The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-09
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H" Irnon C%rrent Topics-COmpiled Every
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RESULT OF The Nlh''iNiA Ellen AOr''
1Sro,n ths NJ y World.
IT,, tbe eleotian on Tuesday, which resulted
tr Tho signal overthrow of Oho radical party
sn VIRGINIA. the Democrats of that State
notod a mart which may expose them to the
nonsnre of such of their brethren elsewhere as
tb;,lr II an Abandonment or at least, COM
,,romise. of principle to forego vigorous OPP
pposition to negro voting. Inc virginia Demo
Gratis formed an alliance, Ior CIls elec'ion, WIN
boitino section of the Republicans. For the
soIe of accomplishing other objects, deemed
or more importance, they acquiesced in the
i,oetovval of suffrage upon the negroes at
tinoe when that very question was to be de-
,ided Inv the adoption or rejection OF State
Constitution proposing to confer the privilege.
Tbe Democrats of Virginia might, had they
co chosen, have acted by themselves, ana
have recorded their indignant protest against
tpo norticipation of the negroes in the poll
t;ce of the State. Instead of this, they
indoed il wiser to withdraw all further oppo-
SSition to negro suffrage while the question
was vet undecided, and cooperate with the
conservative Republicans III resculng the
state from the control of the radicals.
Wbetber this action was wise and sagacious is
n ouestion which challenges the consideration
of Democrats in all parts OF the country.
We do not understand that the Democrats
cinle or renounce any opinion which they
have heretofore held They think of negro
suffrage as they have always thought; deeming
II unwise. inexpedent, and fraught with dan
Ger TO the State. But, on the other hand,
fbev knew that. do what they would, they
could not prevent it, and they asked them
selves what they would gain by futile and
impotent protest of which the only effect
would be to surrender the State to the control
of the radicals and negroes Without pro-
Tossing any change of opinion, they
consented to waive the question of
negro suffrage, to accept State
Constitution which made the negroes
all voters, and to form a coalition which, if
successful, would nullify, at least for the pre-
sent, the calamitous consequences of negro
voting. The coalition las been successful,
and the government of the State is rescued
from the radicals and negroes and placed in
conservative hands. Negro suffrage can work
no great evil olong as the negroes and their
radical confederates are outvoted. The impor-
tant question is not, Who vote? but, Who are
majority? If the negroes and their allies
were a majority they would control the gov
ernment of the State; but the Democrats
and their allies being a ma jority, they
control the State, and the negroes have
no more effective power than if they did not
vote at all. The practical question for the
Virginia Democrats was not whether the ne
groes should vote-for they had no power to
prevent that; but whether the negroes or the
Democrats should be on the side of the ma
jority BY standing out against negro suf-
frage, the Democrats would have made futile
show of consistency, and have lost all real
power; by forbearing further resistance to
negro suffrage and making an alliance against
the radicals they have gained practical con-
troll and ascendancy in the government of the
State. Governor Walker and his Republican
supporters have severed themselves as effec-
tually from the radicals as if they had Joined
the Democratic party If Walker ever expects
to be reelected, if he and his Republican
friends have any future political aspirations,
they know that tits only by the aid of the Demo.
Gratis who have been their allies now that they
can expect to succeed. Being thus dependent on
Democratic support, they will be amenable to
Democratic advice. 1t is evident enough,
therefore, that, by practically accepting negro
suffrage, the Virginia Democrats have nullifed
and destroyed negro influence. They have
lifted themselves from the position of an
isolated and impotent minority to one of
commanding power. They are majority of
the party that controls the politics of the
State; whereas by pursuing different course
they would have surrendered this advantage
to the negroes. They have a governor who
canIot disregard their wishes; legislature
that will elect two United States Senators not
unacceptable to them; and Virginia will be
represented in the lower branch of Congress
by conservative members. To gain these
great advantages the Virginia Democrats have
made no real sacrifice, for negro suffrage
could not have been prevented if they had
opposed it ever so stoutly.
The overwhelming rejection of the disfran-
chising clauses of the Virginia constitution is
more prostrating defeat of radicalism than
even the triumphant election of the Walker
ticket The Wells party itself was compelled
to make virtue of necessity and vote against
the very Acknowledgement which they had
themselves made prominent feature of the
new constitution. The moral effect of this
lgnominious retreat will be felt everywhere.
1t is such signal confession of the unpopu
larity and injustice of DISTINGUISHING citizens
for their participation in the late civil trou
bles, as foreshadows the speedy end of tina
lntolerant policy. 1t converts the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution into
monument of Republican folly Whel
the public sentiment of the countr
so soon repudiates a principle tina
was so recently the cornerstone of the Re
publican policy, the disfranchising part o
that amendment cannot be longer regarde
as anything but dead letter, which re
proaches the party with fatal want of fore
sight Why did they begin what they are S
soon compelled to abandon? They have eS
asperated the South and shocked the senti
ments of all liberal men for an object i
which they themselves dare not persevert
Had it not been for the disfranchisine clause
of the fourteenth amendment, the Sout
would have accepted it as a basis of recol
struction, and the Union would have bee
restored three years ago. This long peric
of turmoil and evaporation is the fruit of
policy which its very authors confess To no,