The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-20
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS or THE LEADING JoURNALs
uPoA CURRENT TOPIos-CoMPILED EVERY
DAT FoR THB EVENING TELEGRAPH.
Tbs Republican Party In the South.

added one more 10 Llb nuuuEtu DIOOIh OF the
,tter failure of conservative" prophecies
,oncerning the freedmen of the South. Not
Vitbstandng all demonstrations to the con
,rarv-n spite of the dearest evidence that
,cienoe could draw from shins, hair, and cuti-
ola or wisdom draw from long experience,
vybip in hand, on cotton plantations--it is now
admitted that the negro can fight, win work,
and is both capable of receiving education and
eager for Il. Almost the only predictions Of
stbose who knew the negro best'' which have
NO, long since been so thoroughly overthrown
Inv facts as to be ridiculous are the assertions
IiY that the mass of the freedmen care nothing
about the right of suffrage, and (2) that in
exercising that right they will be entirely con-
trolled by their old masters. The war of
races. which Mr.. Johnson dwelt upon with so
much emphasis as certain to result from the
admission of negroes to vote, has long been a
public Jest. Wade Hampton made it absurd
In a single day.
There were certainly plausible grounds for
believing that the freedmen would be inditfe-
rent to the right of suffrage. Never having
had the privilege, and having been trained
from time immemorial to seek for happiness
only in sensual indulgenoes, to which such
franchise could not contribute, it id not
seem unlikely, from that point of view, that
they would be indifferent to it. But, on the
other hand, those who believed in the natural
capacity of the colored race for improvement
insisted that they had learned or would rapidly
learn the value of political rights, and would
not fail to exercise them. The result of
the registration thus far in every Southern
State has justified the latter view. In every
State and, as far as we know, in every county,
no matter how secluded from Northern in
huences, far larger proportion OF ther esident
coored voters have registered than OF whites.
In Virginia the colored electors are in large
majority on the roll, although the whites, If
all registered, would outnumber them by
nearly 40, 900. In louisiana where the num-
bers of the two races are nearly equal, the
oolored voters on the register number twice as
many as the white. The case is much the
same in Georgia, Alabama, and, indeed,
everywhere. The freedmen have, in every
place where they heve been properly pro-
fected from intimidation, manifested an eager
ness to be enrolled for which there is no pre-
cedent among white people North or South.
The only prediction that remains to be dis
proved is, that the freedmen will vote under
the dictation of their former masters. 1t is
abundantly proved that this will not be the
case in large cities, and the registration OF such
vast numbers of the plantation negroes, con-
trary to the well-knOwn wishes of their masters,
affords strong evidence that they too will vote
independently of local influences. Indeed, no
reasonable man who has watched the course
of affairs in the South can doubt that almost
the entire body of the newly entranchised race
desire to cast their votes for men who are
heartily in sympathy with the party and the
policy which secured their freedom. The only
real danger lies in the want of organization
and information among the colored people,
IL, IN INN q
from secret enemies and from indiscreet and
over-zealous friends.
serious duty is devolved upon the Repub-
hcans of the North. They have the best or
ganization ever known in the political history
of this country, abundant wealth, and every
facility for conducting political campaigns.
They have now an opportunity to extend
the same organization over the entire Union,
and thus to secure the perpetuity of the
nation even more effectually than has been
done by war. They cannot with any wis
dom or safety leave their Southern allies to
carry on the work alone. Where all are mex.
perienced, the most presumptuous, and there
fore the most unfit, are likely to rush to the
helm, and guide movement with which they
ardently sympathize, but the perils OF which
they do not comprehend There will be dis
tracing quarrels for leadership, in which the
power of the majority may be lost. Dema
enticng programmes which can never be car
Tied out. The large number of Southern white
men who are now coming into the Republican
party may be driven off by the jealousy o
petty leaders anxious for Office, and parties bt
thus divided strictly upon color-a result
greatly to be deprecated, and which may, by
2 little prudence, be entirely avoided.
We do not wish that the course of Southern
politics should be absolutely dictated by
Northern men; but it is we'll known that judi
cious Northerners have the confidence of al
IN the South who are disposed to act with th
hepobhcan party, and can reconcile conflict
ing interests more completely than any South
ern man can do. A striking example of thi
has recently been given in Virginia, where th
presence of few gentlemen from the Nortl
resulted in healing a bitter feud in the party
and in starting movement which is nov
spreading over the whole State promising T.
bring within the Republican ranks almos
every man who was sincerely for the Uniol
before the late war.
The aid which the North can and ought I
give will consist in giving money to defra
necessary political expenses in sending ou
public speakers, who should be men to inte
rest large audiences, and of moderate lar
puage. free from passion and reYengeful fee
iDgs, in supplying sound advi s who ca
baTmonize internal difficulties and sugge
plans of organization, and in distributir
nolitical tracts or papers, which should !
simnle enough for children to read to the
parents. short, plain, and to the point. Co
9rassioual speeches are not of much value (
This purpose They are calculated for Northe
Iatitudes. Their tone is not often likely
attract Southern whites, and they are L
.;.,vIa anouoh for the cOlOred people, W