The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-07-06
PU RE N EGR 0 | S NJ S.
The Radicals Make Negro Suffrage C
ike lSSzse!!

Tie Radicals NlaheNegro Suffrage
ti.e lssue!!
WHITE MEN, DUPLECaTE Is67EH
! The following pure Negroisms exhibit
honesty on the part Of the writers, but Il
decidedly contemplate opinion Of the
good sense Of the people. Here is one
/ from the Ohio State JoWWal that will as,
tonish even the Rad Raddies:
"Let hare no Sinking or dodgj"g cn
| The Fifteenth amendment. IT IS THE
ESSENCE OF WHAT WE STRUGGLED FOR Du-
RING ALL THESE YEARS. Until this gov
ernment shall be in fact what it has al,
was been in theory--a government tOun
! dcd upon the cnEsent Of all the govern
ed, irrespective of race, color, class, or
reHgion-our work is not complete, the
Job is not workmanlikC. Give us this
guarauty-that every citizen shal, have
an equal consenting voice i'll the govern
ment-and we rest We believe that
! Congress, without the amendment, has
the right, under the Constitution to reg
/ ulate the matter; but it is well to be Sc
cure. We carry no additional weight III
! the Fifteenth Amendment Ereyy e}ec-
ton. for nearly ten gears has been fought
,cjth this ultimate o5jectire point in rjew,
and nothing but tie co,Caroiice Of mjlk-
and wGter Conservatives has postponed it
tn the FaH elections Of 1869 to settle the
question .fnoHy. 1t will be no great dis
tance in the future when our children
will look back with amazement upon the
historical assertion that we, protesting
to be Republican, judged of mans ca
paclty and right to vote by his color, the
kink Of his hair, the width and elevation
of his nose, the length Of his heel, or
the shape of his shin-bon
The caps and italics are ours.
During all these years" of bIoodshed
since 1860, 1--WE struggled for Negro
Suffrage and the disfranchisement Of
White men, says the Journal.
Here is the Journal again:
DARING THE ISSUE.
In answer to the Statesman's ques-
tons as to whether the Republican State
Convention would dare to make the rati-
fcation of tue Fifteenth Tor Negro Suf-
frage) Amendment a. plank of its plat
form, this year, the Ohio State Journal
says:
"In answer to the Statesman wild in
terroaation, we dare reply for the Re
publican Convention, in the affirmative; !;
because, first, II IS THE REAL ISSUE
IN THE CANVASS; because, second,
it is the conclusion of series Of battles,
which,as the champion Of the oppressed,
the Republican party has been lighting,
10, these many years; because, third, we
have come off more than conquerorS in
all previous contests, and now, with the
prestige of many previous victories on
our banners, We rally to the coup de
grace
SO be it then. The people Of Ohio
rejectedNegro suffrage in 1867 by over
$4,000 majority, and they will increase
that majority in 1S69.-SigndI, { Demo-
cratic.)
The prestige of $4,000 majority in
1867, against its Negro Amendment GER
tainly don't entitle the Negroites of Ohio
to the term "conquerors."
Here is a wall for the Negro from the
Republican, little sheet, published away
over in Noble County. We attach very
little Importance to it, as original matter,
because it was evidently stolen from the
Journal article above:
NO DoDGING.
In the campaign just opening one Of
the main issues to be fought for is the
ratification by Ohio of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States. 1t is the keystone Of the
Republican fabric; 1t is the principle for
achich aoe haze struggled in all the gears
Of our existence as q party. Until this
government shall be in fact what it is III
theory-a Government founded upon
the consent OF all the governed, IRE
spective of race, color, class or religion;
with protection to the weak, and the right
of life, liberty and happiness to all the
mission of the Republican party is not
finished; the object of its organization is
not accomplished.
Nothing but the weak kneed conserva-
tism of a portion of the party prevented
this issue from arriving at successful
solution in 1867. In this campaign we
will have the unfinished work OF that
year to finish up. Let us have no milk
and water ifs and and's, no lodging the
main issue, but stand up squarely to the
issue so that the October election may
by a large majority, reduce this great
principle to iinality-by being engrafted
in the'Constitution of our common coun-
try.