The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-09-18
ne Question Settled.

to this State, the INDEPENDENT errs in fact.
The ratification by Nevada has been transmit
ted to Washington in proper form, and is rec
ognized as correct by the State Department"
Territorial Enterprise. .--.+' - .r
That settles the question both as to Nevada
and New York. We are glad the Enterprise
has spoken thus early, before the public pulse
had become feverish from the doubt and
anxiety which would naturally arise from the
anticipation of bitter contest at the polls
next year upon the issue of the Fifteenth
Amendment. We are glad the Enterprise has
rescued the people of our State from the
struggle which but few days ago seemed i'm
pending over them; and not only is Nevada
placed under profound obligations to the in
tellectual colossus who presides over the edi-
torim department Of that vigorous and power
full exponent Of the advancement principles
of progressive Radicalism, but the State of
New York is likewise made the recipient of an
equal share of the gushing light which his
luminous brain casts upon every object which
falls within the radius of its fervent glow.
The points made by the INDEPENDENT are
absurd both in regard to New York and Ne
vada." How kind, how generous of the En-
terprise, thus to unbcnd from the dignifed ST.
lence under which it usually cloaks want of
knowledge and an incapacity to deal intelli-
gently with issues presented for public discus
sion! and although it has seen fit to depart in
this instance from its ordinary custom, yet il
has not been guilty of introducing an innova-
ton upon the common practice of men of
Sha nd int.
when unable to meet the argument Of an adver-
sary in the arena of fair discussion, who ALWAYS
resort to doGnntic and confident assertions,
which TO the ignorant is regarded as ''confir-
nation strong as proofs Of holy writ" The
Enterprise states with positivencss and log
matte assurance that the question Of the rati-
fcHtion Of the the Fifteenth Amendment is
definitely settled both in Nevada and New
York; but has not condescended TO advance
either facts or argument in support of the
proposition assumed. We have heretofore
given our reasons fully and at length why we
believe it will be necessary for the next Legis-
lature of Nevada to act upon the Fifteenth
Amendment before it can be counted among
the ratifying States, and do not now propose
to repeat them; but as pretty much the same
condition of affairs exist in the State of New
York as in this State, VIC will reproduce few
extracts from both the New York World and
Tribune to show how the question, which the
Enterprise asserts is settled definitely, was
viewed in that State before the Enterprise
had spoken; all of which they will of course
now take back. The New York World of
Sept. LIST, giving an epitome of the prin-
ciples involved in the canvass of that State
this Fall, makes use Of this language:
with regard to the platform, we suppose
there Will be no more difficulty in reaching
unanimity than i'll the selection Of candidates.
The vcXed question of negro suffrage will, for
this once, have to be again considered: but.
even on this question, the Democracy Of the
Empire State are, for all practical purposes, an
unit. The question forces itself upon the ut
tention of the party, i'll this election, in con-
nectIon with the proposed new State Consti-
tuition, and also in connection with the So
called Fifteenth Amendment on which the
State of New York has not yet pronounced its
final Judgment. The Democracy of New
York have never harborcd an illiberal feeling
toward the negroes resident in the State. We
are willing that they should vote, as they have
always voted i'll this State since 1921, on a mod
ernie property luhilliChllol, out All Democrats
will vote against universal negro suffrage.
The reasons are still stronger for refusing to
ratify the Fifteenth Amendment, which, be-
side making negro suffrage universal takes
tho decision of the question away from the
States and gives il to the Federal Govern
ment. 1t is true that the last Legislature
pretended to ratify the Amendment, but it
made no provision for transmitting the ratifi-
cation to Washington; and, if the next Legis-
laturo should be Democratic the ratification
will never be officially certified and cannot be
counted
The present signs Of the times indicate that
the Fifteenth Amendment will not be ratified
by the requisite number of States. The Re-
publican zeai in it's favor has perceptibiy shck-
ened under growing apprehension that the
negro vote in the South will be controlled or
at least divided and nullfed, by the Demo
cratic party. Conspiracy compcls the Re-
pubicans TO keep up show of supporting il;
but, if the elections in Mississippi and Texas
shall resemble that In Virginia, and exhibit
large numbers of negroes voting for Conserva-
tive candidates, the Republican party will be
content to let the Fifteenth Amendment
slide"
Commenting upon the article from which
this extract is taken and deploring the fact
that the old fires of party bitterness are still
kept aglow in that State OF the question of
negro suffrage, the Tribune says,
"Our last Legislature embodied many good
and true men; but, as whole, il was neither
good nor true. Its failure TO direct its pre-
siding officer TO certify the ratification of the
Fifteenth Amendment 10 the State Depart
ment Mt Washington, was Of piece with its
general incnpacity and recreancy.
The raUapiinU papn1n n ,,,,r GtaTn l, ,.I