Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-13

He spoke freely on n SuDJects anu u
short sketch Of his views will be in
teresting.
Correspondent-Did / understand
you tosay that you thought the Demo-
cratic or opposition party could win
in the next Presidential campaign by
discreet action, in spite of the attempt
to employ military intimidation over
a portion of the country?
Mr.. Blair-Yes, sir; / said so. i
believe that, Notwithstanding the vast
power in the hands of the Republican
party, the opposition, if given the
right direction and guided by wise
eounsels, can win.
Correspondent-In what way?
What platform would you suggest?
Whom would you select for their a n
didate?
Mr.. Blair-I would select a good
Union man, one whose record was
loyal during the war, and who be-
Iieved in the old constitution under
which our country attained all its
prosperity. The old fossil party lead
ers | would discard. The candidate
| of the opposition ought to be some
man like Chase, for instance, who
| would be acceptable to the true Union
men, North and South. But l don't
name any particular man as the best.
| 1t is impossible to do 80 nOW. The
fitness Of a candidate depends upon q
great many circumstances, which can
only be weighed when the time comes
| for making a nomination. A mar
who might e most fit and availa-
| bic to-day as a candidate might not
suit at all two years hence. AS to a
platform, | think the constitution rs
it was would be the best that could be
| adopted. / mean the old constitution
with slavery extinct. That is the
| platform which / would advise. Our
fiOurished and grew prosper
Gus under its provisions, and
it is still ample, in my Judgment,
for our Government and people.
There is no doubt that when our
fathers framed the old Constitution
their wish was to prevent a centrali-
cation of power. The Republican
party has disregarded that evident
design. They have violated the old
Constitution. Many of their laws
are in conflict with it, like those as
Stunning to regulate the right of suf-
frage, taking the subject away from
the States entirely. The right of suf-
frage is a matter which clearly be-
longs to the States. Each State is en-
titled to decide for itself who shall
vote within its own limits for Presi-
dent of the United States. There
never was a question ON that point.
Old Thad Stevens, the leader of the
Radical party, admitted it himself,
and acknowledged they had TO 90
outside the Constitution. 1t was
never intended that Congress should
take that power out of the hands OF
the States. 1t was never intended
that the power should be usurped by
Congress. There can be no substitute
for the Constitution; we al have no
succedanetm for it. The Democratic
. or opposition party ought to go for
the restoration of the old COnstitu-
ton, with some one as a leader who
has a constitutional record as a Union
man. In that way they could win
against Grant and all the military
influence. 1 don't think there is
weight of character enough in Grant
or any other man to resist the mighty
popular avalanche which would sWeeL
ONtE litb OuIlI SItOulu luC ODDOol
ton party manage their campaign in
the manner | explain. l told then
/, this truth long ago, and wanted to gel
f Grant to be their candidate. He wa:
a Democrat. l know from his record
that his feelings were on that sid'
!, until Congress passed the military
bill which made him military dicta
tor over the South, and placed in hi,
hands the power to make himsel
President. Then he went over Il
the Radicals. The Democrat:
made the same mistake in the las
campaign by nominating a man who's,
/, Union record was in doubt, They pu'
the cart before the horse in making
, their nominations. / saw it immedi
, ately ami wanted them to let Franz
withdraw. They sent him an invita-
/, ton 10 make speeches, and / went Oh
, to New York and saw Tilden. l tol(
him it was no use asking Frank t
speak, for Frank would be sure Il
make speeches in harmony with tn,
/, letter he had written and the resolu
, ti0ns adopted by the Convention. TIL
result would be that Seymour wOulC
f make one kind of speech and Blair tn.
opposite. l told TiIden that wOulC
not have a beneficial effect, and aske,
> them to allow me to Withdraw hin
from the field. But Tilden and tn.
! rest would not consent and Frank re
manned in the field.
COTreSpOndent-DO you think
a Chase Oh some other good Union mai
, had been nominated in place of Sey
. mOur, that the Democratic part,
) would have won the last Presidentia
r contest?
! Mr.. Blair-I think it very probable
The chances were favorable.
! THE CHINESE QUESTION.
CorrespOndent-Do you think thi
, Chinese question will enter into tn
/ next campaign?
Mr.. Blair-NO, sir; l think not.
g regard this Chinese puzzle (smiling
as settled. The Republican party, i
settling it, have given up their car
= dinal principle-the natural equalit,
Q of man. Even Sumner, the grea
dOctrindira, has abandoned his grea
doctrine. The Chinaman is sacrifice
to the negro. The Chinaman has bee
denied equal political rights. There
fore, l take it the Chinese question
I l. NV SAALSA Inv AAAS CHlA ass
: COrrespOndent-What is your Opir
: ion of the introduction of the Chimes
: element into the country?
Mr.. Blair-Well, sir, l think on
race-that Is, the Caucasian-is tn
: superior, and that it will always hav
power TO assert its superiority over tn
inferior. l don't think we have niue
q, to fear from them. But at the sam
time l regard these commixtures
races as demOralizing. In a pecuniar
7 aspect the Chinese may be an adVaI
9 tage, but in a social aspect the ques
+. ton is of vast import to the country
If the Chinese come here in sue
Y numbers and intermix with our ow
race, the tendency might be to under
mine the very foundation OF our sOcis
/, structure. But ! think that tendenc
would be overcome by the natura
course Of events. Our race is the OnI
one that has ever shown itself able t
sustain a free government. The AS
atics and Africans never have. Gu
superiority is so great that in tn
: course of time these inferior peOpl
! would melt away and disappear lik
snow before the solar rays. 1t is
natural process and inevitable. Tn,
: Caucasian race is the only one fit t
! rule and able to support free institu
D lions.
HISTORICAL INCIDENT OF THE RE
BELLION.
Having thus drawn out Mr.. Blai
( on most of the subjects of public in
9 terest, and fearing to tire the old gen
: tleman by an overriding interview,
approached another subject and tn
> last one upon which l intended t
f ask his views. In 1864 or 1861 for
: oct which-Mr. blair was invited b,