The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-05
1.-THE NEW DEPARTURE. "

From the NJ p. World.
Now that the question of forbearing any
further opposition to the new nmendments,is
virtually decided, it may not be amiss to con-
slider the nature Of the situation" which the
Democratic party accepts" We can best
describe it by comparison. Suppose that,
m the trial of civil suit, there is mixed
panel of white and colored iurymen. John
Doe, one of the parties to the suit, chal-
lenges every celored jurynlan whose name
is drawn from the box, but, in spite of his
opposition, the jury as actually sworn is
finally composed of nine white and three
colored citizens. Would John Doe act like
man of sense if he should thereupon pesu-
lantly give up his case and refuse to produce
his witnesses The merits of his suit are
not altered by the composition of the Jury.
The presence of the black jurymen, cannot
change either the law or the facts; and since
his case must be tried by that jury, he will,
if wise man, direct his counsel to take even
more pains than usual, and carefully avoid
insulting the black jurymen. There they are,
on the jury benches; and whether he like
or dislike them, he cannot get them away
until they have rendered their verdict.
Quite similar to this is the political situa-
ton since the establishment of negro suf-
| frage. The political questions remain pre-
| cisely the same as if they wera to be decided
| by the votes of unadnlterated white constit-
have these questions rightly decided, 40
cording to their true merits; not whether
| the decision is made by larger or
q smaller constituency of voters. The
point for the jury TO. try is not
whether their own body is properly composed,
but the questions of fact between the plain
tiff and defendant in the suit before them.
| We only muddls and confuse political con-
troversies if we fail to distinguish between
he questions to be decided and the persons
who are to decide them. BY accepting
negro suffrage we increase our chances of a
candid hearing on practical issues. The
negroes are of little account if we can con-
troll the Judgment of the white voters. There
are ten white voters to one negro voter,
taking the country at large In twenty-five
of the thirty seven States there are thousands
of whites entitled to the elective franchise to
every negro, and those twenty-five States con-
tain more than two-thirds of our population.
1t is their public opinion which we need to
influence, which we can most easily do by
withdrawing their attention from the decided
question of suffrage, and fixing it upon pend
ing questions of public policy. The misrule
of the last ten years has been the fruit of mis-
guided white voting. Its chief support ha:
been white majorities in the Northern States
in most of which negroes have not voted Al
all until within the last fourteen months
since the fifteenth amendment was declared
adopted. 1t is not negro voting but perverst
white voting that has so nearly ruined tn,
country. f.
Now, on the question whether the right o
suffrage shall be continued to the negroe
the Republican majorities would be as grea
as heretofore. Nay, they would be altogethe
larger, for most Democrats do not wish Il
arrest the experiment. 1t is too obvious tha
for the Democratic party to make negro suf
! fraoe a political issue would be courtinp in
evitable, overwhelming defeat, because pre-
ponderant and constantly growing majorit
: of the people are unwilling to disturb wha
> has been done. 1t is high time, then, fo
( us to accept the settled composition of tn
4 jury, and proceed to argue our case on it
merits. We therefore most heartily rejoic
: in the declaration of the Ohio Democrac
r that they recognize as accomplished fact
a the three amendments to the Constitution re
Q Gently declared adopted, and consider tn
: same as no longer political issues before tn
0 country;" and we feel equal satisfaction i
!. the further unequivocal, emphatic declaratlo
o ''that the Democratic party pledges itself
0 Pull, faithful, and absolute execution an
Q enforcement of the Constitution as it no
Q is, so as to secure equal rights to all person
t. under it, without distinction of race, colo
s or condition
/ The World long ago foresaw that this polio
/ was inevitable, aud that the continued exis
It ence and future triumphs of the Democrat
s party were staked upon it's adoption For
time we stood almost alone, and incurred q
d small suspicion and obloquy from person
. who now take up our views with the zeal {
}, new converts. We are too glad of this O.
Y operation, and have the welfare aud succe'
B. Of the party too much at heart, to reproac
II anybody With slowness or inconsistency. "
% have tried, TO be faithful 10 the light whic