New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-17

THE DUTY or THE PARTY TO THE SOUTH
In the organization of the Republican party
in the South, one thing is to be remembered
that the principles of Rcpublicamsm forbid
any attempt to control and use tho coored
vote as something dependent upon the party
Except in ordinary political calculations which
arc based Oh population, the Republican party
knows no colored vote. 1t knows the Pune
only, and ,Detwecn white and black can make
no distinction.
Thus far the Southern Republicans have
acted upon these principles. The North Caro-
lima Convention did not acknowledge any diff
ference of the races, and divided the offices
| equally between them at the Arkansas Con-
venton April 2, it was resolved that the terms
white and black should not be used though
c0lOrcd delegates were present; the call
of Republican Convention in Tennessee
said eve do not appeal to Whites or to Blacks
eve appeal to Men" 1t is only upon this
honorable and just basis that the party can
hope to establish itself permanently in tho
South The cOlOred voters do not intend to
he patronized by any political organization;
they expect equal rights, full representa-
ton in party councils, and the power they
are entitled TO, not only by intelligence
but numbers. Therefore, any attempt to or
ganize a "Black Party" will he defeated by
the colored voters themselves. In the war they
were willing to fight in separate regiments, but
they will not vote so.
The Republican party needs only platform
of absolute equality to cmbody-not attach or
anncx-the majority of the colored voters in
itself. It, as tho party which freed the slave,
and gave him the ballot, has claim
upon his confidence, which 10 sophstry
can destroy. The colOred men universally
understand this, and nothing but local interests
will cause them to vote against Republican
candidates But this advantage is counter
balanced by the want of thorough organization
in the Southern States n want which, unless
speedily supplied, must lose the Republican
party thousands of votes. True, there Is not
State in which good Union men
have not taken some steps toward
State organization, signally i'll Alabama and
North Carolina but the great deficiency is in
the counties and districts. A Republican Con-
yention in Raleigh or Little Rock does not
necessarily imply that the Republican party,
as living, working organization. will he
carried into every corner of North Carolina
and Arkansas. That machinery of local commit
tees and Union Leagues, which IN New-lork or
PENNSYLVANIA disscminatcS a knowledge Of men
and principles throughout the State, does not exist
for the Republican party in the South, but 1t
does exist for orr opponents there. They have
the State Governments the county officers !;
their leaders hold ali civil authority; they
have three fourth, of the newspapers; and this
machinery which was used TO accomplish
Secession, and sustain Rebellion, is equally
valuable to oppose the progress of Republican
principles. II yet remains TO be seen whether
the Reconstruction law itself may not he used
against us: it provides for the appointment OF
Boards of Registration TO determine who are legal
voters, but il does not prescribe the manner III
which these Boards shall be formed. We hold
that il is the duty of the District Commanders,
independently of all parties, to see that both
white and black citizens are mtrrsted with u
work so important
Thus deficient in organization though with
ample power in numbers and enthusiasm, the
success of the Republican party in the South,
depends very much upon the energy of the
Republicans III the North. We must give them
what we hayc-speakerS, newspapers, labor,
money, organization. We must begin nj once
with this work. the loyal men of the South
will do the rest.