The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-19
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wisely appropriate victory. This pro-
verb applies 10 the late victory Of the
Democracy In Ohio and Indiana. Al
things now stand they are about even In
tho race with Republicans for the control
oil the 4i.h Congress, and II is not i'm
probable that they will have, alter the
November elections, q small msjority In
the next House. In case they do, what
will be their programme for reiormH All
parties that come into power are parties
Of reform. Tho Democracy have had
much TO say about their disposition and
capacity to reform tho government. In
what respect will they do III They can
not go back on the great questions set
tied by the war and the Reconstruction
legislation Of Congress. At Baltimore, In
1879, they solemnly pledged themselves
to "maintaiu emancipation and eniran.
chisement, and to oppose any reopening
Of the questions settled by the 18th, 14th
and 18th amendments 10 the ConStltu.
ton oI the United States" They cannot
go back on the public debt Of the United
States, nor do anything to ipjure the pub.
lie credit, for they pledged themselves at
the same place and time that 1.-THE public
credit must bc sacredly maintained" and
they said, In 80 many words, "wo de-
nOunce reputation in every form and
gulse." They cannot 60 in for "lnaAtion,"
Tor at Baltimore they declared that "a
speedy return to specie payments Is de-
mauded alike by the highest cousidera.
tion OF commercial morality and honest
government"
II the Democracy wero sincere In
their expressions at Baltimore In
July, 1879, they can really do very
little OF revolutionary character.
And II they were not sincere and were
now to attempt to go back on these
solemn pledges to the country, President
Grant will be in the White House during
the existence Of the 44Ih Congress to ex-
ercise his veto prerogative. We must
confess that We have not a large measure
OF faith in the sincerity with which the
Democracy swallowed theiamous Liberal
Cincinnati platform at Baltimore in 1879.
It, was very bitter pill 10 the dele.
gates and many wry faces were made
over IT. But they swallowed 1t neverthe.
less and 1t remains TO this day as their
national platform. They have never yet
repudIatedit it in any State Convention, and
we presume they will not dare to do so
in the next Congress,
As regards legislation for the South, we
believe that tho recent manifestations Of
public sentiment will result in good. The
only anxiety that the disinterested por-
ton OF the Republican party at the North
feel in this legislation Is to know that the
negro can not bc injured by 1t in any of
his proper rights, as for instance, his ed.
ucational, industrial and political rights.
They want him to !have fair and un-
prejudiced treatment and not, as the
Cincinnati Commercial! so well said in
the article which We copied from 1t last
Saturday, hold tho status Of hall slave
and hall freeman.
The South claims that It has no preju.
dice sgainst the negro, and that it stands
ready day 10 do good part by the race.
This is true in some respects, but in other
and very essential respects it is far from
true. The negro does not owe any Of hiP
iraaChiscs to tho South. All the world
knows that tho South and the whole
Democratic party Of the country have
resisted these franchises at every step.
The negro knows this too, and 1t Is this
plain and unmistaksble knowledge that
has made him tho ready tool Of carpet.
bAggers in the South. The negro was
compelled to choose between the carpet.
baggcrs and those whom be knew be-
grudged him his new born rights. Hence
the negro vote was overwhelmingly cast
In ono direction, and we regret to say
that it has been sadly perverted all
through the South. But things arc not
stercotypcd in any part of the coun-
try. Constant change Is preemlnent.
ly the law that governs in this
country. Both tho whites and the
blacks see the situation in tho South to-
day great deal clearer than they for
merly did. Hereafter there will be mere
division Of the Negro vote, and the very
fact that the vote can be dIYided will in.
duce the whites to fraternize with the
Negroes much closer politically than at
any previous time. 1t will he happy
day Tor both races when this better under.
standing comes about. We must not
have an Ireland In tho South. There
must be.uo races there hating the'govern.
ment and one another. And II the Re-
publican party should never again be in
power in tho South, or even in the North,
Its agency in opening the way for the
Negro to become a clti1sn and a human
being in the Iull sense Of the word will
forever constitute most important chap.
ter in the history Of our great experiment
at self government on this continent.
TIE proprietor Of tho Register has not