The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-12
OHIO AND THE FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT.
An Admirable Plea for ratification,
From the C4ncinnau Commercial.

From The Cincinnati Commercial.
The Republican party is squarely
committed TO the Fifteenth Amend
meut. 1t was originated and adopted
by Repuhlican Congress; it has re-
ceived the unqualified sanction of a
Republican President; it has been rati-
fed by more than a score Of Republi-
can Legislatures. From beginning TO
end it is a Republican measure. There
is nothing about it that is Democratic,
except the principle of political equal
ity, which II embodies; and that Is suf-
fcient 10 secure for it the hostility of
party whose chief business, in Its day
OF power, WAS to preserve its inequall-
ties among men, and shield under the
protecting :Hg is of the States form OF
despotism more outrageous than any
outSrowth OF feudalism.
The Republican party Is morally
bound 10 maintain the Amendment I'M
til 1t shall nave become part OF the
supreme law OF the land. 1t is as logi-
cal a result of emancipation as emahcl-
patton was logical result or war
waDed in the interests OF slavery
against the Union. The complement of
citizenship is the ballot. There can De
no permanent halfway house between
the grant of civil rights and the fran
chise that protects them. Defeat of
measure intended to abolish political
distinctions. based upon race and color,
means simply protraction of aglta-
ton. Empedocles will not be quiet
while the mountain presses upon him.
Either we must go backward to the en-
slavement of the emancipated, or for
ward to their political eufrancbisemen'.
AS practical question in Ohio, attec-
ting the numerical strength of parties,
the acknowledgements of her COlOred citi.
zans is of small consequence. In 1860
the entire cOlored population of the
State was but 3G.673 against 1902, sos
whites. OF this comparative small
number but is, 23l were males, and but
S,O92 over the age of twenty. OF the
males eight thousand were mulattoes,
one half Of whom at least were already
voters. The reimbursement of the
remaining adults would not have adj
ded five thousand to the voting pOpula-
ton of the State. It is doubtful whether
it would be increased to that extent
were every adult negro made a voter
to-day. Practically, therefore, the limi-
tation or extension of suffrage in Ohio
Is, as a partisan measure, an inconse-
quentinl affair. The twaddle of pOliti-
cans about the Africanization of the
State is insuflerable nonsense.
But the question must be considered
in lite larger import. 1t rises to the
significance of II national Issue, which
must toe decided by the several States.
Their assent is required to the princi-
pie of the Amendment before it can be
Incorporated into the Constitution OF
the United States. The Republicans of
Ohio cannot escape this issue if they
would. II is upon them. They can no
more remain neutral in such Il contest
than kentucky could remain neutral
in the war. Let 1t be conceded that the
Amendment will be ratified without the
assent of Ohio; does that relieve the
Republican voters of their responsibility
ty? If ratified without the vote of Ohio;
well and good; but if ratified with her
asserting voice, well and better. 1t is
IL seal of the third State in the Union to
principle that her children will Won
der was so long unrecoGnized.
The Republican State Convention
must come up to the mark. To ignore
this, almost the only issue that can be
raised, would be a confession of moral
cOwardice that ought to condemn the
party to overwhelming defeat. 1t can
better afford to lose Office than abandon
ills cOlors. If it is attempted to contine
the canvass to local Issues, as has been
intimated, what are they? The ex.
travag0uce of the late Legislature the
general character of its Legislation? the
location of the Agricultural College?
the establishment OF II new penitentia-
Ty? the enlargement of the Toledo ca
nal? the Morgan raid claims? What
local issue, in short, is there about
" hich there is sufficient interest to
make IL decent canvass?
but let us suppose that the ConVeu-
ton does ignore the Amendment, and
seek refuge in affected neutrality. Is
there IA man in tho State so stupid as
not to perceive that in determining the
political complexion OF the next Legis
lature, he is determining the fate of the
Amendment so far AS Ohio is concern
ed? The issue will be before the PEG.
pie whether it is i'll the platform or out
Of it. In every district of the State the
candidates will find it thrust upon
them, and they will not be permitted
TO take refuge upon platform so deli
cately constructed that it will ccme rat
thing down before one vigorous blow.
We should profit by the past. How
many Democratic platforms, built by
cunning and skilled W0rkmen, were
constructed with The express view of
keeping the question OF slavery out OF
politics. But was it ever less an issue
because of them Tho roar and tunult
Of the battle went on through the
trUmpets OF uncertain sound called a
truce 10 the cOmbatants. We can no
more evRde or ignore the question
whether political equality shall prevail
throughout the United States, than the
Democracy CoHld ignore the question
of the naturalization of slavery. Let
it then be met in manly way, and
whether defeat or victory follow, we
shall have the consciousness of having
given our best effort to the constitu-
tiOnal incorporation of principle that
has common sense, justice, and the
spirit of democracy on its side.