The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-16
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1869.
:. U.,versnl su nrage a Humbugs


sTyr,yKRsAL suffrage is q myth, humbug,''
said Senator William A. Wallace few nights
since, In his speech against the adoption by
the State Senate Of the fifteenth amendment
10 the Constitution of the United States. And
In saving what he did Mr.. Wallace spoke
openly the sentiments of the leaders of the
nisnamed Democratic party. The position
which that gentleman holds in the ranks of
the opposition is guarantee of his right to
represent their sentiments. He has twice
been the chairman of the State Central Com
mittee and once the caucus nominee for the
position of United States Senator. We are
nIsd that the mask is thus boldly thrown
aside, and the "upper ten" Of the Democracy
induced to frankly declare their sentiments.
How the statement will be received by the
masses of the party remains to be seen. The
opposition is divided into but two GLASSES.
the governing and the governed. There is
no intermediate station between the elegant
gentleman who would not soil his glove by con-
tact with an instrument Of labor, and the
brawny laborer whose hand is horny through
the use OF the shovel and the pick. How two
suoh antipodes can be induced to range side
by side can only be explained by q know
ledge Of the utter ignorance Of the masses and
che cunning Of the few. That universal suf-
rage is 'humbug'' is the opinion of the
one; is 1t of the Otherl The Republican party
takes issue with. the Democratic leaders. 1t
says that the great principle of self-govern-
ment is not failure, myth, or humbug. 1t
claims that man is capable of ruling himself,
and denounces the strocious language Of Mr..
Wallace. 1t shows that it holds him to be in
the wrong, not merely by words but by acts.
The Senate, by the vote of every Republican,
favored the resolution, giving its ratification
to the amendment. The House will, without
delay, do likewise, and the issue be thus made
mp between the two conflicting opinions on the
question of a democratic government. twill
be for the people of the United States to say
and his brother Democrats shall be ratified or
repudiated.
The amendment in question, providing that
no one shall be excluded by any State from
the right OF suffrage because Of color, was pro-
posed by the Congress of the United States,
and must be ratified by the Legislatures Of
three-fourt of the States. What are
the prospects Of its early adoption2 We
cannot but see that, in all probability, before
six months are passed it will become a law.
The following States will unquestionably
ratify it:-Pennsy lvania, Kansas, Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connec-
tiout, Rhode Island, New York, OHIO, Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Min
nesota, Arkansas, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Iowa, California, Oregon,
Mississippi, West Virginia, and Florida.
The following, in accordance with the enun-
Citations of Mr.. Wallace, will beyond doubt
reject it:-New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
Kentucky, Georgia, and Louisiana.
The following are in doubt:-Nevada'
Texas, Virginia, and Alabama. As neither Vir-
ginia NOR Texas are represented in Congress,
and are therefore excluded from participation
3 In the question, there will be necessary to
adoption but twenty seven States, all of which
are certain. With all rapidity the people ol
the nation are rendering their verdict through
their representatives. The telegraphic wires
from Maine and Kansas alike flash the in
telligenoe OF ratification. Before many month:
have elapsed we expect to hear from all the
required number OF States the glad tidings
that the United States has at last given tc
each State republican form of government.
The number of people affected by this
amendment in Pennsylvania is small. Th'
total number of colored people in our Com
monwealth amounts to little over $4,000
This includes women and children. Assuming
as liberal estimate that one in FIVE possesse
the requisite qualifications, then will We hav,
added to the voters Of the State Is, 900 addi
tional ballots.
II is not, therefore, because the Republican
Of Pennsylvania can secure any active politi
cal strength from the adoption of the amend
msnt that they are unanimously in its favor
II is because great principle is involved, an,
the present is the proper time to settle it for
ever. Let the ballot once be given, a revolu
tion only can take It away. Let once tn
black man have the right of suffrage, and tn
issue is as dead within year as the question
of q national bank to-day. People will wonde
hew so great an excitement could be kept NJ
for 80 long time over what could be 80 easil
and 80 justly settled in 8 few weeks. An
the same surprise with which we view tn
almost martial difficulty over the BAN
deposits in the days Of Jackson, vii
be felt by the coming generatio
over the suffrage war Of to-day. The utter ia
lacy the arguments in opposition will then