New-York tribune., 1869-05-24
TEXAS.

There is party in Texas OppOse0 TO an
early election in that State for tho frankly
ayowed reason that they do not feel sure that
they could carry it, This party is composed
of Republicans but it does by no means COM
prise the Republican party. 1t is so dissatisfied
that the Constitutional Convention failed to
disfranchse and exclude from office all who
had been Rebels that it would vote down the
proposed Constitution if it could Feeling un-
eoual to that task, it runs to Washington and
importunes the President to put off the cleo
ton to the latest possible day. Gen. Grant,
we rejoice to hear, has declined to follow the
coupsels of this party and will probably order
an election in August, so that 1t shall iaH De
tween the heavy abOrs of making the years
crop and the less hurried yet busy season OF
cotton picking. We hope to hear that his
resolution on this point is inilexible'
We can make every allowance for those Texas
Republicans who insist on a sweeping measure
of Rebel disfranchisement Their experiences
of violence, oppression, and butchery, from an
carly pcriod in 1861 down to the news of
Grants election in 1868, were fearful and they
naturally dread even possibility OF the return
of Rebel domination. Not having yet learned
that killing men will never teach men not to
kill-that prescription will never prevent
proscription-they look to the Federal Govern
ment to keep them evermore in power and
their late prosecutors under foot. They forget
that our Government must be republican or
dcspotic, and that q rule based on the proscrlp-
tion of n full third Of the adult males-this
third comprising two-thirds of the property,
with q very large share Of tho natural ability,
Nub
sumed to fit men for responsible participa-
ton in politics-is questionablY republican. 1t
may do-nay, it muslin the immediate
presence of q formidable rebelllonj u
cannot be maintained indefinitely after that
rebellion has thrown down its arms. Our
| Southern Republicans are quite free IN telling
us what they must have and how impossible 1t Is
that they should live under Rebel rule we tell
them in turn that it is impossible that re should
perpetuate q rule over the South IN which the
people Of the South, or any considerable share
of them, are denied q voice. If We should
attempt to do it, we should simply sacrifice our
ascendency in the North and they can judge
where this would leave the Republicans of the
South. We can do and dare much here
for EQUAL Human Rights. We arc q shorn
Samson whenever we shall undertake to argue
and insist that part Of the Southern people
ought to be disfranchised and powcrless ever
more. We know that we can maintain no such
position, and we are nowise inclined to attempt
it.
-"Then the Rebels will sweep the South"
No. they will not. With Universal Amnesty
and Impartial Suffrage, there is O decided ma
! iority of the legal voters Of tho South in sym
/ ,otb,y ,c;tb tho RenuIlicon marty. To gpCure
! its ascendcncy in their respective States, or
most of them, they have only TO vote as they
! think and feel. IL they choose to sell their
suflrages or be bullied or swindled ont OF
their choice the remedy Ia not within our
reach. They must suffer for their basencss or
imbecility, and we must suffer with them.
1t is high time that the Southern Republicans
should desist from hanging around the neck Of
the North, and begin TO take care of themselves.
We shall aid them TO ratify the XYth Amend
ment, whereby full political rights arc guaran-
tecd TO every native or naturazed citizen,
regardless Of race or color. We shall take care
that this Amendment be obeyed In spirit and
letter. Then We shall say to our Southern
brethren, "Root, hog, or die ~ 1t will be far
less difficult to carry Georgia, Louisiana, or
Texas, against the Sham Democracy, than New
York, Pennsylvania, or Indiana. We shall all
have to work and it is better thus than that
q part should rely on the rest to carry them.
We shall get on better and faster if all keep
their feet than if part undertake to ride on
the backs of the rest.
We admOnish the Republicans Of Texas that
they are very likely to have an election ordered
soon, and should unitedly get ready to contest