The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-06-16


them TO advocate the enfranchisemen'
of the negro. Waving for the moment
all discussion of the principle lnVolNeu
the qualification, the weakness ana
the dishonesty of Democrats III au'o'
eating what the world knows they oP-
Dose-Iet us consider this course IN the
LIGHT most familiar to Republicans, that
of party policy. The Republican party
in West Virginia is now responsible for
having ratified the 18th Amendment in
opposition to the will of the people, and
in violation Of its own pledges. The
Democrats are asked to declare that this
ratification, this abuse of power, this
contempt of he popular wish, and this
disregard of plghted faith were proper
and just, and to surpass the masses OF
the Republican party in earnestly sup
porting that declaration. But in ratl-
fying the Amendment the Republican
party asserted that the control of suf-
frage should be vested in the General
Government. The Democrats are asked
to indorse that doctrine, and therefore
to abandon one of the first ideas of the
Democratic party, viz: that the States
have the right to manage their own do
nestle affairs, including the question of
suffrage. In asking this the IntelHgencer
asks the Democratic party to disband.
And now let us consider the "Bour-
bonismp objection, 1t is favorite error
with Republican journals to misstate
the position of Democrats and then to
censure them for not abandoning that
position. They assign TO the Democratic
party certain tenets which it never held,
and then because the Democratic party
does not plead guilty, renounCe them all,
ask forgiveness, aud accept the wOrs
ideas of Radicalism, they insist that the
Democratic party, being blindly welded
to dead hegssies, learns nothing and
forgets nothing This is worse "Bour-
IhoDismn on the part OF the Republican
newspapers than could possibly be,
CHARGED against the Democratic party.
So far from being behind the Republi-
cans. the Democracy are far ahead Of
them in believing that the legitimate
results of the war for the Union were to
restore the Union, not to destroy it; tQ
preserve the States, not to annihilate
them, and to make the will of the peo-
pie, not the usurpatons of a minority
or the DEGREES Of the sword, the ruling |
power in our public affairs. If the Re- |
publicans will Insist that the war mere
ly made conquered provinces of the
Southern States, gave to Congress the
power 10 make and unmake States rs
party emergencies might demand and
warranted the dominant party in pro-
scribing the wealth and intelligence of
such States as West Virginia, and If in
order to justify these measures they
will contend that the Democratic party
wants to restore slavery and resuscitate
rebellion, they are guilty of a blindness
worse than "Bourbonism," for to tenn
porary success they aFC sacrificing their
future political existence.
When the Htciigepcer first took
ground in favor Of rebel enfranchise-
ment, it based its argument upon the
merits of that single issue. 1t did not
offer to couple negro suffrage with it at
all. 1t now adds the latter as cendi.
ton. At first it contendcd that the
rebel was 20 be speedily entrauchised,
whether the Republicans did it or not.
Now it asks the Democrats TO aid in |
eufranehising the blacks, on pain Of
perpetuating the disfranchisencnt of
rebels. Why this sudden shifts Is the
HntcUigsncr already weary of well-doing'
Does it want to return to the camp of,
the proscriptionists I Is it SO little |
pleased with its first steps toward the
promised land of liberation that it |
longs to return to the ancient
uGSu- lOlS anu OulOho lol Alp OkAtA |
ground can we so easily account for
it's course in cOnjuring up dangers aud |
distinctions in it's own pathway. We
believe the IntelligeRcer is incorrect in
intimating that the union of black en-
franchisement with white, will
strengthen the latter with the Republi-
can party. Negro suffrage is not popu-
lar with either party. White enfran-
ohisement is favored by all the Demo
Gratis and large numbers of the Republi'
cans Say that if the rebels vote
you must enfranchise the negroes,
and thousands of Republicans weuld
oppose rebel enfranchisement because it
carried negro suffrage with it. Possibly
the Intelligencr knows this, and having
changed its views of duty takes the
surest method of making rebel enfran-
chisement unpopular with its own
party.
On the other hand, if the Intelligeacer
is sincere, it is unfair. 1t Processes TO
favor Universal Suffrage" Its pro-
gramme, however, is to give the ballot
to the blacks Immediately and to post
pone for term of years at least the en-
franchisement of the rebels. 1t asks
the Democrats to accept negro suffrage
now, for the prospect of getting the
rebels enfranchised three or five years
hence. A cooler and more facetious ad-
liustment has hardly been propo sed
since the white man and the red under
took to divide their hunting spells of
turkey and buzzard. To bring out the
full force of the proposition. it is only
necessary to recall the admission of the
Intelligencer, backed by Mr.. GREELEY,
that if the Republicans don't speedily
amnesty the rebels the Democrats will
save them the trouble.
Another inaccuracy of the Intelligencer
=, -. 4I.t kba blanEs ap5 ths