Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-11-14
WHAT NEXT?

AT the conclusion Of the war the Democra''c
party had grown strong by its steady opPo''.'o"
10 the vanton abuse Of power by the once ho'ue''
Who we're plundering the Government that " De-
csme evident to the leaders Of the Radical party
that soue scheme must be devised to escape de-
f..t hefore the people in any fair and open contest
at the polls. The strength OF the Democracy o'e''
tapped the Radical party greatly ana II oh'y sA'
cd itself from defeat by the resort to the
and by placing armed soldiers about the po''s'-
By thus overawing the people, and by irauo' of-
herv and corruption the elections were carried
.v,inst the Democrats notwithstanding that par
~ vas said TO contain a majority OF the Legal vo-
~. lad the elections been fairly and honestly
conducted.
II therefore became quite evident that the lad
ic.l marty would 60 into the minority with 'ae
dissolution Of the war power unless II haa reSo''
to some other process by which to streng'heh ,'s
ranks other than that arising from the populaf"!
Of good government and argument ana S'u"u 'e"
son for sustaining it in power
This was the position of the two great parties
when the Congressional caucusses held ny Hs.Ao'i
Senators and Representatives resolved to hold 'he
,,over of the government in their own hands, anu
II necessary force the negro to the polis m vi WV
States. Notwithstanding such policy wou'"
place in the hands of the coored race the oaianee
OF pover in various sections OF the country.
To effect this object the most skillful ana wiley
nlans were laid and the most ample laws enacted
70 .ecure a vote to the negro, whether white
man got one or not; many OF the latter hau afeaa!
been excluded from the right OF franchise py 'he
yery party that proclaimed itself the champion OF
universal and impartial suffrage Inc eiec''on
which has lust been held furnishes sufieient evil
dence to show that without the votes OF the ne
vroes the Radical party would have failed to elect
it, candidates in many Of the states, nor does ~
follow that the President and Vice PRESIDENT OF
that party would not have been defeated had the
choice of those officers rested on the votes OF the
white population, who were the only legal and
ou.lifed voters under the Constitution when the
Republican party went into power.
Tho lease of that party to all the legislative
power of the country, it is presumed has now been
sxtsnded for four years from the fourth CT March
Al that time draws near should the corruption ana
fraud be continued, and the people give evidence
Of dissatisfaction, no doubt the party schemera at
Washington will set their wits 10 work again TO
find mode by which their lease of power may be
extended While many are indulging this idea,
it 10 therefore proper to ask what mex: will be the
source from which the Radicals will endeavor 20
strengthen their ranks. Will they eLiranchise all
the negro boys above certain age, or all the wo-
men, hoping that the Democratic women will set
their faces against the measure and refuse to e1'
ercise the rights
% nnh
trick, should it become apparent that the people,
who are now clothed with the right to vote, show
signs Of revolt, there is every reason to believe
Since none would have believed, few years ago,
that the negroes of this country would ever hold
the balance Of power at the polls, it will not do to
say it is not possible for the party in power to
bring to their aid such voters seem most likely
to keep them in power