The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-05

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name on the party banner. But the
party had neither nobility, nor the
courage enough for either course. IL
stosd cap in hand TO its traitors and
begged to know how they could be con-
siliatedl 1t was this policy of conclli-
alton which betrayed Hamlin once be-
fore, and went down to the grocery
corners" of Tennessee to dig up this
drunken nightmare which rides us to-
day. We commend the historical rem
iniscence to Mr. Colfax's attention.
Both nominations-Grant and Col
fax-are defended on the ground OF
availability; fear that more Radical
men could not succeed. We deny 1t;
unless the dry-rot of Ross, Trumbull
and Fessenden has spread through the
party much further than its friends are
willing to allow.
The second clause in the Chicago plat
form, relative to suffrage, means some
thing or nothing, according to clTcum-
stances. There is nothing in tire lives
or characters of Grant and ColfaX to
give it any meaning. If, by any mar
velous chance, the Democratic party
should attempt TO outbid its rival on
that point, the words of the clause Will
become vital-things, not shadows. Ii
party need shall make the black votes
as indispensable next fall and the COM
ing year as the black rifle was in 1854
and 1865, reluctant politicians now, like
reluctant soldiers then, will sell their
preiudices for success. A rich black
lobby will so anoint Senatorial eyes,
that none will mistake the Democratic
side of the Chamber for the Republican
side as seven men did two weeks ago.
A negro holding offices of trust, and
specially of profit, in his gift, will make
Trumbull and Fessenden masquerade as
statesmen for a month or more. But
until that millennial period, the respon-
sibility rests on us, the loyal masses, to
give all the meaning we can to these
empty words. We have never gained
anything from the justice of the party.
So much the more need that we take
every advantage of its fears.
The pledge we ought to nave had
should have been a constitutional
amendment, securing to the negro bal
lot, education, land. Without this last,
seven or ten years will put him so much
in the power of the rebel land holder
that one or two things must happen.
Either the whole labor system of the
South will remain dislCCated and in an
arehy, causing starvation and blighting
those ten States; or the white landlords,
ccercing labor into submission, will Gre
ate an aristocratic, malignant and rebel
power to take the place and carry out,
if possible, the plots of the defeated
slave power.
The disavowal Of population sounds
we'll. But the word always reminds Us
that Mr.. Fessenden's modesty has led
him tC allow Pendleton and Yallandig-
ham to steal his laurels. AS veracious
annalists we hasten to put back this
civic crown on the right brow. The
first great American Tepudiator in a ma
tional arena, is William Pitt FeSsenden.
To be sure, unlike jefferson Davis, of
Mississippi, he practiced it only on a
safe, because q weak, object. Davis
cheated foreign bondholders, who, if
they could not right themselves, could
make his name infamous the world over.
Fessenden, a sharp peddler, came down
on few negroes, the Massachusetts
Fifty-fourth and Fifty-ffth regiments.
1t was enough for them to be allowed to
fight for Maine lawyers and their cons
ins. Presumptuous in such fellows to
ask for their pay. We can save some
half million, and the London Times will
never hear of it! The Evening Post
can be influenced to argue that it is le-
gal. The shrewd lawyer! What con-
venient conscience he keeps! How
adroitly he leaves the ugly name Repu
diator to Pendleton and hi tribe.
Fagin! Fagin! how much brighter you
would have become by serving only one
term as a New EnglaEd Senator at Wash
ington! Alas, for the lost opportunities
of geuius.j
But other debts beside money ones
may be repudiated. Allegiance and
protection are coextensive. We owe
the white loyalist protection. We give
the black voter protection. How has
the Republican party paid those debtsi
By Memphis, New Orleans, Texas, Ala
bama, our allies exiled starved, scourged,
shot Who did itH Johnson They
acquit him; William Pitt Fessenden-
the original Repudiator-marshalling
the defence. Who stood by, and, while
fully able at any moment by ten words,
to prevent it-sat still-recorded it done
and done without punishment Grant.
Him, the dumb tool in traitors hands
for twenty bloody months, they nOmi-
nate for President! But this party,
mind you, never repudiates. 1t pays its
debts in Wall street, which it fears. Aud
will it pay its debts to Southern loyal
lists, black and white, whenever ii is
prudent! Fessendens and Rosses think
such honorable action will pay. At
present the whole party's force is cx
pended in cOnciliating traitor judges
and Senators. At more convenient
season they will attend to these trihes.
Don't trouble the honorable Senator
Just now. He is whitening Johnson,
painting the lily" Stand afar thou
graceless Pendleton. We never repudi-
ate money debts. That is dangerous.
Money kings can hit back. The negro
has no friends. Let him go to the wall,
starve, or be shot. Who caresi
WENDELL PHILLIPS.