, 1870-01-11
GD6 Ttibumg.
TUESDAY, JANUARY II, 1870.


TIE DEMOCRATIC PhRTY.
The New York Legislature, on the 9Th
instant, by party vote OF 16 TO - in the
Senate. and G5 to IS in the Assembly,
passed resolution resembling the ratihca-
tiou Of the Fifteenth Amendment made by
the last Legislature, The Indications are
that tho utmost strength of the Democratic
party in Ohio will be put forth TO deieat tas
amendment there. The party platform and
nominations in IndianA indicate a like
purpose there, II the Democratic party can
carry the State.
These indications Of tho drift Of Demo
CRITIC impulse show that, as heretofors,
the party relies On anti-negro prejudices
md passions IS the strongest, and, at pres-
ent, the only bond OF conference bstwsen
its members. The Fifteenth Amendment
simply gives to the black man throughout
lie Union the same woapon, without which
the white nan has never yet been able to
enjoy or preserve political freedom. To
suppose the black tnce can defend their
freedom without the ballot, or that il can
really be fzee without the ballot, Is to SUD-
pose TINT it is superior to the white race
in this respect. The real hostility to tho
Fifteenth Amendment is the damn-the-
nigger-anyhow sentiment, and, on this
platform, tho Democratic party, after going
into the rebellion upon it and getting
whipped upon it there, after going into re-
construct IN upon it and getting whipped
there, are drifting into new campaign,
not 80 much because they think the plat
form good enc as because they lack the
wit or opportunity to agree OF any other.
1t ia settled, therefore, that at least one
year more must be wasted in fighting over
issues upon which The sense of the whole
people has been fully taken, and which
have been decided by their votes in favor
of the Republican party. On the aing1e
question Of Radical,sm the Republican
pnrty is about the best drilled, best OH
cered, most resolute, determined, ovez-
whelminG, and irresistible political party
the country has ever known. So long as
the opposition will consent to go into the
fight on that question, Republican majori-
ties will know no diminution. Beginning
on the low ground that slavery should not
20 into tie Territories, advancing to the
higher ground that it should not be made
means Of strength to rebellions armies,
then striking for the naked right
OF the slave to control his OWL
person and services, then rising still again
10 the position that he shou1d have free
access to our courts Of justice, then that be
should have the ballot in all the rebel
States. The Democratic party has, by its
refusal to make terms of peace atany point,
compelled us to advance at last to universal
suffrage throughout the land, on the
broad basis Of tho declaration that
<tall government derives its just poxers
from the consent OF the governed"
On no other issua can We 80 easily
preserve the" stdtus quo Of Republican
ascendsncy. Until this issue is settled
reconstruction is not settled. Uuil recon-
struction is settled the WEI for the Union is
not Won, and all the treasure, blood, nnd
agony Of the past ten years are spent IN
vain. This is the logical popular convic-
tlon. This is felt, and therefore leeds rot
to be proven. But, if proof vcra
needed, how easy to supply
it. Unless The Fifteenth Amend
ment pass impartial suffrage rests
merely on State constitutions, rever-
sib1o at any hour after the States are re-
stored II impartial suffrage at the South
rests On State constitutions it will be re-
ve1bed, md the colored race will sink again,
from citizens and equal working men. who
Know their rights and dare maintain them,
into seHs, paliahs, outcasta, and refugees
No Legislature Of the Southern States,
elected by white votes and unrestrained in
its legislation, will ever leave the blacks, IS
a class, tbeir liberty. The road from de-
nial of the ballot as the starting point,
Etraight down to slavery as the goal, is
short and straight. The restoration Of
slavery is the restoration Of wnr. AL this
is plain and it needs only the heat aud
agitation Of a political campaign, conducted
On this issue. to bring it out in ita trus colozs
as the sans old fight between Freedom,
Unlon, md the National Government On
the ono hand, and slavery, secession, an
a1chy, civil war, a1d nntionnl dissolution aud
death on tho other. On this issue the Ameri-
can people can and will never reve1se their
verdict Che longer the issue is kept up
tho moro determinedly and inveterately
they will fight for the confirmation Of all
past victories, and against the overthrow Of
single result Of the war.
1t would hare been difficult, doubtless
impossible, for the Democratic party to
have organized victory in one campaign, but
it Was reasonable to expect that they would
ut least attemps it. Had they the sagacity
to abandon the pro-slAveIy issue and all its
relics, by ndopting the Fifteenth Amend
ment. and advance to the questions Of
finance and reform, the Republican party,
as we'll as the Democratic, would
OF necessity disperse, subject to
the future cali Of their leaders On party is
sues, and the hue craftsmanship Of both
pa1ties would be brought to the front. Bat
no sooner will it be generally known in
Congress- that the negro question is to be
the only one before the country for one,
two, OF thres years more, than every poiit-
clan who is merely radical, and in no
other aeuse statesman 1aughs in triumph
and relief ut the assurance this gives him Of
continued power, drops the difficult quea
hons Of finance, revenue, and reform, for
want OF the solution Of which the country,
in all departments Of business, is suffering,
and mentally thanks the Democracy for
saving him the labor of finding out any,
thing new or doing anything useful. While
the Bourbonism Of the Democratic party
makes Republican victory more sure, it
oakes it worth less when obtained than il
would be if the country could advance TO
new and more needed issues. 1astead Of
passing the Fifteenth Amendment, and then
proceeding to restore specie payments and
refund the debt this year, the first measure
may possibly be deferred for one or two
gears, and, in consequence, the other two
measures from two to six years. The final
resul! on them all cannot be changed
TEE pIFEAT or JUSTICE.