The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-07

facts. We have the satisfaction of knowing
that the whole Democracy of the State of
New York indorses our views without dis
senting voice among its responsible leaders
or in any representative Democratic journal
Governor Hoffman, s advice, in his last annual
message, to drop dead issues is cordially
responded TO by the whole party in New York.
What he recommended in general terms,
other eminent New York Democrats have
enforced by specific statements relating to
some of the intlammatory topics of past agi
tation. One of the most recent utterances
in this vein was made by Mr.. Fernando
Wood in his able speech on the Ku-klux bill
Mr.. Wood is as little of trimmer as any man
in the country His whole public career has
been marked by extraordinary nerve vigor
and political courage. He has never wavered
in his intrepid support of Southern rights.
But his position in Washington and the op-
portunities for various intercourse he enjoys
by bis social talents and liberal hospitality,
enable him to take an enlarged view of the
political situation and of the state of public
sentiment in all parts of the country. With
his ripe experience and trained political
sagacity, he sees the folly Of reviving bygone
issues. In reply to some impertinence of
Judge Kelley, of Pennsylvania, MIR. Wood
made this clear and emphatic statement
Sir there is any foundation for the alleged alter
cations it is because men like the eDseman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelley would go emong them
utteTiDg incendiaTy speeches and infamfng and ag-
tatng them to a war OF races l never felt more
indignant in my life never felt more like commit
ting breach of decorum or an infractiOn of the
rules OF the House. than did yesterday when lis
tened to the harangue of that member. desire to
call the attention OF the House to this remarkable
statement-At the close OF his speech of yesterday
this bill he assumed that the Democratic party,
when 1t obtained power, would disranChise the
negro: The Democratic party has no desire to inter
which give free and equal suffrage to ell the
people OF the United States. The. Democratic
civ m fha oil fho al
and civil rights which they would give to any other
class OF The people; but do object that the shall
Of wicked purposes. purposes We do 10 object % that ndsmma
tory speeches. such as were made on Wednesday
last by the gt Dteman from Pennsylvania should be
made to them to excite them against the Democracy
and their former masters, so TO get up IN the
p0liticsI fominancy of the party now in nower se
That s what object to. The day is speedily COM
ing, and hope has already come, when the colored
in the country as free and Independent voters; that
they may be allowed to judge OF men and parties end
principles for themselves; that they may lind au1eng
teir own class able and patriotic leaders wao viii
say 10 them:-'Be no longer the instruments OF
demagogues believe that among the colored r2en
are found those who are patriotic, honest and ra-
tional.'
Nor is it among the New York Democracy
alone that this view is entertained. Senobor
Thurman who stands in tho foremost rank
of debaters and statesmen, and commands
universal esteem and confidence, is as re-
markable for his moderation in counsel as
for his skill and vigor in debate. The ju-
dicious platform adopted by the Ohio De-
mocracy last year is understood to have been
due to his wise advice. Among the Demo-
cratic statesmen of New England none stand
higher than Governor English and John
Quincy Adams; the moderation of both is
we'll known. "But what Of Senator Blair?"
We conceive that the position of this
gallant and chivalrous Democratic leader is
not we'll understood. 1t is not safe to 20 to
the Republican newspaper3to learn the views
of any Democratic statesman who is strong
enough to be dreaded by political opponents.
General Blair, with political courage as un-
finching as Mr.. Woods, holds substantially
the same views on the question of negro suf-
frage, as was shown in his recent letter to
the editor of Southern journal which we
copied the other day. How that the negroes
are in possession of the suffrage, General
Blair wishes the experiment to be faisiy tried
in spirit of justice and liberalityto the
colored race.
"But General Blair processes to stand by
his Broadhead letter. True, the Republicans
have undertaken to bally him on shat sub
ject, and General Blair is about the last man
to retreat in the presence of bullies. He
shrinks from no responsibility which he has
| fairly incurred; he will never mortify his
friends or elate his enemies by eating his
words in consequence of q taunt. If that
| bygone letter had not been Aung in, his
teeth, he would probably have never made O
| public allusion to it sgain. With mag
nsnimity as signal as his courage, he has ac.
| cepted the personal consequences to himself
but has been careful of the interests of the
party. During the Missouri election, which
resulted in SO great triumph, General Bssil
| proclaimed no war against the Reconstruction
acts or the new amendments; but after the
Legislature met and he was an avowed can
| didate for Senator and his Oninioaa conld in
terfere only with his own personal prospects
he scorned to compromise his manhood fo
the sake of an Office. When the BroadheaC
letter was thrust in his face by 3 Republican
he squarely accepted all the consequence
which might result from defiant adherence t,
it. Even his political enemies were con
strained to respect his gallant bearing an
manly pride. General Blair is a man of iude
ment and sagacity, and does not advise th
Democratic party 80 go into the next electio
on the bygone issae of negro suffrage.
We call attention to the growth of Demo
cratic sentiment in this direction, because
as it is evident that the party will abando
the negrosuhrage issue, ii is expedient to
it with decision and unanimity The tim
has come when it should be fully understoo
by the South that the Northern Democrao
do not intend to fight that battle over agair
! and that no Democratic victory in the Mort
will bear such construction. After til
: splendid triumph in New Hampshire some O
the Southern journals seemed to entertain sue
hopes, and perhaps our narrow escape frol
defeat in Connecticut was necessary
sober their judgment and save them from
fatal delusion. On a wise platform col
structed of living issues we can, with reason
able effort, elect our candidate for Presiden
o But we have no such superhuous strengt
:. that we can afford to make mistakes. III