The New York herald., 1869-06-08

| is to stay and take its chances in the struggle
| for existence.
What, then, can General Grant do? He
stands committed to the law of equality in the
right Of labor as in the right of suffrage. In
admitting the one right how can he deny the
| other? He cannot safely retreat; but how is
he to advance against these Trades Unions
Here lies the new danger to his administration
and the republican party. The humanitarian
may recoil from the diabolical thought ofexclud-
ing man because he is black or yellow from
the privilege of an equal chance with the white
man in the various callings of skilled labor;
but if the skilled whites, who hold the field.
combine politically TO exclude the black, the
party supporting him will go to the wall. 1t
is an ugly question. Independent colored
organizations in the different trades will not
settle It, The conflict will only be changed
from white unions against individual blacks
to opposing combinations of the two races and
in this, that and the other building, factory or
workshop the employees will have to be all
whites or all blacks, with constant dangers Of
bloody collisions.
We hear that some the republican leaders,
snuffng this new negro agitation in the air,
propose as a counter-irrtant an active agita-
on the Alabama claims. 1t is calculated that
in this movement the acquisition Of the solid
Irish vote for a war with England will amply
compensate for the loss of all the white re-
publican mechanics who refuse to fraternize
in their workshops with black men. Herein,
too, may lie one of those urgent political ne
cessities which frequently drive our political
parties to the most desperate expedients for
the popular balance of power. Moreover, in
this view, after all, the sin of African slavery
in this country may bring its condign punish
ments upon England, the founder of the per-
nicious institution. In truth, such is the
transition state of American politics just now
that it must soon bring about some extraor-
dinary movements.
But what field is here upon this conflict
between our Trades Unions and the black man |!
What theme for the thunders of Wendell
Phillips! So long as women are women this
thing of equal political rights for women will
be a Chinese puzzle. Moreover, it will be
useless to agitate women's rights in the matter
of voting until we shall have settled this negro
question of the negro's rights in the matter of
labor. The administration is committed to
the doctrine of equal rights The logic of
events may be pleaded, but so it is. The ad-
ministration has set and is enforcing the ex-
ornpIo of aouol rirhfc in 1obor in frrono
and unless some bold and commanding diver
sion shall soon be undertaken there will be an
opposing combination in the political field of
the Trades Unions of the country that will
astonish the administration and all concerned,
even in the approaching fall elections.
Negro Suffrage in Washington-Tumult md
Riot in the City.
The scenes which were enacted in Washing
ton yesterday during the progress of the
municipal elections-around the polling places
and in the streets-attest the difficulty which
has ever attended, and will perhaps ever
attend, first attempt to suddenly incorporate
new and powerful, yet generally uneducated,
class with the members of an already enfran-
chised citizen family. A City Council and
charter officers were to be chosen by
general vote, negroes having the right of
balloting. Trained, apparently, in the tactics
of voting "early" if not Soften" as we'll as
in the system Of ''pipe-laying" or ''colonizing"
votes from abroad, colored men of the radical
stripe entered the city or turned out from
their several domiciles within the corporate
limits in large numbers at the earliest hours
of the morning, commencing to arrive at the
different ward centres as carly as four o'clock.
They were well prepared for an election cam
paign, having their ballots in their pockets,
bludgeons in their hands, and their over
coats on their shoulders. They appeared
determined to vote as the freedom
of political decision dictated, as demo-
Gratis or radicals. Free expression was
our telegraph report, democratic mulatto
named Stuart, having attempted to vindcate
his principle in the legal manner, was set upon
by the colored radicals, abused, driven from
his position and compelled to seek shelter In q
store, where he was protected from the
negroes by the proprietor at much risk both
to his person and property. Stuart proved
plucky fellow. A squadron OF mounted police
having arrived at his place Of retreat, he came
forth, went towards the ballot box, but was
hunted from place to place by his infuriated
brethren. The police were compelled in self
defence to fire on the mob. This goaded
them on to act with fury which is described
as almost demoniac in intensity, the officers
being assaied and the Superintendent wounded
in the affray. Policemen and citizens were
seen running in every direction, shots re-
sounded on all sides, the alarm became
general, and wonder is expressed that a num-
ber of persons were not killed during the
melee. The Mayor was insulted by the