Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-10-18
Honor to Ohio.


The Republicans of Ohio elected
their Governor In '65 by 30, 600 major
ity, and gave their State ticket last
yearly the powerful help of Andrew
johnson and Mayor Monroe round
10000 The extra 10000 would prob
ably have clipped away this year but,
with an ordinary canvass and no unu-
sual issue, they could not have failed
TO succeed on every tieketlby at least 70,
GOO majority. They have not been
cursed with corrupt legislators, as
their brethren in other great States
have been they we're little distracted
By local issues, save that personal nv
alries as to the pending U. 5. Senator
ship were quite likely to hurt their
Legislative tickets in several counties
-as they did They had simply to
stand still in order to be sure of an
easy canvass and certain triumph.
They chose not to stand still, but to
advance. They we're committed to the
principle Of Manhood Suffrage by the
action Of their chosen representatives.
at home and In Congress, and by the
logic of their position. When the cop
perheads were supporting Yallandig-
ham for Governor and doing their ut
most best to break down the War for
the Union, the Republicans called the
Blacks to do their best In the ranks of
the Nations defenders, and the sum
mons was nobly responded to. Denied a
voice In directing the Government he
fought to uphold, prescribed. despised,
spit upon, the Negro took up his mus
ket and went to the front, while Cop
perheads were Heeing to Canada and
skulking in every direction to eYade
the draft. Hence, the late Legisla-
ture Of Ohio. by party vote, passed
an Amendment 90 the State Constitu-
ton providing that Color should no
| longer be a test Of political rights
that a Black, if a loyal, worthy citizen
should vote, and that a deserter or
draft-sneak should not. The Amend
ment 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 determined by the result. But
the lower half Of the State, aud espeC-
tally the southeastern counties, were
originally and largely settled from y II
ginia and Kentucky and it was motor
fous that many Of their Republicans
would resist Negro Suffrage, Will e
every Democrat would do his utmost
to defeat it. The Republicans, there
fore, with everything at stake, incla-
ding Mr.. w ade s seat in the Senate, ac-
cepted-in fact, ehallenged-an issue
which they might have postponed, and
thus transformed intO,a hazard what
before was a certainty. They did what
I -s--1-G 4 uHn-r 2 n
not fail to lose by it, when trimming
and a low eXpedieney would have faults
that might have harmed them, but did
ssfs they suffered because they nobly
dared to do right q little sooner than
all who have hitherto acted with them
were ready to do it. They have lost
losing their State 8Icket-because they
were in advance of their time.
Nv hat fools r e1clalm the men wise
In their generation, who can conceive
no other end of political effort but to
secure and enjoy poWer-Who test all
things by their Immediate practical re-
sUlts-"'Why not, at least, put off the
q lestion of Negro Suffrage to a more
convenient season G'-as It party
that has a genuine life, we're not al
ways blOugulu8 Oh U5du mdblC1 anu
educating the masses to consider jus
tice first, and Success afterWard.-
What individual ever acted nobly
without daring and suffering? {? Who
does not realize that the best acts
of his life were those most miscon-
ceived, maligned, traduced, howled
at? If the Ohio Republicans did
not, realize that Black Suffrage
would be a heavy lead to carry, they
deserve less honor than we freely ae-
cord them.
But they did know it, They delib-
erateIy choose to be right rather than
safe. They chose to fight doubtful
battle for a great and good end rather
fhan accept a eheap and certain but
relatively unimp0ftant success. And,
as the universe Is not the product of
chance, but under moral government,
we feel assured that events viii prove
them wise as well as right. We pre-
dict that their present reverse will
prove their permanent adyantage-th
they will rise from it strengthened and
invigorated, and look back on it as we
do on the Bull Bun of 81 and the
Mcclellan Of '62. We only ask those
who doubt to wait and see.-N z
Tribune