The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-15
Tur Democratic press is just now

very industrlously quoting from the
New York Tribune declaration made
some months ago in favor Of the en-
reimbursement Of the blacks in all the
States, North and South and comparing |
this declaration with the second plank |
of the Chicago platform which sets
forth that while the National Govern.
ment must guarantee suffrage TO the
black men in the South, the question OF
suffrage In the loyal States properly
belongs TO the people OF those States.
Remarkable to say the Tribune of
4ormer date and the platform of the
present date do not agree-and 10 a
dreadful mares nest! The party Or
gans of the Democracy had better be
careful how they institute such tests as
this. for 1t is more than possible their
own platform may be something
slightly different from their declara.
tons in advance Of 1t. We commend
this suggestion especially to the Wheel.
ing Register In view of the probable
nomination of Chase on II negro suf.
rrnge platform.
Now the truth Is, so far us concerns
the Tribune, everybody knows TINT the
average Republican opinion ofthe coun.
try has very seldom agreed with the
especial crotchets OF that journal, one
of which has been ever since the close
OF the rebellion "universAl suffrage and
universal amnesty" Mr.. Greeley Is II
great and thoroughly honest man, but,
his wasmest friends concede, somewhat
unsteady in his judgment Of public
questions; and, being somewhat fer.
tile In his theories, he advo-
Gates them without hesitation and
without reference to tho more
dispassionato judgment of Republicans
in general. The Republican party OF
the United States has very great conf.
deuce in Mr., Greeley's honesty and
thorough unselfishness, but not SO
much in-hls judgment upon practical
measures. So fur from following his
lead in matters OF this kind, 1t has 10
notable instances been widely at vari-
ance with MI Greeley, who generally
corrects himself by the cooler Judgment
OF his friends and falls Into line. The
party is not In any respect responsible
for Mr.. Greeley's opinions. lie is one
member ofthe party and In the mat
ter ofsuGrage holds tho same views as
Mr.. Chase, tho prospective candidate OF
the Democracy. His party, us whole,
entertains different opinion, as OK
pressed at Chicago. Mr.. Greeley, in his
gushing and illjudged benevolence
would enfranchise blacks and rebels
alike, North and South, The Republican
party holds that the rebel States stand
on wholly different footing from the
loyal States. Tho rebel populati IN
in the one have rendered II the Impera-
tive duty OF the Government there 10
enfranchlse the blacks. II Is the only
way in which civil government can
be restored on bas!s of loyalty 10 the
United States. That party also holds
that in the Northern States, where no
such extraordinary conditions exist, no
such extraordinary exercise of power
by the General Government Is neces.
sary. This is tho simple aspec. In
which this question stands. Those
who ask US to ignore these different
conditions In the two sections and
deal with the loyal States as
we do with the rebe!lious States,
are the same persons who have con.
stanlly asked US to ignore tho fact Of
the rebellion from frat to last. They
arc the same persons who claim that
the rebels are not Justly under any dis.
abilities whatever on account OF their
treason. Whenever wo are ready to
accede TO their arrogant claim that the
rebellion was just, tho rebels patriots,
and the General Government tyraut
and oppressor, we shall acknowledg go
that the loyal people ofthe nation have
no right to prescribe tho conditions on
which tho rebellIous States may resume
their power in the Government-not
before.
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