Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-18
WHO ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN A DEM
OCRATIC MEETING,

Food for comment appears in the call
published for meeting of Democrats at
Laurel, in Sussex. 1t reads thus
''All persons who believe that the right
of suffrage is political and not a natural
right aud that the power to confer or re
strain the same is an inherent right of State
sovereignty and that this Government was
framed by White Men and especially for
their benefit and who are in favor of Re-
form and Retrenchment in our National
Administration, and the reduction OF taxes
and salaries of our State officers and who
favor the repeal or modification of unwise
and obnoxious laws passed at the last and
preceding Legislatures, are respectfully iu-
vited to attend, without regard to past party
filiauion."
With what enthusiastic and hearty en-
dorsement of the several principles and
measures here suggested, the Democracy
around Laurel will "rally," at the time ap-
pointed, we do not pretend to know. They
are urged to come "with drums beating and
banners flying" and perhaps they will.
But we respectfully suggest to them when
they come, to think twice before subscrib-
ing to the theory set forth in the outset OF
the call, upon the subject of Suffrage. 1t
is theory, calculated like kicking gun,
to operate in more than one direction.
When the free and independent
Democracy of Laurel make the right
OF voting not a right, but a mere
political condescension on the part of "the
State"-that is Of those who happen to be
in control of the States function s-they
will mean, of course, only to establish a
principle by which colored men could be
dIsfranchised for voting the Republican
ticket, but we advise them to search their
own proposition and see whether, when
they declare that no man has a right to vote
they do not put themselves and every other
class in position where if "the State
were unfriendly it might disfranchise them,
as well as the colored men. And that would
be awkward, wouldn't it i?
This government, says the call, was
framed by white men, 'and especially for
their benefit" How does the writer of the
call known that Where did he find il
shown, that instead of the blessings of free
government being intended for the benefit
Of all, they were only intended for persons
with certain outward hue Let US heal
from him, as soon as he finds his authority
But, again, to this meeting those are in
vited "who believe in cutting down the sala
ries of our State officers" 1t seems tha
the Laurel Democrats think them too high
Perhaps they are. Gov. Cochran, Secreta
ry Of State Grubb, and others, may be able
to state exactly how this is. 1t is, however
entirely Democratic abuse which the Lau
rd Democracy are to ''reform"-altogeth
or an extravaganza OF their own for them
to ''retrench.' We say, therefore, with
great unanimity, go in and cut down, by al
means, and let us hear how you have sue
ceeded.
Lastly, to the meeting are invited thost
who favo: repeating or modifying certain
"unwise and obnoxious laws" of recen
Legislatures. This, also, will be an airing
OF family linen The recent Legislatures
have been very Democratic. II they have
passed unwise laws, the fact, until now, ,has
been strenuously denied by all Democratic
authority, and it was left for the Laurel cal
torelease the feline from the sack. Well, BY
all means let those who are in favor of set
ting to lights ali the wrongs Of the Demo
cratic Legislatures be invited to the Laure
Democracys pow-wow, and let the "unwise'
and obnoxious laws be ripped out of tn
statute book without regard to its binding
But will not the reader feel somcwha
amused if not surprised, to see upon whs
platform the Democracy of lower Sus
sex desire to stand ? Here it is, briefly
l. That no man has any right to vote;
may be DISTINGUISHED whenever the Stat
chooses.
That negroes have no rights under til
government; it being designed to benef
none but white men.
That the salaries of State officia
should be cut down.
4. That the dog tax, (for the benefit
p-b ic schools, )and other "unwise" legisla
ton should be repealed
THE SOUTHERN QUEsTION-A VIEW o
IT.
In the New York JrdDhic of last Frida'