The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-14

by the logic of their position, When the cop
perheads were supporting Vallandigham Tor
Governor and doing their utmost to break down
the war for the Union, the Republicans called
the blacks to do their best inth ranks OF the
nations defenders, and the summons was
nobly responded do. Denieda voice in direct
ing the Government he fought to uphold, pros
cribed, despised spit upon, the negro took
up his musket and went to the 'front.' while
Copperheads were fleeing to Canada and skulk
ing in every direction to evade the draft
Hence, the late Legislature of Ohio, by party
vote, passed an amendment to the State Con-
stitutiOn providing that color should no longer
be a test of political rights-that black II
loyal, worthy citizen, should vote, and that
deserter or draft-sneak should not. That
Amendment was properly submitted to the
people to be ratified or rejected at the late
election.
OF course, it was understood that we were to
lose by it-how much, could only be deter
mined by the result. But the lower half of
the State, and especially the southeastern
counties, were originally and largely settled
from Virginia and kentucky; and it was noto-
rious that many of the Republicans would
resist negro suffrage, while every Democrat
would do his utmost to defeat it. The Repub-
hcans, therefore, with everything at stake,
including Mr. Wade's seat in the Senate, ao
cepted-in fact, challenged-an issue which
they might have postponed and thus trans
formed into a hazard what before was a GER
tainty. They did what was right and Just
when they could not fail to lose by it, when
trimming and a low expediency would have
insured them against all danger. They have
faults that might have harmed them, but did
not; they suffered because they nobly dared to
do right a little sooner than all who have
hitherto acted with them were ready to do it.
They have lost their Legislature-they came
very near losing their State ticket-beoause
they were in advance of their time.
"What fools - eXclaim the men wise in
their own generation, who can conceive no
other end of political effort but to secure aud
enjoy power-who test all things by their i'm
mediate practical results-'why not, at least,
put off the question of negro suffrage to
more convenient season pas if a party, that
has genuine life, were not always sloughing
off dead matter, and educating the masses to
consider Justice first, and success afterwards.
| What individual ever acted nobly without
! daring and suffering Who does not realize
! that the best acts Of his life were those most
! miscOnceived maligned, traduced, hOwled at
| If the Ohio Republicans did not realize that
| black suffrage would be heavy load to carry,
they deserve less honor than we freely accord
| them.
But they did know it. They deliberately
chose to be right rather than safe. They
chose to fight doubtful battle for a great and
| good end rather than accept cheap and GER
| tain but relatively unimportant success.
| And, as the universe is not a product OF
! chance, but under moral government, 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 will rise from it strengthened and
invigOrated, and look back on it as we do on
the Bull Run of 1861 and the Mcclellan of
1862. We only ask those who doubt to wait
and see.