The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-23
The Real Issue Of the Campaign.


THB letter of General Blair, the Democratic
candidate for the highly important Office Of
Vice President Of the United States, present.
a most revolving picture Of what will follow
victory Of that party in November. 1t is
sufficient to open the eyes of the kind of parti-
sans who have, for several months past, been
asking whether they could possibly grow
worse under a Democratic than they have
under a Republican administration. There
can be no mistaking the decision of character
of General Blair, so far as the question
is concerned; and the fact, that after
reading his letter the Convention nominated
him as their candidate is sufficient proof for
all thinking people that the views of all the
party substantially agree. Let us look at the
facts which will follow the success of such
ticket on such platform. The cardinal issue
laid down by the Vice Presidential nominee is
the overthrow of all the work OF reeonstruc-
tion in the Southern States. We cannot avoid
seeing that it is the test issue of the campaign.
Whether or not the present State governments
in the South shall continue. or whether they
shall give place to the old governments which
they succeeded, the present form of government
in tie South is a necessity. There is none other
that can take its place. Suppose, for instance,
the Democracy would take from a oolored IN IN
his dearly bought ballot, what would result
We speak in a spirit of anxious anticipation,
when we say that San Domingo received a
lesson which it would be we'll for us to deeply
remember. The black race is one on which
the burdens of injustice can be laid with COM
parative safety; but there is also point
where any further addition will cause the
trodden man to turn on his pursuer. Can W.
venture to endanger the peace of the entire
South by laying any mere burdens on? We
must remember that the blacks of to-day are
not the slaves of 1860. There has been a
mighty change. The then deludsd, ignorant,
and unappreoiative people have now learned
the meaning of the word Freedom" of the
word "right." They now know that they have
certain privileges, which it is injustice to re-
move from them. Knowing this, and feeling
as they do, that an attempt is being made to
deprive them of their new-found liberty,
will not they be liable to the prosecutions of
wretched demagogues, and may not they sue
ceed in their efforts to stir up strife
and cause a fearful revolution? We depre-
cate any such dreadful atlllction, but when
we say to the colOred man, "You cannot
VOTE" do We not run the risk of exasperating
him, and leading to just such murderous
scenes as rendered the name of San Domingo
horror? We might as we'll recognizs the fact
that the ballot once given can never be taken
away, save through a revolution. We can
deny to people, unjustly, its possession, but
once given it must be always afterwards
allowed General Balr's letter. therefore,
means revOlutiOn, JlOOdShed, aud the total over
throw of all the relations of the South.
Again, it should be remembered on whom
will the mantle of political influence
fall. There are but two classes-the loyalist5
and the ex Rebels, and they are Rebels still.
These are the only classes who can rule.
Deprive the blacks of their votes, and the
Rebels must, of necessity, have undisputed
away. Can we afford to trust this vast
power in these Rebel hands Are the loyal
people of the North prepared to accept this
end for all their exertion? 1t means to us
widespread ruin-a total overthrow of all
that We have done since the war closed.
Let the Democracy succeed, and We stand in
a far worse position than we did in 1865. We
have tried an experiment; we have failed We
can't retrace our steps without ackno wledgiug
all our efforts failures, and are utterly inca
pable OF guiding nation. We vote ourselves
fools; worse than fools; we have acted as
knsves in plupging our country madIy for
ward into position which she oanuot retain.
Every vote cast for Seymour and Blair means
simply this; and any Republican who, through
dissatisfaction or idlecomplaint, will thus vote,
insults his party and proclams himself to all
the world as far more unfit for the exercise of
the right of suffrage than the negro whom he
is seeking to disfranchise.