The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-05

The other wing of the party is led by Mr..
Walker, a gentlemen who was born In the State,
but who spent most of his life, up to the close of
the war, i'm the Northern States He is said TO
have been a War Democrat. The Walker plat
form endorses the platform of the Wells party,
with the exception of the school clause, some
minor articles in regard to county organizations,
and the 'iron-clad' oath. They also oppose the
colored man holding office, claiming that he is
not capable.
The Withers party is entirely a white party,
and will adopt nothing, so far as the negro is
concerned, that it is not compelled TO adopt
prior to the admission of the State. Nero suf-
frage they regard as inevitable but they are op-
posed to it on principle. Mr.. Withers, the can
didate of this party, is, we believe, Virginan
by birth and education but has always been
Union man, and is therefore eligible to office
should he be elected.
There are fragments and factions of other
parties but they are SO small in numbers and so
insignificant i'm regard to influence, that 1 for
bear mentioning them or endeavorng to show
their relative positions. All of them will, no
doubt, be absorbed and "gobbled' by one or the
other of the three important parties.
With this brief outline of the body polite,
viewed through nprejudced glasses, and which
| have mentioned to let the reader understand
much that he could not understand without, |
shall proceed to give the conversations of the
Nirgnians, as near as my memory and few
brief notes will permit
1t was my fortune, for did not seek it, to be-
come acquainted with what may be Justly termed
the 'lmperialists' of the country, before | had
been in the city of Richmond Il day. As my
visit was merely one of curiosity, our convefsa-
ton quickly turned upon the scenes of the war,
and as we viewed the different battle-felds as
we passed along, most ofwhich was thoroughly
acquainted with, was struck, not to say panied,
to hear man of evident culture tell me of the
bravery and fortitude OF the South, and of the
want of courage exhibited by the Boys in Blue.
! say was pained and so ! was, but not at his
statement, for / knew that to be false but at his
want of understanding his absolute disregard
for what was fair and honorable; and | so in
formed him, and upon that subject we agreed to
disagree / afterwards understood that this
gentleman had spent most of the years of the
war in Europe. The gentleman desired to
know my politics. | answered him that always
endeayored to do what thought was right, and
therefore was a Republican. This soon led to
a conversation upon the political condition of
the country, especially Virginia. He felt thank
full to the nigger for his kindness during the war;
he believed that the Southern people owed him a
debt they could neverpay for his conduct towards
his master during the war; and his respectful
and orderly demeanor since he had gained
his freedom, but he was uneQuivocally opposed
to his being elevated to the dignity and level of
a white man. He was animal, body and soul
and all the freedom and rights that the nation
could bcstow upon him were pearls before
swine. He never had been anything, and he
IA =.
upon the history of chivalric people that he
should be forced upon them. They had been
raised and educated to look upon him
as an inferior being, and they could no more
change their views than the leopard could
his spots. This had been the case wherever
the colored man had come in contact with
the Caucasian, and he did not believe that
the Union was firmly enough established to
Withstand the revolution of sentiment: in fact,
it was already a failure, because of the Rebel
lion. Gle did not appear to recognize the inn
portant fact that the Rebellion had been con-
quered, but spoke as though it were still going
on.) He had no confidence in republics none
had ever lived nor did he believe any ever could
live, to a position of influence and greatness
among the nations of the earth. As though to
'cap the climax" he asseyerated, in conclusion,
that although he felt sorry that this should be
the case, yet he knew of no way to escape it.
As the gentleman had previously assured me,
in answer to question, that his family was
every old one, and his name was rather familiar
to me, | was forcibly struck with the idea of
his love and respect for the negro as a slaUe
and his distrust and scorn for him a free man,
with the same rights and privileges before God
and the laws of the country as the gentleman
had himself. l mentioned my view of the mat
ter, and asked him if he didn't think that out
side of every other consideration, the cOlored
man should be rewarded for his fidelity to his
master during time when it was within his
| power to do so much damage. Yes but they
were incapable of appreciatng their freedom,
! and therefore he would reward them as he
! would the Indians, with beads and tin trinkets.
| With the assurance that the Republican party
would find the negro n very large elephant, he
! remained a sealed cIsket; and whatever his
thoughts may have been, he kept them to him
| self.
Do you believe, sir, that the intelligent masses
of a country model its people? He did. Did
| he think he had, as an intelligent and wealthy
man, any influence? He presumed he had
some. Did he think that those who were in
fluenced by him would believe, if he so informed
them, that the United States was a failure-that
| a republic could not exist? He thought some
of them would. Did he admire an empire,
or think it was more just or better than
a republic? He did not. Then was it his
duty to endeavor to pull down, by his in
| fuence and words, that which he believed was
best! No; but the Federal Union had become
so corrupt under the management of its present
class OF leaders in Congress, that the people no