The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-11-01
NOnor tn Ohio.

The Republicans Of Ohio elected their
Governor in '65 by 10000 majority. and
gave their State ticket last year---by the
powerful help of Andrew johnson and
Mayor Monroe---a sound 10000. Tho ex,
ira 10000 would probably have slipped
away this year but, with an ordinary can.
vass and no unusual issue, they could not
have failed to succeed on every ticket by
at least 10000 majority. They have not
been cursed with corrupt Legislators, as
their brethren in other great States have
been they were little distracted by local
issues, save, that personal rivalries as to
tho pending U. s. Senatorship were quite
likely to hurt their Legislative tickets in
several couuties--as they did. They had
simply to stand still in order to be sure Of
on easy canvass and a certain triumph.
they chose not TO stand still, but to ad.
vance. They were committed to the prin-
ciple OF Manhood Suffrage by the action of
their chosen representatives athome and I'M
Congress, and by the logic of their position.
When tho Copperheads were supporting
Nullaudig ham for Governor aud doing their
utmost to break down the War for tho
Union, the Republicans called the Blacks
to do their best in the ranks Of the Nations
defenders, and the summons was nobIy
responded to. Denied a voice in directing
the Government he fought to uphold, pro.
seribod, despised, spit upon, the Negro
took mp his musket and went to the front,
while .Copperheads were fleeing to Canada,
and skullSing in every direction to evade
the draft Hence, tho late Legislature OF
Ohio, by q party vote. passed an Amend
ment to the State Constitution providing
that Color should no longer be q test Of
political rights--that Black, If a loyal,
woi thy citizen, should vote, and that de-
serter or draft sneak should not. Tho
Amendment was properly submitted TO tho
people, to be ratified or rejected at the late
election.
or course It was understood that we
were to lose by it--how much, could, Only
be determined by the result. But the lower
halt of the State, and especially the SOUTH
eastern counties, were originally and
larg' ly settled from Virginia and Kentucky;
aud 1t was notorious that many of their Re-
publicans would resist Negro Suffrage,
while every Democrat would do his utmost
to defeat it. The Republicans, therefore;
with everything az stake, including Mr..
Wade's seat in the Senate, accepted-in
fact, challenged--an issue which they might
have postponed, and thus transformed into
hazard what before was o certainty.
They did what was right and rust when
they could not fail TO lose by il, when trim
ming and a low eXped ENJOY would have in-
sured Il n against all danger They have
faults that might have harmed them but
did not; they suffered because they nobly
dared to do right little sooner than all
who have hitherto acted with them were
ready to do it. They have lost the Legis-
lature--they oatte very near losing, theit
State ticket-bccause they were in advance
OF their time.
"What fools !" excaim the men wise in
their generation, who can conceive no otlier
end OF political effort but to secure and en-
JOY power-who test all things by their
immediate practical results" why not, at
least, put off the question of Negro Suffrage
to more convenient season "-Aas if q
party that has genuine life, were not al
ways sloughing off dead matter and educat-
ing The masses TO con6ider Justice first, and
Success afterward. What individual ever
acted nobly without daring aud suffering
Who does not realize that the best acts of
hls life We're those most misconoeived,
maligned traduced, howled at If the
Ohio Republicans did not realizs that
Black Suffrage would he heavy load To-
carry, they deserve less honor than We
freely accord them
But they did know 1t. They deliberately
chose to DO right rather than safe. They
chose to fight doubtful battle for great
and good end, rather than accept q cheap
and certain, but relatively unimportant sue
cess, And. at the universe is not the pro.
duet of chance, but under moral govern
ment, we feel assured that events will prove
them wise as well as right. We predict
that their present reverse will prove their
permanent advantage-that they viii rit6
from il strengthened and invigorated, and
look back on it as we do on the Bull Run
of 6l aud the Mcclellan Of '62. We only
ask those who doubt to wait and see.--M
Y. Tribune. .t