The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-11
GREELEY.

Stirring Letter that all should Read.
Horace Greeley in the following letter accepts
the New York Republican nomination Tor The
State COntroership:-
To Hon. Hamilton Harris and associates, Re-
publican State Committee: - Gentlemen-Ab-
sence in the interior of our State precluded
prompt response to the nomination you have
seen fit to tender me. improve the earliest
moment to reply to your kind notification.
You do not need to be told that did not want
the nomination any more than | expected it,
and that do not desire the office. But clearly
comprehend that political life has its RESPONSE
blities and its duties rs well as its opportunities
and its honOrs, and | accept without hesitation
thanking you for the faith you have eyinced in
my devotion to the Republican cause. | trust
that some friend may be able to say with truth
at my grave that my political friends never were
asked by me for any favor and never required
of me any honorable service that did not cheer
fully render.
There are those who would persuade us that
the Republican party has finished It's work, and
should now dissolve and pass away. They say
this in full view of the fifteenth amendment,
whereof the ratification by the States is still
pending and by no means assured. They say it
in defiance of the fact that we are called to vote
this fall directly to abolish or retain the pro-
perty qualification whereby part OF our own
citizens, who were required to serve, and d5d
serve in the armies OF the Union, are yet
denied the right of suffrage. Four col
| ored men from the township adjoining mine
fell dead on the single field of Olustee, fighting
bravely for freedom and their country; and now
their sons are denied voice in the Government
of that country by the efforts and votes of men
who have no more property and no better educa-
tion than they, and who took excellent care
never to risk their lives in defence of the Union.
If there be one Union soder-even one-whO
votes to deny the right of suffrage to the sons
of those who fell fighting for the Republic, /
must believe that he was impelled to enlist rather
by love of bounty than love of country.
For myself, having all my life done what !
could to secure a legal and practical recognition
of the equal rights OF American citizens, having
on two occasions stood at the polls as usually
do on election days, and distributed ballots in
favor of abolishing this most invidious and ini-
quitous property qualification, rejoice i'll the
third opportunity now afforded me for SO
doing, and shall thankfully improve it. In
the course of nature l cannot expect to live
many years longer; but l hope to be spared
long enough to see this relic of slavery erased
from the fundamental law of our State. If
unsuccessful now, | shall urge n resubmis-
1.-THE question at the earliest day, and
Sc again and again until sham Democracy shall
be wearied or shamed into saying, like its proto-
type, the Unjust Judge of old, Though fear
not God neither regard man, yet will l do JUS
tice to this poor suitor lest by continual coming
he weary me-" In no State within my knowl-
edge has this question of impartial suffrage been
repeatedly submitted that large gain of votes
to the right side not realized at each success
sive trial until victory crowned the eXertions of
the champions of equal rights. Let us never
doubt that such will be the result in our State,
of Justice. let us thank God and take courage.
This is the off-year in politics. Men whose
patriotism barely suilices to take them to the
polls when q President or when at least q Gov
ernor and q member of Congress, are to be
| chosen, will not not come ont this fall. The
| great army of disappointed otlice-Seekers and
selfish aspirants to live on the public will also con-
! tribute vastly to the legions of sulky stay-at'
home. General Grant, lacking the miraculous
! mower which fed mutitudes to replctOn on
! few small loayes and fishes, has offended these
patriots beyond the hope OF present forgiveness.
! Let me, therefore, entreat them TO go TO the
| polls, and there work and vote simply for the
! constitutional amendment securing impartial
| suffrage. They will thus proclaim that their
| personal disappointments have not aftec ted
their principles, and that their past professions
! OF republicanism were not insincere They shall
| be most welcome to vote against me- and still
claim to be better Republicans than am, if
they will thus eYince unabated devotion to the
cause.
|, | congratulate you on the assured triumph of
equal rights regardless of color in n future by no
means remote. The general adhesion of the
South to this principle insures Its success. There
will be, as there has been, great party through
| out the South which calls itself Conservative
and stigmatizes its opponents as Radical; but
the former claims to be as heartily and tho
roughly for equal rights as the latter, puts
colored men on its tickets, and in every way
manifests its faith by its works. Even though
this position were reluctantly taken, | do not
| believe it insincerely held, and | clearly
see that it can in no case be aban-
doned, Nor can great national party
base itself equal rights in the South
and on prescription and caste at the North 1t
will have to take decided and unequvocal
position in preparing for the next Presidential
contest; and that must be one which does not
divest ii of a hope of carrying single State
south of the Potomac. The line of battle of the
advocates of "a white mans government" is
thus fatally broken, and their total discontinue
merely q question of time. 1t behooYes us to
take care that New York be not taught her duty
to the humble and despised by South Carolina,
but that she re 'ume her proper place in the van
of the mighty host that strikes for justice. pro-
gress, and universal liberty.
While slavery endured the prescription of the
blat ks rested on perfectly Ineligible and logi-
| cal foundation. 1t was deemed fit that the men
who voted should be palpably distinguished
from the men who were sold at auction. The
reason having vanished, the prescription re-
ground may serve as a party standard or rally
| ing-post long after its vitality has departed; but
AL know that its days are numbered, and that il
must soon fall of its own weight If not quietly
taken down, which is safest and best. All intel
| ligent Democrats know and in conversation ad-
nit that ours must inevitably become land OF
| equal rights and equal laws; but the party man
| ayers say to each other, 1--WE can carry two Oh
| three more elections-Or, at least HtS one-by
| CRYING down the blacks the future must take
care of itself" And thus great wrong Is per
| sisted in through the selfish arts and calculation
of men who profoundly despse the prejudice
whereby they nevertheless seek and hope tC
| profit. They do this in the conviction thai
| many voters who are no baser are great dea
more ignorant and stupid than themselves.
In the confident trust that the canvass OF
which we are now entering will be signalized by
determined, though quiet effort on the part o
the friends of General Grants wise, prudent
and patriotic Administration, and that It's resul