitting to the people at the ensu-
ing election, the question of striking the
word "white" out of the Constitution OF
Ohio9 Your twenty-five Senator'S and
sixty-nine Representatives give the party
more than the requisite three-filths major
ity in each house. Are you afraid to trust
the people with the issue to which your
opponents boldly challenge you and invite
the fray? With your 10000 majority, do
you confess that all your talk about the
rights of man, means only that you will
press them in shape where you think no
party power Is TO be risked. or to crafty a
revengeful malignity, to insult and degrade
fallen foe, by making him the political
thrall of his former slaves? If you dodge
any longer the issue in Ohio, impartial his
Z tory will record that you advocate negro
suffrage, not from a belief that it is good
for the country, but use it as mere engine
a
pretext to perpetuate disunion, because the
South will not grant privileges to the negro
race which you do not give yourselves.
Never were circumstances more propi- |
tious to testing the question by popular |
vote. The Cincinnati Commercial and Ohio |
State Journal, both unite with Cheesedom |
In demanding a trial, and an acceptance of |
the gage Of battle, thrown down by the |
Democracy Of Franklin county. Governor |
Cox, too, has very graciously relieved the |
party from any embarrassment, by de- |
clining to be candidate for denomination,
thus leaving you free to select champion,
who need not be embarrassed by the argu- |
ments OF the 0berlin letter, that the only |
basis of permanent Nationality is to be
found In complete homogeneity of people, |
of manners and of laws" and that "the |
tendency of battling for the old flag, was
almost equally. uniform in increasing and |
dee pening the pride Of race" The General |
was marked victim by the Western Re- |
serve hierarchy, from the moment he |
penned that letter, and has been ever since |
sedulously hunted dopn. Gen. Cox struck at
the very root Of their whole theory, when
he placed his objections to negro suffrage
on the fundamental ground of RACE,
without any twaddling about educational
qualifications. He was too much of gen.
tleman, had too much brains and sense of
honor, to be tolerated by the fanatics, to
think that all our national obligations are
due to the negro, to whose proves we owe
our success in the war, and not to the ''poor
. white trash" The fighting soldier in the |
future must stand aside in that party for
shoddyites Of the stay-at-home brigade of
Buffers stripe. The Radical press cannot
conceal the truth from the people by empty |
compliments to Governor Cox-his declina- |
ton Is a sign OF the times. Rumor says, |
that at the last Radical legislative caucus,
when the negro question was up, the West
ern Reserve representatives were particu-
larly do,on on the Governor, and the next |
day his letter OF declination was written
for how could he conscientiously consent
to be an actor in party programme he had
always abhorred? ~
Now, bring out for Governor, Messrs.
Radicals, slight weights" Piatt Brevet
Comfy, God-be-praised Barebones Moody,
''Booly" Bundy, sutler Cowan or Vienna
Schenck, and give the people fair chance
on the negro suffrage issue, But IL Ia