The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-06-11

cOmmltted TO III, ana DeleVlnS III |
he principles of Democracy, as
by Jefferson, that, Equal
md exact justice to all men, Of sehat-
'cer race, creed or condition F" is the
,nly true theory of Republican gov
,rnment, we propose to " fight it
out on this line" boldly and unflinch-
ingly, until Iowa shall lead her sister
States in the grand march of pro-
erosion toward equal political rights
as she led them in the terrific con-
Aicts against treason in tho late strug-
gle for the perpetuity of the Union.
We are aware of the fact that
many Republicans doubt the wisdom
Of this measure at the present time,
and to such, we desire to say few
words. Every one of you will adj
nit the abstract justice of tho prop
osition, that if a colored man pays
his taxes, has fought bravely in de-
fence of the nation, and is liable in
the future to be called to its defence
in case Of war the same as any other
citizen, that he should have the
privilege Of casting his ballot for
those who are to make laws, that
will affect his welfare and interests
the same as that Of his white neigh
Dor, and if you are willing to admit
this, why will you not vote for the
proposed amendment to our State
Constitution to give them this
right. Your only answers "because
he is black, and my democratic
friends have been bowling Niger
in my ears SO loud for the past TWEEN
ty years, that l am afraid to" Gen
tlemen, don't get on the platform
occupied by the Democracy during
the war, which read thus, /" We
would like to see the Union pre-.
served if it can be done constitution.
ally, but rather than overstep the
bounds Of the Constitution, ny arm
ing the id Niger to fight against
our patriotic, righteous, though
slightly misguided Southern broth.
rem, let her sink: better SO than to
be saved by a niger" But the Re.
publican party, and the Union armies
marched on regardless ofthe platforms
Of weakened Unionists and treason
sympathisers and the result was
that we emerged from tho war; a no
bier, grander and freer nation. Shall
we look back now, or push boldly
forward, and finish the great work
of giving equal and exact justice to
all menu Reader, let us imagine
for a few moments, that you were
the possessor of a wide domain, ant
that you had rented it all out to ten
ants, like the Lord of the vineyard
Of old, and that after harvest yot
came to collect your dues, ant
| the tenants of half your possession.
promptly paid up, according to con
tract, but in the other half they re
fused to do SO, seized your lands
| attacked you with murderous intent
had you down and the knife at YOU
throat, and were about to kill you
when up rushed a black man, still
fettered with the chains Of slavery
that in former years you had helped
to rivet upon him, and exclaimed, 81
can save your life and disarm youl
enemies so effectually that they car
never again harm you in the future,
would you reply ego away, you
id Niger, I'd rather die than
have my life and my possessions
saved by you," or would you accept
|joyously the proffered help, and
thank God that the black man came
in time for your deliverane and il
you did this and rewarded him for
his timely aid in the rebellious por.
tiyn of your domain, and gave him
the same rights there that your enc.
mics had before, would you not
grant him the same privilege in the
other half? We think you would
Now the necessity of enfranchis-
ing the blacks in the south is appa.
rent to oil Republicans, and there
are many influential Conservatives
and Democrats who read by the
signs of the times, that ImpartialSuf.
rage is inevitable, and who are wheel
ing into line in favor Of it, while at
the South the Democratic party have
accepted it, and have gone to work
assiduously in the vain hope that
they can make Cuffee believe that
the Democratic party is the only
great friend he ever had, while able
aastArn politicians of the Democratic
persuasion, are trying to steal Re-
publican thunder, by favoring the
nomination of Mr.. Chase on an i'm
partial suffrage platform.
Republicans of Iowa, let us say by
our votes this fall, that q negro has
rights that a white man is bound to
respect, and make him the political
equal Of the rebels who murdered
your sons, brothers, husbands and
my comrades during the war and Of
their Comprehend sympathiscrs, who,
like Clay Dean, say that /" These one
armed and one legged soldiers who are
Mrusting Themselves before the public
as objects of charity, are fit carcasses
for the gallows." We think the negro
is infinitely superior, in point of hu,
manity, and kindness of heart, and
we know that he surpasses in loyalty,
the dirty, foul-mouthed spouter Of
Copperh dism and treason,
whose heart is SO blackened with the
dry rot Of infamv "A to inter- the