The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-07-25


lowing article, states facts worthy
the careful consideration Of every
Union Republican who believes
the interests Of the country require
the continuance of his party or
ganization:
We Must, or the Democracy
will.
There is one fact in regard to the
question of negro suffrage in Ohio,
which every Republican should
carefully consider. 1t is this: thai
if tho Union party fails to enfran-
chise, the blacks in our midst, tho
Democratic party will certainly do
| it, should it over have tho opportu-
nifty. 1t is a fact, that the Democ-
racy now oppose the adoption OF
the Constitutional Amendment, but
they have reason for so doing
They know that the negro will not
vote with them, if the Republican
party gives him tho ballot. But
once assure them that he will cast
in his lot with them, and every
Democrat in the State will raise
his voice in favor of enlranchising
him.
The Democracy are as thorough
lly convinced, as we are, that negro
suffrage must come. They seethat
| it is a demand of advancing civili-
cation and that sooner or later we
must heed the demand, however
much it may shock our false sense
OF proprlety, or interfere with oul
long established preJudiccs. Know
ing this, and knowing also, that
the negro will give his vote to the
party, which extends to him the
right to vote, they oppose the A
mendment, hoping that it may bt
defeated and that their party may
be again re instated in power, wher
they will take up the matter, en-
franchise the negro and thus secure
his vote.
There is q general feeling amonl
Democratic politicians, that the.
must change their party tactic
very greatly, or the party will di,
out. New issues are before th
people and must DO met. Th
Democratic party, in order to pre-
serve its existence, must come ou
fairly and squarely and meet thes
issues. There is no lodging them
The wisest and most far.seeing 0
Democratic leaders begin to realiz
this fact. They foresee that Ger
tain and irretrievabIe ruin await
their party, unless it speedily
bandons its present principles an
takes ground sufficiently advanc
cd to meet tho demands of the age
1t was in view of this fact AM
because they saw certain defeat an
ruin awaiting their party, that th
Chicago Times, and other NOR
shrewd and far seeing Democrat
: journals came out some time ago i
: favor of negro suffrage. The idc
put forth by these journals, a.
though bitterly opposed by man
, prominent writers and speakers {
tho party at the time, are now re
ceiving tho most careful attention
, Especially is this the case in Obi,
The plan of the Ohio Democracy
I. this, TO defcat both tho Amendmer
Q and the Republican party, TO reir
0 state themselves in power and the
!, to act upon the advice given b
tho Times, enfranchisc tho negr
: and thus secure his vote and kee
: their party in power.
j. 1t may be said that this is all tai
and that the Democracy could ne'
-. or sanction such q course Of proc,
? dure. But we believe that thel
J, is nothing, which this party woul
II not do eithor to get power or
: keep it. II they will not do it b.
cause they love justice, they will d
IL on tho ground of policy. W
. may rest assured that, If wo arc d,
0 fcaled this fall and tho Democrac
: get control of the government, the
4 will put forth every effort to koe
,. the power in their own hands, Il
b matter how inconsistent with the
0 former professions or antagonist
0 to their former principles. The
! would not hesitate moment abo,
: giving the negro a vote, il the
s could thus perpetuaie their reign
!. This thing should lead us
/. carefully consider what is the wi
8 eat course for US, as Republicans,
i pursue. We should ask ourselves
0 candidly and without prcjudic
o under tho circumstances Sha
/ we eniranchise tho negro and tht
9 secure his vote, or shall we perm
0 tho Democracy to enfranchse hin
: when they come into power, an
!. thus add his vote to their partyP-
0 A duo regard to policy would lea
8 us to act for the good of our ow
t party, to secure this vote which "
: can do by ratifying tho amcndmer
Y and thus cut tho Democracy off foI
= ever from strengthening theusolv,
8 by the negro vote Of tho State.