The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-18
The Snnfhern NEGRO Vote.

The SOulneFn N6SIO NObOs
The New York Herald, in temperate ana
'conoiliatory articleiupop the negro question IN
the South, ascribes to, the Republican party
desire to organize the whole body OF the
negroes into one compact party, voting always
Sin opposition to their white neighbofs, ana
proceeds to argue the probable i'll effects II
such policy should be carried out. Our CON
temporary, by ascribing to the Republicans
purpose which they do not entertain, rests
its arguments upon false foundation, and
assails man of straw. .a'
The Republican party has no desire what
ever to array the negroes Of the South as
class against the whites, or to seel them
voting always in opposition to their white
neighbors. On the contrary, the Republican
party would know nothing whatever, either
at the South or at the North, of colors, races,
or conditions. 1t simply recognizes men as
men. Its platform is the grand and truly
democratic principle of equal rights for all,
and on this platform it solicits the sufrages of
all men at the South, irrespective OF race,
color, or previous condition. If the great mass
of the negroes shall be found supporting the
Republican party, it will be because they be-
lieve their common rights safer in the GUS
tody of that party than in that Of its oppo-
nent. The instinct of safety will naturally
lead them to act with that party which seems
the surest to afford that protection. Nobody
I can justly blame the negro for doing this.
He would not exhibit ordinary shrewdness
should he do otherwise. W.
It must be remembered that this class OF
citizens have but just won recognition of
their rights, and that not through the volun-
tary action of their "white neighbors,' but
through the powerful interposition of the Gov
ernment Of the United States. Until their
status as citizens, possessed of equal rights
and privileges with others, shall have been
recognized and guaranteed ia the Constitu-
tions of the Southern States, it would be the
sheersst folly for the negroes to act with the
Democratic party. The position of that party
In every Northern State is one of implacable
and rancorous hostility to the rights of the
negro. 1t opposes granting him the rights of
suffrage even in States where his numbers are
80 small as to preclude the idea OF his exert
ing any appreciable influence upon political
contests. In every State, except the late
Rebel States where the negroes have been en-
franchised by Congress, do we find the Demo
cratic party the deadly foe of the negro's
rights How can It be expected, then, with
any shadow of reason, that the negro will sup
port the Democratic party? What class OF
white citizens would do so under similar cir
oumstances 2 If, then, the negroes of the
South should be found voting as a solid body
in the ranks of the Republican party, it will
be because the Democratic party, by its folly
and injustice, will have forced them there. It
is vain to expect men to vote with a party
that is composed of their open and declared
enemies.
But even in the event of the great body of
the negroes of the South voting with the Re-
publican party, as they probably will be
forced by the Democrats to do, there is no
danger whatever that their 'swhite neighbors"
will all be found voting on the other side.
There is a powerful white element in every
Southern State that is already actively at work
in.organizing the Republican party. 1t only
needs protection and encouragement to make
its influence speedily felt. Tennessee is an
example. The District of Columbia is another.
Indeed, in most Of the late Rebel States there
is a sufficient Republican element among the
whites to make, when united with the ne
groes, majority of the whole people, and
thus legitimately TO become the dominant
political power in the State. 1t is the fear OF
this. in our opinion, that induces the attempts
of the fre-eating Rebel element to get up dis
turbances and riots to suppress free speech
1 and to defeat the organization of the Republi
can party in the South.