Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-17
Political Issues.

rant OF the increasing prospect Ol the sue
GEES of Conservative principles and candi
dates The enthusiasm, the hnanimity. the
number and the ability which character
lies their conventions and meetings in every
Estate and section of the North, carries with
them the conviction that their efforts will
be crowned with success. We see daily
accessions to their ranks OF the most prom
inent and popular Republicans every local
election, however important, however IN
significant, show most unparalleled gains.
On Monday last, the town of Columbia, III
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, held an
election for local officers, and the result was
IL noble Democratic victory for the first
time in twelve years. This result i'll the
Great Commoners own county, gives evil
dence of the most wonderful reaction -
Everywhere, i'll every State, county and
township, the change is as Jnarked-save
| in Tennessee, where the franchise laws rob
freemen of their rights and place white
men under the control OF negroes.
What is most gratifying and hopeful in
all this wonderful change is, that this en-
thusiasm, this success Of the Conservatives,
are not brought about by any attempt or
desire to deceive the people by hiding the
GREAT issue under which they do battle. No
questions of mere policy--popuiar issues
pandering to temporary or local prejuollces
are emblazoned on their b uners, but
their principles are as national as the Con-
stitution and as broad as the country itself.
The maintenance OF the Constitution, the
reconstruction of the Union and the supre-
macy Of the white race, Of civilization IN
control of the governments oF the South and
in the control of the whole country, are now
the recognized principles upon which the
great political contests Of the present year
are to be fought-the vital and paramount
issues of the time. Upon these the Presl-
Dental election must turn, and men--hcroes
OF the war, or prominent politicians will
amount 10 nothing with the electors who
will be called upon to solve them next
November. The negro, AS an clement Of
political power, and ultimately as al ele-
ment in our social life, will overshadoW
all other questions, and the public mind is
ripening fast for this issue. Should party
managers expect to fasten negro domlna-
ton upon the Southern States by the sup
| posed overpowering popularity OF the name
of General Grant, even his splendid ser
vices cannot hide the hideousness of
Radical efforts to retain power at the eX-
pense of the rights Of white men. And
should he lend his name and influence 10
the infamous attempt, his past achieve
ments, his present renown, will sink into the
same disgrace which has marked a similar
effort upon the part Of his renowned lieu
! tenant SHERIDAN.
| There was a remarkable Significance in
the proceedings of the Sth of January Ban
quet in Washington, bearing upon this
matter Every one Of the speakers were
most out-spoken upon the unconstitutional
| ity of the Reconstruction Acts, and en-
phatic in their denunciation OF negro domi-
nation in the South. The Attorney Gene
raj, whose speech we publish elsewhere,
SAYS the time has come when men must
speak out, and boldly does he give the great
weight of bis name against the constltu-
tionality of these measures. Ono and all
declare this question Of negro suffrage as
the one issue of the country, and only ask
| that the candidate for tue Presidency shall
oppose the African ization Of the South
and the Authorization of the whole Rcpub
| lie, and pronounce his success as certain.
The people are ut last tired of the Radi-
IL 1.,,1 III, 1 ,I,C1,, I
rebellion. The spell which these words
once held over the North has lost its potent
sway. Under its once magic influence the
negro has been elevated almost into a po
litical and social power in the land. But
the wand of Radical sorcery has been bro
ken and the spell destroyed. The hypu-
critical talk about humanity and mankind
being free and equal-the ready appliance
with which the political nlagicianB deceived
the people-is discovered to be sheer non
sense, and behind it is the base attempt to
sustain power by ruling thirty millions Of
white people by creating a balance Of power
in giving the right Of suffrage to four nil
| lions of semi barbariaus Such ~ scheme.
now seen in all its naked deformity, is re-
voting to every respectable white man and
woman i'll the country. Il is contrary to
nature, repugnant to all ideas of decency,
and utterly subversiye of the whole politi
cal and social fabric OF our country.
Upon this issue, then, is the election to
be fought and won. The political forces
are rapidly deploying themselves in battle
array. This question is to be settled at
the Presidential election. Who can doubt
the result
| lighting a Wrong.
In 1861 Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE, as Presi-
dent of the Louisville and Nashville Rail
rord Company, brought suit in the courts
of Kentucky against General S. 3. BUCK
NER, of the Confederate army, for having
destroyed the bridge of that railroad over
n