The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-05

and goodwill, the same grand result from
Virginia to Texas.
The Tennessee ElectIOn-The Revolution
In the south.
From the Herald.
The Tennessee election, the returns from
which are still pouring in upon US, marks the
Inauguration of a new political revolution in
the South and throughout the United States.
The results of this election are so remarkable,
so unique so sharply defined, and decisive,
that they cannot be measured by the ordinary
standard of the ups and downs of our political
parties. We have here the first test on a
large scale of Southern negro suffrage under
the new dispensation, and in regard to law
and order the experiment has proved most
gratifying success.
The canvass of many weeks in Tennessee
had been marked by such scenes of party vio-
lence, collisions, and bloodshed, that universal
riots and confusion were apprehended on cleo
tion day. No doubt, in the preservation of
the public peace, much is due to the military
precautions of General Grant General Thomas,
and the local authorities but much also is due
to the quiet and orderly department of the
blacks themselves, marching for the first time
to the ballot-boX under the new law of equal
rights. 1t was feared from their ignorance
and excitable nature they would run into all
sorts of excesses at the polls, under the slight
est provocatiOns from the opposing party of
whites but the results show that from the
training of these Southern blacks as slaves
they can be readily moulded as freemen to the
discipline of responsible, law abiding citizens.
IN the exercise of their highest duties. This
Tennessee election, then, has given a moral
elevation TO the Southern blacks, in reference
TO their right of suffrage, which removes all
apprehensions concerning them. We see that
they understand not only their rights but
their duties as citizens, and that they can
mlngle halmoniousy with the whites at the
0aHot-ooX under the fercest party excite
ments.
We see, in the next place, that they have
voted almost en- mdSSe for Brownlow and the
BroWnloW ticket. They have done so because
this ticket represented Congress, and because
Congress, as they understand it, has taken the
place OF ''the good man, Mr. Lincoln" as the
champion of the black mans rights. Brown
low was nothing to these blacks except as the
representative of Lincoln and Congress, and as
the enemy Of President Johnson, the Moses
LETT behind in the wilderness. The same COM
prehensive ideas which thus rallied the blacks
OF Tennessee to the radical or Republican
ticket, will concentrate them around the same
standard in all the other Southern States
Thus, we have no doubt that the ten outside
p'"NSSj uhuci luo programme OF f6COnStfuC-
tion, will be recognized as Republican States
and will, perhaps without an exception, send
up Republican Senators, and a majority of
each delegation to the lower House of Con-
gress. But whites or blacks, they will not be
radicals of the New England type, nor follow
ers of Wendell Phillips, Ben Wade, or Sumner.
They will be representatives of their own sec
ton and OF their own local interests; and here
will begin new formation of political parties
We have not heard of a single black oandi-
date elected or nominated for any office in this
Tennessee election. Here, too, is a fact which
speaks well for the intelligence and sagacity
OF the blacks, holding as they did the balance of
power in this contest. They are, it thus ap-
pears, in no hurry to push their claims for
Office until they establish their rights as citi-
zens TO the satisfaction of their white neigh
bors. They are ready to yield something for
the present to the Southern prejudices of many
generations; and from this conciliatory spirit
we look for the best results to both races of
the South. We think, too from this success
full experiment of negro suffrage in Tennessee,
that we need no longer hesitate in giving the
| ballot to the Indians and Chinese, where they
| may be regularly established in the commu-
nifty, especially when the sovereign authority
| of the United States over the several States is
beginning to be clearly understood by men OF
| all sections, parties, and races
We say that this Tennessee election marks
| a new political revolution in the South and a
new dispensation in our political affairs. The
Democratic party goes to pieces: the Republi-
can party must take new departure or be-
| broken up. In this connection the name OF
| General Grant looms up into bold relief as the
man for the Presidential succession. His name
as the great hero of the war entitled to his
| reward overshadows all others in the South.
His position as the controlling master oil
| Southern reconstruction under the laws OF
| Congress will make him stronger South aud
| North; and with the restoration, next winter,
OF these ten outside States under his manage
ment his power in the Republican National
/ Convention will be oYerWhalminP. With his