The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-20

A subject of much eXultation is the reported
inclination of newly -epiranchised freedmen
to ally themselves with the Democratic party.
Stories come from three or four of the recon-
strueted, and from two OF the unreconstructed
States which are intended to create an i'm
preston favorable to the prospects OF the De-
mocracy among the blacks. Negro meetings
are chTonicled, negro conversions proclaimed,
and general stampede from the Republican
ranks IS predicted. We know the value of
these vapOrings too well to be msled by their
high coloriuC. Few of them have the genuine
ring and even these are SO meagre In their de-
tails that we must suspect their basis to be
narrow. The declarations of come notable
negro in favor of Seymour prove nothing
unless it also be shown that these
declarations are not fatal to his inau
ence among his fellows. The remembrance
of the black Nash, in South Carolina, of his
joining Wade Hampton in loud hurrahing
and his subsequent bolt to the Republican
side to avert general black tabOong, makes
us doubtful and inquisitive when fuss is
made about some other Nash elsewhere. For
similar reasons we receive with many grains
OF allowance statements concerning the orga-
nizaton of black Democratic clubs. There
may be such organizations gotten up under
the cruel process which Mr.. Cobb aud other
rebels learned in the days of slavery. But
that they are numerous, strong, or voluntary,
we shall not believe without further
evidence than the malcontent press has yet
furnished.
At the same time we cannot ignore the fact
that the Mississippi Constitution would not have
been rejected without the help of a consider
able per centage OF the Coored vote, and that
Several of the Democrats in the Georgia Legis-
1ature represe mt constituencies into which the
black element largely enters. The experience
of these States is conclusive as to the ability
OF the whites, with careful management to
control in a large degree those whom they
lately owned, and whom they still employ.
The presumption that kind treatment and q
due regard for rights, resulting from emanci-
patton, would enable superior intelligence and
property to secure the electoral cooperation of
blacks, has from the first been the strongest
answer to the outcry against negro suffrage.
There must either be cowardice, or lurking
desire to iDhict injustice in the minds of men
who boast of influence over their late slaves
and with the same breath affect horror at the
ruin to be produced by negro enfranchisement.
In one or the other of these positions there
must be dishonesty.
And so it is with regard to this pretended
revulsion of feeling against the Republicans.
1t does not look bona tide or honest The poll
ticians who talk of it, and the newspapers
that give it publicity, are suspiciously reticent
as to their future course towards the negro.
They are profuse in their praise of the con-
verts, of course, and of their promises of kind
rests on partisan subserviency, and the kind
treatment is always held out as the reward
3or voting the Democratic ticket. On the
larger question OF the negro's political rights,
scarcely syllable is uttered. Coored voters
may change, but the disfranchisipg purposes
of the disloyal whites remain firm as ever.
The latter are quite willing to use their labor
ers in an election, but they are resolved that
there shall be no colored vote when the Demo-
Gratis regain power.
The exceptions to this remark are so rare
and unimportant that they only strengthen
the rule. Resolutions are printed purporting
to have been adopted somewhere in Missis-
sippi, in which recognition of the negro's
right is promised; but they are unsupported
by single name, or by the slightest sign of
concurrence in the local press. Again, at the
Mobile Democratic ratification meeting Mr.. G.
c. LangdOn, addressing colored people, said
"We recognize the fact that you are entitled to
vote in elections, and we are not going to de-
prive you of this right" Neither there, how
ever, nor on any other occasion which could
make the promise binding on the Southern De-
mocracy, has this recognition assumed posi-
tive form. On the other hand, Mr.. Wade
Hampton, who some time ago advocated i'm
partial suffrage, found the idea unpalatable
among his friends, and dropped it as suddenly
as he had espoused it. The same is true Of
others. AT this moment therefore, the South
ern Democratic leaders, with hardly single
euception, couple their avowals as to inhu-
encing the negro vote with declaration of
unabated hostility to the principle involved.
The Charleston NetoS is more candid than
most OF its contemporaries
"That the egTo does vote, and that he will
vote at the coming election is an unmistakable
fact and this negro vote is proposed by the De-
mocracy of the southern states to be turned to
the practical advantage of The Democratic
party. This We do not desire to conceal. Our
plans and purposes are plain and unequivocal.
They admit OF no double meaning and leave no
room for doubt or eq1lvocatOn.
at is with this declaration that we go before
the colored people, and tell the m 10 vote for the
Democratic candidates, believing and knowing,
we do, that the Democratic party alone will
secure to them the Substantial fruits OF freedom
We promise them no universal suffrage-they
are not able To cast their votes inteligently.
We promise them no fat mules and broad acres
they must work anu obtain properly by pur-
chase as the white men do. But while We will
not promise what the sentiment OF the South
will L OF allow to be performed, and what the
voters OF the NOrth aud West have condemned
in a hundred elections, We do pledge ourselves
10 make the cOlored man secure In all his rights
and TO enable him To labor with profit under
the protection of equal laws"
The NeWS'tells the truth, we doubt not. The
opponents of the new governments propose to
turn the negro vote ITO the practical advan-
tage of the Democratic party;" but they will
not concede universal or even qualified colOred
suffrage, because "the sentiment of the South"
is determinedly opposed to both.
Hence, in part the skepticism which the
alleged progress OF Democracy among the ne
groes excites. There might be some pretext
tor it If tie whites, as matter of eXpedlency,
pledged themselves not to disturb the rights
acquired by the cOlOred man. But it has
neither reason nor probability, so long as the
object of acquiring colored votes is to procure
Acknowledgement. The blacks may be deceived