The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-16
from the Boston Post, July 1871

lFrOm the BOSTON POSt July
impressed with the Idea that in view OF the gene.
al condition OF the political horizon nationally and
SOCIALLY considered and perfectly well aware that
John Quincy Adams the gallant standard bearer OF
the democracy OF Massachusetts for the past three
years was gentleman OF positive opinions f,s anu
day or two since for the purpose OF laying those
Opinions before the readers Of the Posi- should tnat
gentleman be willing so 10 do Our representative
round Mr. Adams in his ofice buslly engaged with
his clients his usually norid countenance br0nzed
na Durnea a Sy the sum Witch he has done consderab
upon his broad and fertile acres that overlook the
surrounding country Tnose win WHOM ne mao
made known the
OBJECT OF HIS VISIT.
REPORTER-I have called upon you, Mr.. Adams, to
hold q little talk on the political situation.
[ Mr.. ADAMs-iOu mean, take 1t, that in this dead
and 30 take to stirring up The animals In the poltl-
Col managerie.
friends were Interviewing their leading men, l
Thought little sound democratic doctrine would DO
! Mr.. ADAMs-well, make no pretensions to LEAD
any body; but am always willing to state sound
emocratlc doctrine as unders5ana H. ior any one
and do not know why IL is any more oblecuonables
70 be out o, ones ,a ,ca1 h ~
somewhat illcit character Of the interview"
Deems 70 secure for Il more e., extended ended currency
THE NEW DEPARTURE.
! REroRrBR-To speak OF platforms, suppose you
give your adhesion TO the S0called new departure or
Dur friends III the western and Middle Slatesf
{ Mr. ADAMs-Why. yes, sir; but the now departure
Is very OLD departure with me. think II was two
years ago that we democrats in MASSACHUSETTS at
Worcester departed remember making speech
there which Is doubtless desevSdy fergo.tsa' o.
ceptanOe OF the situation. The resolutions II l DO
not mistake, were explicit in that sense. Ia fact
I see nothing in the amendments themselves, apart
from their procurement, which need distress any
democrat. Tue fair purporr and upshot of them Is
merely 10 give equal civil rights and impartial poll
tcal privileges to Oil men, irrespective OF color.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
REPORTER-YOu don't, then, consider giving the
blacks equal privileges with the whites as I'M
dem0Craticf
our entrancnised black people-freed, you must
Eemember by stress OF circumstances brought on
as much by their masters as ny Ls-we had ether 10
Accept them IS citizens or hold them IN some nom
descrpt condition OF pupilage. The latter would
nave resulted IN far more dangerous extension OF
tho paternal powers OF government than anything IN
these amendments. Besides which It was more con-
sonant to Mr. Jefersons iavorie definition OF de.
m0oracy-"the right Of each TO pursue happiness in
his own way provided only he respect his neighbors
equal right
! Mr. ADAMs--Certalniy not; ana was very sorry
that 1t was forced upon the poor creatures In the
Wholesale way 1t YVES. IL endangers their losing 1t
altogether. The misgoyernnlent III the Southern
States Is a fearful impeachment OF Tie attempt to
found republican government upon nndiuted 1gnO-
rance. But lt has been done, ana would not undo
1t. lw0ud modify II.
THERE'S THE RUB.
REPORrEn-But there's The rub. WIN not the &C.
ceptance OF the amendments prevent any modl1-
Mr.. ADAMs-Why. no, think not. 1t must be APP
pied impariially, but any reform IN that regard
which Is possible at all Is as possible with as With
out them. We In Massachusetts disiranchise, they
FIFTY THOUSAND VOTERS
by constitutional prerequisites 10 voting, such as
taxpaying and reading and writing. surely such
requirements ''aDridge' very seriously mans right
to vote. Their adoption IN south Carolina would
reduce the constituency there TO very manageable
shape, can tell You. Their adoption in slave
holding State would insure good government. NOW,
IN tue
LAST SESSION
OF our Legislature Massachusetts refused to modify
her constitution IN the respect have indicated,
although IL was urged that these TWO QUALIFICATIONS
were intlactions or the fourteenth amendment, and
IL must be presumed that n Legislature which had
only about forty dlsloyal men In 1t must have so
acted only because the party that made the four
1eenth amendment did not TANK that either or these
require meats III our constitution at all iniringed Its
provtSiols.
THE KU KLUx LAW.
REr0RTER-But about The Ku KluX bill OF the last
Congress. Isn't that measure q long step IN the
direction OF a forced construction or the amend
mcnts IN favor OF the radical party?
Mr.. ADAMs-Ah, now you iouch the rub of the
whole matter. Just as the republican party cannot
see anything uufriendy 10 their own amendments
In the constitutional restrictions upon suffrage III
this state or in Rhode island, SO lney regard that
revolutionary bill known as the ku klux law as a
Legitimate exercise OF power under some OF these
new amendments. In iact we have now got lar
enough the trial OF written constitutions TO see
tnat they are, III fact just what they arc construed
to mean Now this Is inevitable. There Is no sense
IN crying over it. The Ku Klux bill for instance
An ABSOLUTE SURRENDER
OF the whole principle oil free government. indeed,
as . bald ruth, and between US the Election Dill
and the Ku KluX bill together actually place In the
Presidents hands every legal power that any man
who mad the will could desire TO raise hlmsef to EN-
pre- You look surprised, but 1t is literally and pre-
cisely / say. Control over the army TO regulate
tarY force without habeas corpus, IS supreme and
unlimited despotlsm IN Possibility. Yet great
mass OF honest men see no harm In all this and re-.
gard 1t merely as proper exercise or delegated
power under the amendments,
THE WAY OUT.
RgpoRrEG- What, therefore, is your inference
from this view OF the subJects
country which really desires to ume the moderate
method OF government and tone down from the dap.
gerous tate at which we have been gong should not
be greatly distressed by any amendments 10 tne
cOnst,tuti0n which have yet been passed. for by any
fair instruction they need never be known 10y any
STATE Tnch would be content 10 deal with absolute
imrUtallty between man ana man. Ana that Is
deIrOciacy.
REPoRrER-But what would be your policy toward
The newly .enrranchlsed race OF the SouthY
Mr.. ADAMs-Tne democratic party should have no
negro policy any more than q German policy or an
Irish policy. There can be but one democratic
policythe United states policy-and That should be
GENERAL GRANTS RENoMINArl0N.
REpoRTER-I suppose you think General Grant
will receive denomination at TIE hanus Of the &c
MIR. discriminatory, MIR, Grant win be re
na ae sss Of e s Of
patronage OF our government is enormous at pre-
sent, and tue discipline OF the republican party
generally superb; put 1t can atdly carry such d
DEAD WEIGHT
rs that. Tho dun incompetence and stolid ignor
ance OF the President his shameless nepotlsm ant
partially TO gifts, his unpiushlng negligence OF duty
may all ne CLOSED over for all feel kindly to TIL
man who finished the war; but the
DIsGRACEFUL INCOMPETENCE
of the financial management OF affairs should D
unpardonable by people supposed to be as shrew'
as ours on tnat head.
THE ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
REPORrER-Tne issue you would make, then, l.
rNfpr an
Mr. ADANs-The democratic financial policy mus
he squarey IN the direction OF Tree trade ana gen
eral reduction OF taxation. The shameiul lehoranc
which has perss,ed in wringlns such cnOrn0u
sums from the people at sucn critcai lllne, wnel
they needed all their energy To rally from the eN
hatIstion OF the war, II lar less pardohapie III ILL.,
IN iI,ia nnlicY. saw tlAL