The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-03

Readers who keep close watch of political
literature will recollect that some twenty
years ago Mr.. Randall prominent and cul-
tivated New York citizen, who had held
high Office in our State government pub
lished valuable life of Jefferson, in three
bulky octave volumes, in the preparation of
which he enjoyed the confidence of the sur
viving members of Mr.. Jeffersons family,
who gave him free access to the private
papers OF that statesman and assisted him
with all the family recollecions. Mr..
Randall sent copy of his work to Lord
Macaulay, the brilliant historian OF England,
who acknowledged the courtesy in very
striking letter, published in the newspapers
OF the time, in which Macaulay gave free
expression of his opinion as to the per-
manence of the democratic institutions of
which Jefferson was the most illustrious
advocate. Macaulay conceded that our insti-
tutions were well adapted to an early stage of
our history, but he boldly predicted that
they could not last. He thought that
" IN our population should become Dense
when large portion of it should be
gathered in great cities, with vicious, dan
gerous and controlling class in possession OF
universal suffrage, the force of events would
compel us to modify our political system.
That remarkable letter, written several years
before our great civil war, made no impress
sion on the public mind Of the country at the
time. 1t was said in reply that the majority
of our voting citizens were and would always
remain agricultural, and would always over
balance the dangerous democracy Of the
great cities But the war has brought in o
new element of danger The eniranchise-
ment of four millions of ignorant negroes has
extended the perils of universal suffrage to
the rural population. The rapid develop
ment OF consequences in the Southern States
brings home to the American people, as moth
ing else could have done, deep sense of the
great political truth that republican institu-
tons are only adapted to an intelligent, vir-
tuous population. Nothing could be worse
than democratic government in State like
South Carolina. The people of many parts Of
the South would welcome enlightened i'm
peralism as relief from the evils of universal
suffrage, where the majority which controls
the government is an uneducated community,
just let loose from generations of slavery.
Nothing could be so calculated to disgust the
intelligent part of any community with the
principle of universal suffrage as the kind Of
rule which has prevailed in the South since
the success of the reconstruction measures.
The white element in the Southern States,
comprising one-third Of our population, would
welcome centralized Imperialism as protec-
ton against the evils Of ignorant and reckless
suffrage.
The most signal vindication of the sagacity
which had prompt perception OF this
tendency is found in the manifesto of
Governor Kemper, of Virginia, printed in the
Richmond journals Of yesterday. This pop
ular conservative Governor had been accused
Of favoring third election Of Pres
ident Grant, and he has felt con-
and define his position. The Governor depre-
Gates, as all American citizens deprecate, q
third election of President Grant, and he recon-
Giles himself to it only as choice of evils. He
says:1"One of the cruelest calamities which
could befall all classes and colors at the South
would be the social intermixing of the races
to result from the enforcement of the Civil
Rights fanaticism and barbarism, and it is
hard to conceive what greater evil than that
could be involved in any possible revolution
of the government. If the future should
bring forward candidate impersonating the
third-term principle; if he should cut loose
from old party trammels and take his stand
on our safe conservative ground Of universal
reconciliation and peace under the constitu-
ton; and if, so standing, he should be OPP
posed by any champion of the Civil Rights
iniquity, then, in q contest between the two,
the conservative party ought in my opinion,
to 90 decidedly for the third-termer." Gov
ernor Kemper has clear perception of the
interest of the South in this question. Be-
tween negro rule and imperial rule, he
has no doubt that Imperialism would
be better for that great section than negro
supremacy. This hits precisely our original
fear that necessary consequence of I'M
checked ''carpet-bag" rule in the South would
be willingness to accept imperialism as
less insufferable alternative.
We know not how skilfully President
Grant may play his cards, but we have never
underestimate his political sagacity. He
doubtless sees that the Southern people
would be glad to take refuge in Imperialism
against such government as the recon-
struction measures have given them; and it
is now evident from Governor Kemper's mani
festo that the South will favor third election
of General Grant if it can be satisfied that he
that section. The Virginia Governor con-
siders Imperialism as bad in itself There
are many people North and South who
will agree with him that it is preferable
to the kind of government which exists in