The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-08
THE ELECTIONS TODAY

The States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Iowa,
to-day hold elections for State officers. In
Ohio and Iowa, a Governor is to be elected,
and in Pennsylvania q Judge of the Supreme
Court. A member. of Congress is also to be
elected in Pennsylvania, in the place of Mr..
DENNIsoN, deceased, and in Ohio in place of
the Radical nominee for Governor, who resigns
his seat in consequence of his nomination.
The eyes of all men who love the Union ~ 10
WINS. who aim az a. l~vo. uvLIOn Oftyranny, and
seek the permanent preservation of their liber-
ty, are turned anxiously towards Pennsylvania
and Ohio. On the result of the elections to-
day, largely depends the preservation or the
loss of our national freedom. If the Radical
majorities are increased in these States, which
is very improbable, all hope is dead. They
will be as they have been hitherto, the induces
of public opinion through the North and the
Northwest; and if Radioalism ~triumphs there,
the cause of Constitutional liberty is hopeless
indeed. If in these States the Radical MAORI
ties are diminished, which is very likely, then
may the whole country rejoice at the dawn of
returning reason, the commencement of re-ac-
ton in favor of Constitutional guarantees. If
the Radicals are defeated, as they probably
will be in Pennsylvania, and not improbably in
Ohio, at least on the question of negro suffrage,
and possibly with their Legislative ticket, then
every man will rejoice who loves his country,
and desires to see her institutions pure and un-
defiled. We are free to confess that we are
anxious for this result, because we know that
the Constitution of the United States is on trial.
and we do not desire to see it condemned by
any portion of the American people.
The Conservatives of the North are to-day
making a manly fight for the liberty of thirty
two millions of white men. The Radicals, on
the other hand, are making q bold struggle for
despotic control Of the Government. While
they have skilfully, a%rtfully and shamelessly
avoided making the question of negro suf-
frage a portion of the Pennsylvania platform,
all of the leaders in hat State, as do all of the
leaders of the party every where else, openly
advocate the doctrine. TnAD. STEVENS and
FoRNEY in that State, certainly dictate terms
to the party, and if the prudence of McPHER-
SON succeeded in having it left out of the
platform, it was only done in order to veil the
intentions of the party from honest and simple
believe that this is a white mans Government.
The party certainly intends to force the issue,
and to-day the people of Ohio have it fairly
and squareiy presented.
That the party is revolutionary and means to
force its doctrines on the people of the United
States, is evident from the fact that there 10
no Radical organ which does not openly advo-
cate the unconstitutional acts Of Congress,
and openly insist on negro suffrage. 1t is
true that Mr.. Senator TRUMBuLL, by q sort of
logic which we confess that we were unable to
understand, succeeded in demonstrating to his
own satisfaction, that Ohio and South Carolina
constitutional in the State Of South Carolina,
would be glaringly unconstitutional in Ohio ;
but the mass Of the Radical leaders swallow
the whole doctrine without attempting any
very refined argument, tending to prove that
a State. may be and not be a member of this
Constitutional Union at one and the same mo-
ment. Mr.. THunLow WEEP yhe represent.
what may be called the Conservative wing Of
the party, 'said recently in the Commercial Ad-
~pertiser, in speaking Of negro suffrage: i,
mThat II ia q simple, direct, naked question,
IN VI OI 0IlUUIlHHbmGUG 1t ID 6lSO. q
present question. Indeed, it 10 question. Il
Is the issue between Congress- and the President.
It is the question. that isto determine, immedi-
It ie the TEST questionable shiboleth Of the Re
publican party"
The Springfield Republican, in speaking on
the same subject, calls it the main issue. and
says:
"By all means let us adhere to the vital isste
until that is settled, and let us understand what It
10. Briefly, it is equal suffrage. 1t includes the
Congressional plan OF reconstruction, but that lie
valuable mainly because 1t provides for equal suf-
trage in the Convention elections, and In the State
U 1aatsas aS TO be framed for the South As 0
vor to establish the same principle in the Consti-
buttons OF oil the States, and any attempt to evade
tnis DUTY, will necessarily dishonor and weaken
strongest possible one. So E2IAiYe issue. It is the
10 just in Itself, and that there can be no tf66afstt
publican Government without 1t. Let this isaue
be kept before the people,"
Mr.. CHARLES SUMNER, than whom no ono
better knows the views Of the Radical party,
recently wrote, Congress will leave undone
what it ought to do, if it fails to provide prompt
ly for the establishment Of equal rights, wheth-
er political or civil, every where throughout
the Union. This is q solemn duty which can
not be shirked or postponed. The idea is In
toioIuUiO tAot duy OLotOs UnucT buy pToCcubiOu
of State rights, can set up o political oligsrchy
| within its borders, and then call itself q Re-
publican governments. I insist with all my
soul, that such a government must be rejected,
as inconsistent with the requirements Of the
Declaration Of Independence"
The New York Tribune insists that the ques-
ton Of. manhood outrage is the great ques.
ton before the American people. HENRY
WILSON, and almost every other leader Of the
party, says the same.
This all sounds we'll and seems to DO on ele-
vsted philanthropy, calculated to catch the
earand to appeal to the imagination Of the un-
thinking. In America. however. the number
of those who can be deludsd by such phrases,
is daily becoming less and Less. Fanr gears Of
war for the preservation Of the Union, and
near three years Of peace spent by che Raai-
Gals In attempting to destroy tho Union, by cub.
verting the Constitution, have taught many
that their own liberty 10 in danger. Some Of
the best among tho Republican leaders, ace the
results OF the present policy OF the Radical
party, and nave left the organization. Tbs
Governor Of California, elected . few weeks
ago, was formerly o Republican, but he was
and is, as his politicai enemies are forced ia
admit, o man Of pure character, and no aban.
doned the party when ne saw that 10 INTENDED
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