The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-01-06
GInGaEelllg

A STRIP BAaKwARD.-Ths Democratic
Legislature OF New York yesterday
adopted \ resolution, In both houses,
declaring the ratification Of the XVIII
Amendment by that State repealed.
This action Is the result Of deliberate
consultation among the leading New
York politicians, who give tone and
direction 10 Democratic opinion and
action throughout the United States.
Il means that II ls the deliberate
purpose Of that party TO 90 for
ward to another Presidential con.
test In dogRed resistance to y final
OIoHInR OF the issues which were pre-.
Bumed 10 have been settled by the war.
Il is their tixed determination to re-
slst the incorporation Into the fundaI
mental law ofths nation ol that prinol.
pie which 10 the very life blood OF re-
publican government; equality ot all
the citizens before the law. We believe
It ls the resolution Of a majority OF the
people Of the United States that this
shall bs the national law, and that in
the end they will grind 10 dust any
party that wicksdly and perversely
sOeks to prevent such Consumatlon.
So, perhaps this manifestation OF im'
placable copperheadlsm ls but another
evidence OF that psnldcsnt Providence
which seems to have guided the fortunes
OF the Republic and to have crowned
them no BIgnRlly, time after time,
when they seemed Ut their lowest
estate. May 1t not be, after all.
that the lmpaLienCs Of the country to
bs magnanimOus towards the beaten
rebels, which has been SO often checked
by expected outburstG OF malIgnancy
and violence In the South, IL 10 res
celve ono more check by these fresh ex.
hIbItIOns Of envsnomsd cOpperheadisIn
at the NOrLh2 Il there not divinity
In all this that shapes our endsH We
have often felt impatient like others,
ut the slow progress Of reconstruction.
We have had the confidence to believe
that the very sslfiShness inherent
in human nature rendered It safe,
and therefore expedienk to pro-
ceed with the work more rapid.
ly. But from the spirit manifested
by these people Who.-oall themselves
Democrats, North and South. alike de-
flying and contradlCting all the ordInR'
ry attributes Of Intelligent and just
minded men, We are not. at all sure
that tho delay has not been for the best.
Perhaps the country was moving too
fast again, towards u full restoration OF
the South to her ancient place and
needed this check. The rebellion was
raised to establish the government on
tho idea that one class Of citizens should
govern 10 the exclusion Of another.
The overthrow Of The rebellion over
threw that idea. 30 far as the sword
could do 1t, and established the govern
ment ON tho Idea that all honest cltl-'
zsns should share alike 10 the power OF
government, as they share alike In
bearing Ils burdens. But these Demo-
crn.s still rebel against this decision,
and IL 10 necessary that In some way
the question should bs dsclsIvely set
tied against them. Unless 1t be there 10
NO assurance against future Tenewal OF
an embI tered. and It might be bloody,
strife.
with thla action OF the Democracy
now controlling the great State OF New
York, and the manifesto OF the New
Ham pshlrs Democracy lin another col:
umu) before us, with manifestations o.
the same Implaoable spirit In every
quarter where northern copperheadism
and southern rebsllsm las In Georglal
has recently found expression, we find
very little to encourage the sentiments
OF charity and generosity towards the
South, which her condition would nalu.
rally inspire II we could believe her
people alnCsrs In accepting Lhs new des>
tlny before them. But II the Southern
States, az soon az they md themselves
In position 80 to do, are to Join In a new
crusade for the overthrow OF Sncn
pnarantees OF civil and political equal
Itv as have-Usen erected on the ruins OF
the rebelllon-anl the course Of north@
ern copperhsnds looks as II they exii
pected It-lGen the promptIngs OF mag
nanlmily Will have 10 yield something
10 couald eralIons Of security; aud what
ever Is done mutt be done with due
appreclatlon Of tile risks involved.
The Democratic party (So.called) 10
resolule Ia forcing the XVIII Amend :
ment Into The foreground % the chief
name In the country. We believe II is
and ought to bs such, for It involves
the essence OF everything that we claim
10 have won In the war. The people OF
the United States have about come TO
realize this, II this were ooncluslVely
sstllsd, nothing Is left which need seri:
ouplv disturb the counLry's . reposei and
therefore, II In any way this Issue can
be made sharper, we should ike
tn see II done. It would be made
n question Of Imperioua moment II
Congress we're to declare that until
the XVIII Article had become part OF
the Consultation OF the United States no
more Of the States lately in rebellion
should resume their powers 10 the
Government. That would compel .
decision very soon. 1.-THE amendment
Ia TO be lost the sooner the better that
Congress may know what To do. II u
| A. ..aoa. 1Ha hnkIOF!