New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-27
DEGRADING THE SUFFRAGE.

The World favors its readers with Christ
mas carol which describes and depicts the dens
and orgies of lechery, drunkenness, and utter,
loathsome bestalty which shamefully disgrace
the WITH and With Wards of this City, but
which more especially disfgure the neighbor-
hood of the notorious g. Five Points" Follow
ing this is n leader on "The Issue Joined"
ringing the changes on the Republicans pro-
claimed, reiterated purpose to efface all dis
Embellishments and disabilities founded on Color,
as though it were a secret conspiracy which The
Worlds .lynx-eyed vigilance had detected and
dragged to the light. Here is the gist of its
illumination against allowing the LabOring Glass
at the South to vote:
The whole contrivanoe. from the frat letter to the
last is an organized machine OF military despOtsn un-
Republican. cruel, and infamous In every part.
ut is entirely possible, OF course 1t is even probable
remembering this November's elections, will omit TO
affirm IN their platform what they have organized IN their
retain the votes OF their discontinued adherens by nom
Grated and shared in the shameful partisan legislation
now enactng % keep Republicans n power ,..o, ans,
ming The law will have been enacted which they will
which they will seek to divert the public gaze. Their
OF the negroes thus endowed with authority over
the OF the Northern people The issue Joined
now cannot be obscured then That possible in 1850
The elections OF 1867 show that it will not be possible In
1868. ~
''And now we undertake TO say that upon this Issue
candidates. whatever their title public estimation upon
other grounds whatever their past services their pres
ept popularity upon this most mOmentOus Issue, cand
dates Will be OF small Importance The most renowned
the most honOred Of American citizens under this flag,
would be Shot down by the ballots OF his cOunrymen with
little hesitation as they would fell the most dessed
Chase Grant would fare better than Butler or stan
tom for with the people nothing is suffered 10 stand in
way of the good Of the country all else is trivial be
side that"
Having thus given The World a wider hear
ing than its own columns could afford it, and
laid "the contrivance" bare to the gaze of an
astounded universe we will thank our neighbor
to answer candidly these questions;
I. What proportion of the voters at the Five
Points and kindred districts of our City have
usually sympathized and voted with the Re
publican and with the Democratic parties re-
spectively9
II. What proportion of those voters is likely
to vote for Black REIMBURSEMENT, North or
South7
III. How will it compare with the vote of
the intelligent, moral, industrious farmers of
this State OF of w-England, on the same
question
| ". How do the blacklegs, pugilists, keepers
of dens of ill-fame, criminals, and those who
are popularity designated "roughs,n stand on
| this issuel
! " How would The World like TO have the
question of Impartial Suffrage decided by the
votes of the members in good-standing of all
the churches and synagogues in the country {?
Would it not feel more confident of such a YER
dict as it desires if these were not to vote at ALL
while the og-fanciers, cOck-fghters, shoulder
hitters, gamblers, and rowdies were polled to
| decide the great issuel
We shall see whether The World dare give
candid responses to our inquiries 1t often
talks sneeringly of Republican morality sobri-
ETY., decency, &c. &C. as though they were
preposterous, Pharisaic assumptions. Now let
vs. see what is its ogn estimate of the rela-
| tive moral worth Of the two great parties.