New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-20


expansion cannot but think that even that dreaded
alternative Ia preferable to the dead calm which
has caused all our material interests to stand still
for more than year I make this concession be-
cause have come to tho conclusion that we can
resume specie payments without distressing the
laboring classes by stringent contraction"
The CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
Too mucb of the tmo of Congress has, fear, been
consumed by the Civil Rights bill-s bill m its gen.
era scope and purpose, of questionable wisdom All
has been done by Constitutional Amendments and
Congressional enactments that IS necessary to place
freedmen upon perfect equality with our own race.
Life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness" has
been guaranteed to them as to us. They free to
enter upon an open and fair field. competing with us
unon eoual terms for oil the advantages and COM
pensations of industry and enterprise We enjoy, IN
common, all the rights and privileges and are sub
jected TO all the duties and responsibilities conferred
and imposed by the Constitution and the laws The
disabilities of tho freedmen, if they arc to be re-
gardod as disabilities are providenlal and cannot
be relieved by human laws. The Almighty created
two distinct races. giving to each country and
climate adapted to their respective organizations.
II ono race has been moDe favored than the other
if, too. race has been cruelty oppressed by the
other it is for some iuscrutable reason. into which
so far as our country is concerned the
wrongs of the subjugated race have been
avenged. We have converted Slavery into
freedom. eevating chattels into citizens. We have
extended to the freedmen oil the personal and pot-
ical rights possess ourselves. Further we cam
not go. Social equality is alike impracticable and
impossible. When we reach this point higher
law" comes ina law which no human enactments
can annual law which will remain in full force
and effect until white becomes black, or black be-
comes white All enactments however stringent.
and with whatever penalties designed arbitrarily
to constrain social equality. will prove abortive.
They cannot DO enforced. Laws TO compel social
equality among ourselves would prove equally inef-
fectual Indeed nothing would DO regarded as more
absurd and preposter0us than an attempt to regu-
late social intercourse by statute laws. Society has
its own laws, unwrtten to be sure, but clearly de-
fined and well understood. These laws are founded
in good sense, pro adapted to the condition Of all
classes ard which all classes recognize and accept
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE PRESIDENCY.
do not believe it expedent or sale, with the
isting organizations and prociivities of the De-
mocracy, to intrust that party with supreme power.
do not say this in partisan spirit, for at my time
Of llfc and with tho views and feelings entertain
and cherish desire nothing but 10 see the govern
ment of my country well and wisely administered.
should have learned little from the political orleals
through which have passed, if. toward the close of
long life were TO attribute all that is bad to
party and all that is good to another would prefer
the election of an enlightened and honest Democrat
as President to the elevation of incapable Repub-
lcan of equivocal integrity. When ! speak of an
honest and enlightened Democrat, Ihave inlny mind
some such men Gen. Hancock, or Gen. Ward,
soBe time Minister to China from Georgia; or as
far as have been able to form an opinion OF his
ability and character. Gov Newton Booth the
newly elected Senator from California. But with
the purposes and passions of the Democracy.
North and South, its nominee for President is not
likely to belong to that category and hence ar
IDENTIFY hope that the Republican party will 20 fl. re-
assure tho people Of its devotion to their prosperity
and the welfare of country to be able to cec'
a capable experienced. and infleXibly honest man as
our next President.
OF tho chances and probabilities of our being able
to recover in 1876 tho ground lost in 1874 cannot
form q trustworthy opinion. for. as you know. L
have been in constrained retirement for more than
six years. I am therefore without the information
and opportunities upon which only pn intelligent
estimate can DO based. We must have constant
access the public journals from all sections Of tho
Union, and constantly inhae n political atmos-
phere to be enabled to perceive and comprehend
events which cast their shadows before You and
l worked together as Wing aud Republican jour
nalists for nearly 40 years We had something TO
do all that tmo in forming and informing parties
and peoples And when the candidates Of both parties
were in the field, the issues clearly taken, and tho
canvass in progress, We almost invariably foresaw
the result of important elections But although you
are several years my junior, we are both in the
"sere, tho yellow leaf of life" We must leave to
Others therefore tho duties and responsibilities
which we're formerly confded to US. Instead Of
tagging like superannuated actor superliuous on
the stage" it becomes mo to accept the situation"
incident to old ago aud its iniirmIties But while
a kind Providence spins out the attenuated thread
of life and preserves my faculties, cannot become
wholly indifferent to the welfare of my country.
While IN the world We must to some extent be of it,
hope however, not to be heard obtrnsively.
and that in my bushel Of chan some kernels of
wheat may DO found. r. W.
Nec York, Jan. 80. 1875.
DISC USSION IN TIE LRODUCE EXCH4NGE.