The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-10-24
HONOR 10 ONO.

lators, as their brethren in other
great States have been they were
little distracted by local issues, save
that personal rlvalries as TO the
pending u S. Senatotship we're
quite likely to hurt their Legisla-
tive tickets in several counties--as
they did. They had simply to
stand still In order TO be sure of an
easy canvass and a certain tri.
umph.
They chose not to stand still, but
to advance. They were commit
ted TO tho principle of Manhood
Suffrage by the action Of their chO.
sen representatives at home and in
Congress, and by the logic of their
position. When the Coppe.hcads
were supporting Vallandigham for
Governor and doing their utmost to
break down the War for the Union,
the Republicans called the Blacks
to do their best in the ranks of the
Nations defenders, and the sum-
mons was nobly responded to Do
MED a voice in directing the Gov
ernment he fought to uphold, pro.
scrIbed, dcspIsed, spit upon, the
Negro took up his musket and
went TO the front, while Copper
heads were fleeing to Canada and
skulking in every direction TO G.
wade the draft. Hence, the late
Legislature of Ohio, by party
vote, passed an Amendment TO the
State Constitution providing that
Color should nc longer be test Of
political rights-that a Black, if a
loyal, worthy citizen, should vote,
and that deserter and draft. sneak
should not. The Amendment was
properly submitted to the people, to
be ratified or rejected at the late
election.
OF course it was understood that
VIC were 10 lose by it--how much.
could only be determined by tho
result. But the lower half Of the.
State, and especially the south.
eastern counties, were originally
and largely settled from Virginia
and kentucky and it was notori-
Gus that many OF their Republicans
would resist Negre Suffrage, while
every Democrat would do his ut
most to defeatit. The Republicans,
therefore, with everything at stake,
including Mr.. Wadc's scat in tho
Senate, accepted-in fact, challCng.
cd-an issue which they might
have postponed, and thus trans
formed into hazard what before
was certainty. They did what
was right and just when they could
not fail to lose by it, when trim
ming and low expediency would
have insured them against all dan
ger. They have faults that mighs
have harmed them, but did not;
they suffered because they nobly
dared to do right o little sooner
than all who have hitherto acted
with them wero ready to do it,
They have lost the Legislature
they came very near losing their
Safe ticket-because they were in
advance of their time.
what fools 70 exclaim the men
wise in their generation, who can
conceive no other end of political
effort but 10 secure and enjoy
powcr-who test all things by their
immediate practical result-"why
not, at least, put off the question Of
Negro Suffrage to a more conven-
len. season pas If q party, that
has a genuine life, wcro not always
slougbing off dead matter and
educating the masses to consider
Justice first. and Success afterWard.
What Individual ever acted ncbly
without daring and suffering?-
Who does not realize that the best
acts of his life were these most
misconccivcd, maligned, traduced,
howIed at? If the Ohio Repub-
licans did not realize that Black
Suffrage would be a heavy load to
carry, they deserve less honor than
we freely accord them.
But they did know it. They
deliberately chose to be. right
rather than safe. They chose to
fight doubtful baltic for. great
and good end, rather than accept
a cheap and certain but relatively
unimportant success. And, as the
Universe is not the product Of
chance, but under moral govern
ment, we feel assured that events
will prove them wise as we'll as
right. We predict that their pres
ent reverse will prove their perma-
nent advantage-that they will rise
from it strengthened and invigorat-
ed. and look back on it as wc do on
the Bull Run of '61 and the Nc
Cle!lan of '62. We only ask those
who doubt to wait and see.-N. Y.
Tribune.
Hon. W. w. Ketchum, Republi-
can candidate for Congress in the