The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-15
sauce for the Goose is Sauce for th'
SSauder.

The Mason county Journal (DemO-
crutic) having been represented as will
ing to accept the 18th Amendment, de-
ciares uncOmprOmising hostility to
ii as "monstrous propositions" and
yet the Journal Is one OF the foremost
i'll demanding the enfranchisement OF
its rebel friends. Let us say to the
Journal and to all of similar views,
that in our judgment, and in the judg-
ment OF the Republicans of the State
so lar us we understand it, there is not
II solitary reason which requires the
enlrhnchiScment OF the eX-rebels that
does not with equal force demand the
ballot for the c0lored men of the State.
50 far as the democratic principle is
concerned they stand on precisely the
same footing. They arc alike, under
the national constitution, citizens of
the United States and oil the State
wherein they reside; they are alike tax
payers, and liable to military duty. But
in the esteem of the Republican people
the balance Is i'll favor of the negro, for
he has committed 40 crime against the
civil structure of society, while the ex-
rebel has. Our Democratic friends may,
therefore, rest assured, we think, that
the Republicans of the State will not
consent to discriminate against the COL
Orcd men in favor of the ex-rebels.
They will agree we think, in due time,
TO put the two classes on the same foot
ing. Whenever the Democrats make
up their minds to admit the justice of
giving the negroes IL vote they will have
good ground TO ask that the ex-Con-
federaIe shall have one. But why should
the ballot be granted to one and denied
the other2 Where is there principle
OF logic or justice In favor OF the rebel
that is not as sharp and memorable in
behalf ofthe negro?
1t Is scarcely matter of doubt any
longer that the 18th Amendment will
be ratified within q year. Then the
colored mans right to the ballot is es.
tabIished. Why should the Democracy
here bliDdly and doggedly resist the
cOnsummation; because they can sure.
ly understand that they are fighting the
inevitable, and that the Republicans
will make them no concessions until
that contamination is assured. When
that amendment Is ratified 1t will be
proper TO amend the State Constitution
In conformity with II; and if it should
fail of ratification, the same amend
ment to the State Constitution must
still precede or accompany one letting
up the rebels.
We have looked with hopefulness for
some indications on the part of the De.
mocracy that they comprehend the
logic OF the times, and are willing TO
abandon some of their Bourbonism
and recognize In others the civil privl-
leges which they claim for themselves.
But we see very little in the express
sions of our Democratic exchanges to
encourage any such hope. Gentlemen
Democrats, you can do very much to
hasten or retard state of feeling which
will bring about Universal Suffrage, If
that is what you want. 1t Is in your
power 10 furnish unanswerable argu~
ments in favor of it. Now you are
doing just the reverse. II it IS not
Universal Suffrage that you want-if
you simply want the ballot for white
rebels while denying it to black Repub-
llcans-IhenI there is no common ground
on this question between you and the
liberal wing of the Republican party,