The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-23
The Nmtmeg state.

surrounded by other ana DeJJer DulWdIhs'
The Nutmeg state.
Editorial Correspondence Qfthe Ny. Independents
After looking at strange regions in the West,
l have been looking once more at the familiar
face of Connecticut.
1t is best to be on good terms with ones
neighbors; so l refrain from calling Connecti-
cut mean State. Nevertheless, at period
when every New England heart ought to have
lent its sympathy to the negro, Connecticut
dealt him one of the foulest of blows. The
first Northern bayonets to enter the fallen city
Of Richmond were carried by black regiment
from Connecticut; but on the very day of the
victorious entrance of these troops, and while
the air over their heads was resOunding with
their cheers, Connecticut whate men at home
were filling their ballot-bOXes with votes
against negro suffrage! If any single days
record of the war is more thoroughly clouded
with disgrace than this, | know not where to
look for it.
The blame of the i'll deed belongs to the Re-
publican party of that State-whOse leaders,
after having submitted the question of negro
suffrage to the people, refused to advocate it
during the campaign, and conspired to defeat
it at the polls. A New England Senator at
the time told me that he had offered to canvass
Connecticut ON the issue of impartial suffrage,
promising to pay out of his own pocket the
expenses of hiring the halls in which he should
speak; but the Republican managers warned
him off the ground. Moreover, we all dis
tinctly remember how every high-minded
man who hailed from Connecticut, wore a
look of chagrin and modification at any men
ton of that vote even six months after the
election.
That one days cowardce in Yankee State
delayed the reconstruction of the South per-
haps five years
Now, on the first of April next a new
struggle of parties is to take place in Connec-
ticut. Both the giants are busy, Harvesting
for the battle By common consent the two
sides are nearly equally divided Out Of per-
haps seventy thousand votes likely to be
cast, the majority, be it one way, or the
other, will probably not be more than five
hundred. And yet, if three years ago the
Connecticut Republicans had generously and
Justly enfranchised their two thousand CO.
lored fellow -citizens-at the fit and beautiful
moment when those citizens in the garb of
soldiers, were heroically capturing Richmond
the coming victory of the first of April
might be already written down as achieved
while yet the battle itself is waiting to be
fought.
Thus, again, it is seen that cowardice never
is craftsmanship.
But the Union party of Connecticut seeks
now honestly to undo the past, to efface the
old record of shame, and to bear an unequivo-
cal testimony in favor of justice and equality.
The prospectus of the campaign demands the
equal rights of all American citizens without
distinction of race. Governor Hawley--at
whose reelection / shall toss my hat highs
a man in whose veins runs no drop of blood
not loyal to the lowly. l have seen him stand
strong where other men quailed. He was one
of the few Northern Governors at the Southern
Loyalist Convention in Philadelphia, who did
not turn pale at the sight of Frederick Doug
lass walking arm-in-arm with a white man in
a Republican procession. He is every inch
man. Let him be reseated in his honored
chair
If Connecticut shall vote the wrong way On
the lst of April she will reincite Andrew
Johnson to further usurpaton, and reanimate
the Rebellion to further defiance. A vote
cast with the Democratic party of Connecticut
is a plaudit to Jefferson Davis and laurel to
General Lee. There is not a Rebel in the
South who does not desire to see Connecticut
captured by the Copperheads. A blow against
the Democracy is a blow against the Rebel
lion. Let it be struck as from a gauntlet of
iron
But whose rebukes Connecticut, let him
honor Windham county. 1t was here that
Putnam went into the VOLTS den, 1t is here
that Liberty rekindles her ancient fires at
every successive election. 1t must be here
that a doubtful State, always in peril, rests
its hope of salvation. Let old Windham once
more grid on her ancient strength, and once
more win a double victory-for Connecticut
and for the nation
Meanwhile, point to the contrast between
Connecticut and Iowa. One State struggles
hard for a Republican majority of five hun
dred the other gives lavishly Republican
majority of fifty thousand These contrast
ing figures contain a lesson which ought to be
needed by the politicians of the Nutmeg State
The lesson is this The leading Republicans
OF Iowa are bold and uncompromising men,
who, not being willing to surrender principle
to party, have at last carried the party up to
principle. On the other hand, the leading
Republicans of Connecticut with few illus
trious exceptions) are timid and time-serving
men, who have never maintained bold allie
glance to moral ideas. Connecticut will never
begin to be safe till her Republican managers
cease to be cowardly. a.F ss r.ss
This, perhaps, is not the pleasantest kind
OF remark to make of score of One's own
personal acquaintances. Sam therefore
your enemy because tell you the truth9'
...-. H