The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-03
The Tennessee Election-The New Revolution
I'm the South.

| The Tennessee Election-The New Revolution
| in the South.
The Tennessee election, the returns from
which are still pouring in upon us, marks the
Inauguration of new political revolution in the
South and throughout the United States. The
results OF this election are so remarkable, so
unique, go sharply defined and decisive, that
they cannot be measured by the ordinary stand
ard OF the ups and downs of our political par
ties. We have here the first test on large
scale of Southern negro suffrage under the new
| dlspensation, 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
! ton day. No doubt, in the preservation of the
public peace much Is due to the military pre-
cautions 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 that from their ignorance
and excitable nature they would run into all
sorts of excuses 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 mingle
tremendously with the whites at the ballot-box
under the 6ercest party excitements.
We see, in the next place, that they have voted
almost en- masse for Brownlow and the Brown
low ticket They have done so because this
ticket represented Congress, and because Con-
! gress, as they understand it, has taken the
place of 'the good man, Mr.. Lincoln" as the
champion of the black mans rights. Brownlow
was nothing to these blacks except as the
representative of Lincoln aud Congress, and
| as the enemy of President Johnson, the Moses
left behind in the wilderness. The same COM
prehensve ideas which thus rallied the blacks
of Tennessee to the radical or republican ticket
| will concentrate them around the same stand
| ard in all the other Southern States. Thus,
we have no doubt that the ten outside States,
under the programme of reconstruction,
| 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 Congress.
But, whites or blacks, they viii not be radicals
of the New England type, nor followers Of
Wendell Phillips, Ben Wade or Sumner They
will be representatives Of their own section
and of their own local interests; and here will
begin new formation Of political parties.
We have not heard of a single black candi.
date elected or nominated for any Office in this
Tennessee election Here, too, is 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 citl-
gems 10 the satisfaction of their white neighbors
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 oil
the South. We think, too, from this successful
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 commune
ty, especially when the sovereign authority Of
the United States over the several States is be.
ginning to be clearly understood by men Of all
sections, parties and ra.ea.
We say tina; his Tennessee election marks q
new political revolution in the South and q
new dispensation in our political affairs The
) democratic party goes to pieces: the republic
can parry must take q new departure or be
broken up In this connection the name Of
General Grant looms up into bold relief as the
man Tor the Presidential succession. His name,
J as the great hero Of the war entitled to his re-
ward, oyershadows oil others in the South
! His position as the controlling master Of South
ern reconstruction under the laws Of Congress
will make him still stronger South and North
and with the restoration, next winter, Of these
ten outside States under his management, b.
power In the republican national convention
will be overwhelming. With his election the
whole business Of Southern restoration will bt
satisfactorily settled; and then will begin al
! over the country new organization Of partie.
on the great financial questions Of the day, snt
. new agitation which will probably las. fol
twen;y years Such are the reflections ant
, consequences suggested from this sisnidcan
and momentous Tennessee election, the mos
: | remarkable 10 our noliliGal history.