Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-05-06

From Harpers weekly
TwenIy-one States have ratified the
Equal Suffrage eamendment-the Demo-
cratic party every where opposing Now
in parry warfare, rs i'll all other, there is
a conduct which wins the respect OF the
foe, as there Is one which moves his con-
tempt Four or five years ago equal suf-
frase was defeated in Connecticut 10y u
majority OF seven thousand Last spring
the Democrats eiected their Governor
Dysnearly lwO thousand majority, aud
three Memoers of Congress: In The au-
tunln the Republicans carried the State
FOR Grant. This spr ng, when, accord
ing TO the Democrats, equal suffrage Was
the issue, the Republicans eject their
Governor and gain two Members of
Congress, beating the Democracy in
their strongest holds; and because the
majority or Governor Is smaller than
that for President, the papers OF which
We speak deride the meaSre and dismal
majority The Democratic party are
more signally defeated in the State than
they have been for many yer, and in
stead OF frankly ackno wiedging the fact,
and seeing that it is futile To fight upon an
settled and settled again. one of their
organs feebly peeps that it isn't much OF
shower, aud another gravely declares
that it is the natural consequence of not
sticking to Wade Hampton's platform of
last July! ..,....--
The one great truth OF our recent po-
litical history is, that the Republican
and Democratic parties We're opposed
| upon the issue of slavery. The Repub-
licans won at the polls and upon the
field of battle, and again and again and
again at the polls. They have emanci-
nu. ad thu cIouaS frhau hava uiVAn
them civil rights. They have given
them political rights. At each step
they have appealed to the country. and
have been supported. They have been
intrusted with the government for four
more years. Their new administration
begins by the plain declaration that
equal rights shall be every where pro-
tected and the laws every where enforc-
ed, and by the urgent recommendation
that the amendment to the Constitution
be adopted, which finally closes even
the agitation OF the question; and still
the Democratic party piteously asks its
absurd question, as = conclusive polite
cal argument, Do you wish your
daughter to marry a niggerw rE
1t perceives that there is prejudice
in the country against color, but 1t Is
unable to see that the country has learn
ed the mortal peril of indulging that
prejudice. instead. therefore, of ofaccept-
ing the facts, however much it may de-
plore them-instead of joining issue as
to- the better method of securing an
equality which IS inevitable, the Demo-
cratic party ridiculcs the negro, and
argues against him, and dsnounces him,
and bellies him, and all as if there
were really hope of reducing him again
to some kind of vassalage. The, whole
De nocrAtic force is expended in this
business, and in sneering at tie Presi-
tfent, The party papers have nothing
TO say but that every thing is wrong,
nsthing to propose but that every thing
be undone. D. gnii.s- 20 sssgo1q 5.iI =t.s7s-T
AS usual, the Democratic party hopes
for re-invigoritinn not from fair. debate
Of PnesIspalcies, but from readnissiOn to
political privilege OF those who repudi-
aEe the, American principle of the eqrali-
ty OF ali citizens. But that will not be
enough. The prejudice against color
when il was . bulwark Of the systep Of
which the Demncfetic party was the do
fenss wss iEcalcGisbly useful but with
the fsli OF the systenl the appeal to the
prejudice ie peintiess. There is no in
sight, no heroism in the Democratic
l.ieaderehip. The party is but disOrderly
| camp of the disaffectsd aud disappointed
| It nust lid some newer ground than
hostility to equal rights, or. relinquish
! the hope Of success, unless the conduct
of the Republican party where ii has q
majority, - in the Legislature of New
York, shall persuade the. country that
there lis really no choice between the
parties But even in such instances as
The Legislature of which We speak, it is
the duty of al good citizens to remark
sthst it is the combination of "a few Re-
publiea ms only with the Democrats that
does the mischief. lssJ i 60.