The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-08
A BLACK RECORD.

the addresses of Lieutenant Governor Beach
and Speaker Hitchman in taking the chairs
respectively of the Senate and Assembly of
our State, are novelties in our history, but
not necessarily censurable Truth is always
preferable to falsehood; and, since the legis-
lation and government of our State are to be
moulded and animated by intense devotion to
the interest of party, it is well that the fact
should be so bluntly proclaimed. These adj
dresses are but echoes of the more elaborate
and pretentious partisan malignity of the
colossal fraud which usurps the Governorship
Of our State. But one passage in Hitchmans
harangue is SO grossly untruthful as to render
its rebuke and exposure an imperative duty.
It is that wherein he says:-
'sThe enfranchisement OF an enslaved race, which
resulted from that struggle, they QDemocrats) not
only accept, but they recognize obligation OF ele-
waiting and advancing that race 10 the highest cond-
ton OF which 1t is capable"
Thus much for the professions of Speaker
Hitchman. Now let us consider them in the
light of history.
BY the original Constitution of our State,
framed by her Revolutionary patriots during
their desperate struggle for independence, no
difference was made or recognized between
whites and blacks Slavery then existed in
our State, and slaves were conceded no poll
tical rights; but every black freeman was al
lowed to vote on precisely the same conditions
with white freemen. SO they did without
objection for over forty years, or until the
Constitutional Convention of 1S21-a body
overwhe lmingly Democratic-which at once
commenced aforay on the rights of thepoor and
powerless handful of free blacks. A majority
of the Democrats would have disfranchised
them altogether; but a minority demurred,
and, uniting with the twenty or thirty
Federalists, secured the rights of suffrage to
fraction of the blacks-to all of them who
had lived three years in the State, and owned
$3.50 worth of real estate, free and clear of
incumbrance OF debt And that has ever
since been our fundamental law. Thrice-in
1916, in 1860, and in 1S69-have decided
efforts been made to change it, so that the
invidious discrimination against blacks
should be wiped out; but the Democratic
party has rallied all its forces to defeat these
appeals for justice and equality.
The Democrats of this State have Just voted
their full strength against negro enfranchise-
ment, after having fought it in our late Con-
stitutional Convention with inhuman pertina-
city. Not less than one hundred distinct
propositions were made by them in that Con-
vention, and several weeks wasted with in
tent to insult, defame. and humiliate the
blacks, so as to make all possible capital out
of the antipathy with which they are regarded
by the lowest and basest, most ignorant and
prejudiced whites. From the beginning to
the end of that Convention as also in the
canvass before the people, no chance of
fouting the unhappy African race, or heap
ing odium on those who stood up for tn cir
rights, was left unimproved.
Mr.. Hitchman asserts that his fellow parti-
sans ''accept" the Acknowledgement of the
four millions of our countrymen who were
formerly slaves. Indeed! When did they
begin to accept it Certainly, not while
there was prospect, shadow of hope, that
IT pn1Oht ha rNravanfal or lafanta1 In tn
the hour in which the last shackle fell from
their limbs, the Democratic party denounced
emancipation as usurping, outrageous, mea-
sure of disunion, and at least equally unjusti-
fable with secession. 'It has united the
South and divided the North" was their
stereotyped outcry. Their last two candi-
dates for President-McClellan and Sey-
mour-were its especial antagonists. Their
journals stigmatized Lincoln's proclamation
of freedom as an Indictment to wholesale
arson, rape, and murder. If ever party was
unanimous and vehement in condemning any
great public measure, the Democrats were
thus hostile to emancipation.
No thanks to that party, slavery is dead
Its resurrection is beyond human power But
the blacks are still hated, despised, vilifed,
and in every way DETAINED and degraded; and
that is the present business of the Democratic
party. The civil rights bill was opposed by
oilo pdloy piOOioclJ 90 CihhhSAPooiOh htib DoOh'
So long as it was possible, blacks were ex
cluded from street cars, as they still are from
stages in this Democratic city. In States like
Kentucky, where Democracy bears undivided
sway, they are not allowed to give testimony
against whites. Wherever it is still possible
to imbrute and trample on them, Democracy
is now intent on that achievement.
The fifteenth amendment is simply barrier
to such prescription and degradation, so far al
the right to vote and hold Office is concerned
Of course, the Democrats oppose it every
where, and to the bitter end. No Democratic
| legislature has ratified or will ratify it. N,
| Democrat has voted for or now supports it
Our Democratic Legislature has made hast
to use its fraudulently acquired power ex
pressly to rescind, so far as it can do so, it
ratification by the preceding Republican body
The Democratic leaders insisted on doing thi
before committee was appointed or an
provision made for preliminary scrutiny o
bills or resolutions. Every Democrat but on
voted for the repeal.
Is it not stupendous effrontery, in view o
these well-known facts, for Mr.. Hitchman t.
profess that his party recognizes the obligS
ton to elevate and advance the blacks Tn
negro has borne up manfully against half
century of Democratic hate, cruelty and OF
preston. Ought he now to be slimed wit
such barefaced, loathsome hypocrisy?
SHALL WE BUY CUBA?
Prem the NJ Y. Sun.
Two of our contemporaries recently pull