The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-17

whether II come from the South or North,
must, from the very nature Of things,
prove Intellectual. Il has proved so In
tue past; Il will prove 30 In the future.
There is but one way Of escape. The
people OF the United States may 60 back
upon oil these measures and wipe out the
amendments 10 the Constitution and the
laws made 10 pursuance thereof; but they
cannot stop there, II 1t be the purpose 10
deprive the negroes Of any or all political
and civil rights. They must restore the
Constitution as II was, and make 1t posi-.
bic 10 re.enslAve the blacks. Either this,
or they must 60 forward in the direction
which national legislation has taken since
the abolition Of slavery, and secure 10 all
the people entitled 10 citizenship what
ever rights or immunities any class Of
them enjoys under the laws.
We know OF no considerable number Of
people who would, II they had the politi-
cal power, restore the dark age Of slavery.
We question whether, were i LEFT to the
whites Of the South themselves, they
would Te'establish an institution that un-
questionably restricted the material de-
Velopment Of that section OF the Republic,
and imbruted the minds OF all classes oil
people. The unhappy Influences Of the
system which Jefferson loresaw and pre-
dicted had their manifestation before II
was torn out by violence, and they will
not cesse their operation during the pres.
ent generation.
It being then generally admitted that
there does not exist any purpose or desire
10 speak OF for the establishment of
slavery, there Is but one solution OF the
negro question that will have the effect OF
putting the negro himself out Of politics
as disturbing element, and that IL the
generous and full recognition Of his rights
as citizen, including all social rights that
are nOtleit for each individual In the COM
munity to regulate for himself. In other
words, whatever rights, privileges or i'm
munities are derived from political organ.
izlti0n or proceed from legislation,
whether they are civil or social, must be-
long as undisputably TO the black as TO
the white man before we can hope for a
cessation OF the agitation Of the question
Of the enjoyment Of rights by the people
OF the United States.
We repeat that there Is only one ottWo
courses 10 pursue-either to wipe out the
amendments and re-establsh system
that will crush the negro out Of legal ex.
islence as human being, or make him
absolutely the equal Of any other citizen,
and then leave him 10 work out the prob.
lem OF his existence as an individual and
a race upon the same terms and condi-
tons that attach to all other citizens Of
the Republic.
Il is time 10 look at this matter square
u. Tolancy that we can legsate so that
any portion OF the people shall be hall
citizens and half something else, enjoying
one class Of rights and denied another
class, and TO do 1t without creating q dis
turbsnce, or sowing the seeds OF discord
and civil trouble, is folly Of which a
people qualified 10 make and MAINTAIN a
free government should hold themselves
incapable.
The immediate solution Of race Difficult.
ties in the United States, therefore, de-
ponds upon the readiness Of the people to
accept the consequences OF their own acts,
and abide by that principle Of Democracy
which levels all political and civil dis
tinctions, wipes out all lines Of race dis
tinction, and puts all citizens on COM
mon footing before the law. When this
is done and acquiesced in we shall hear
no more OF the negro in politics than we
hear Of the 1rishman, the German, the
Eoglishmsn, or any other nationality.