The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-11-19
what the radicals Demand.

Gals are. now summoned to address
themselves to the work which is yet to
be accomplished. 1t has become very
apparent, through what has transpired
in Georgia and elsewhere, that the
Reconstruction laws require careful
revision and perfecting in sundry par
ticulars. The negroes and loyal
whites the South greatly need the
means of self-defence. The question
of confiscation, especially with refer
ence to the large amount of land fraud
ulently conveyed from the possession
of the United States government to
the hands of rebels, should be at once
considered, in the interest of the land
less blacks, to whom, by virtue of
their past unrequited toll, the soil
rightfully b.longs. A system of ma
tional education which shall be COM
prehensiye, and at least co-extensive
with the extension of the ballot, should
early be inaugurated by Congress.
The measure of primary importance
now to be promptly initiated and
adopted ON the re-assembling of Con-
gress, is an additional amendment of
the Constitution forbiddinng disfran-j
chisement OF prescription from official
trust, on account of race or color, in
any State or Territory of the Union.
Such an amendment, if adopted
promptly by Congress and submitted
to the legislature of the several States,
would, without doubt, now be ratified
by the requisite number. It is ur-
gently demanded to guarantee the bal
lot to. Southern colored men, and
franchise many thousands in the
Border and Northern States. This
measure should not be,postponed for
the consideration of the Ferty-first
Congress, but should be promptly
acted upon and adopted by the For
tieth.a Let us. have peace" has been
many times reiterated during the
campaign just closed. One danger
before US is the assumption that the
fact of Grants election in itself will
insure ''peace" at the South, Aboli-
tionists and those who have studied
attentiYely Southern society know
better than this. While Southern Leg
islatures are permitted to take seats in
the House of Representatives who
come from districts wherein colored
and white Republicans were practical
ly excluded from the polls, "peace"
cannot be realized. The negro is still
the bone of contention, and until his
manhood and political. equality is ev-
erywhere recognized he will continue
to be disturbing element in our pol
itics. Smartiug under their political
discontinue, the Ku-Klux will still
hold sway, especially if their treason
able Chef is permitted to remain in
the White House till the fourth of
March next. With the triumphant
reelection of General Butler, and the
well-known desire of most of the new
Southern members for the revival of
the measure, we have strong hopes of
the successful consummation of the i'm
peachment and deposition of johnson
by the beginning OF the new year.
With Wade even two months in the
With House, and such tools of trea-
son as Rosseau, Steedman, and Com
pany, of New Orleans, replaced by
Sheridan and other trustworthy loyal
men; with. reconstruction laws prop
erly revised and amended; with suf-
frage and the right to hold Office vouch-
safed to the negro everywhere the
nation may be well on the way toward
''peace" having secured its essential
conditions, before Grant is inaugur-
ated. While deliberate and organized
injustice to the negro is perpetuated,
the ssirrepressible conflict" will con-
tinue, no matter who may be Presi-
dent. 'Let us have peace" then, by
promptly doing those things which
make for peace,
The new era which opens before us,
with the significant defeat of the slave
holders and their apologists on Tues
dad, is full of interest to abolitionists
and conscientious Radicals, to whom
the national conflict means something
more than mere partisan strife, to
end with election day. Our many
triumphs in the past have been won
under circumstances Of adverse oppo-
siion much more formidable than
anything we are likely to have to en-
counter in the near future. Opposi-
ton we are undoubtedly to have, but
now, as hitherto, logic and right on
our side. We have but to press ur-
gently and perseveringly our demand
and our past successes are a guarantee
of ultimate complete triumph. The
Times, the Post, the Herald, and the
conservatives" for whom they speak,
already exultant at what they deem
the eclipse of Radicalisn, reckon
without their host in supposing it to
be within the power of General Grant,
if, as they alledge, it be his disposition
to materially obstruct the progress of
Radical reformation all will be well
with both the party and the country.
If it refuses, it will only be worse for
the party. There is no half way house
for permanent Judgement between
slavery and genuine republicanism.
The only true formidable opponents
the abolitionists ever had were the
brain champions of the slave system
while their power was. coextensive
with the nation and their leadership
acknowledge North and South. Their
day is over. The earnest Radicals are
the positive force in the new order of
things. The tendency of this century
is to universal Radical Republicanism.