National Republican., 1877-02-23
DUTY OF THE pEr,IpricAs PARTY.

operation OF natural law associating capi-
tai and labor, employer and cmploye in
common interest and fellowship, and sub.
jeoting the weak to the control and guild.
ance Of the strong. And from this we
drew the inference that finding the
right of suffrage quite unsubstantial as
means of subsistence, and knowing It's ex-
ercise to be obnoxious and offensive TO
those whose chattels they once were, the
colored people gladly surrendered Its free
enjoyment in return for promised assistance
In obtaining a livelihood. Whether they
have chosen wisely, is not for us to deter.
mine; but we spprehend that IL any Of
those who affirm they have not, were con.
fronted from day to day, as they grimly
were, with the gauut. form of want they
would straightway change their opinions
and follow the example thus offered Of the
wisdom Of the stomach. There is per
suasive power in hunger and cold that will
conquer stronger wills and firmer moral
convictions than could be expected to actu.
ate these simple. minded dependents in
choosing between an empty privilege and
daily bread.
1t is true. however, too conclusively
true, that in some portions of the South
violence was resorted to as a means of
effecting this result But while this is SO,
il is equally manifest that the great body of
the colored people, who constitute the
laboring class Of the South, have but fol,
lowed in the beaten path of all the millions
of their kind who have gone before them,
in declaring their loyalty and fidelity to
those who give them employment and sup.
port. And II there has never been before
so complete mastery of race by this
means. It is only because there never was
before an instance of race> so helplessly
situated. Discovering themselves wholly
inadequate 10 the task of maintaining their
sovereign independence, they have volun.
tarily surrendered the useless privilege In
exchange for tho necessaries Of life, or the
means of gaining them; and we submit
1t to be the duty Of the Republican party
to follow them in their new bondage, and
work out for them q release from its op.
pressions. The power to accomplish this
and to unite the country in permanent re.
lations OF mutual confidence and respect
lies in the same direction. 1t Is in the na-
tionalization Of the party; a thing which
may be done by the adoption of such
policy as shall recommend II to the entire
people, irrespective Of section limits. Nor
will such course involve any inconsis.
tency in principle; only change of prac.
tice. 1t is the principle Of the party to do
that which Is best for the country; and
therefore. when the public welfare demands
new rule Of action. one which will
secure the greatest good of the greatest
number. 1t Is the obligation of duty and
the suggestion Of wisdom to conform to the
added requirement.
So now we find the North and the South
opposed In sentiment, or seemingly 80, d.
vided into parties bounded by section lines,
and in everything, but in name, two peo-
pies. We find the colored people retired
as an element of power, and remitted to
their former condition. except as to bonds.
We know the cause of this unfortunate,
and If not remedied, fatal state of
affairs. 1t is the mischievous existence
of an alien element In some of the
Southern States, seeking to sustain Its
crumU..-g fortunes by Federal aid
This Is the sole cause of the existing
arrangement between the two sections
and of the present deplorsblc subsection Of
the colored people. And is II right, is 1t
reasonable, to persist in maintaining such
unnatural relations by any means more
effective than the simple recognition of
legally existing governments, when the
sole effect Is to widen the breach between
the two sections? 1t Is wrong In itself, and
madness asa matter of policy. 1t has been
urged that this element is the only pro.
lection OF the oolored race. Do we not see
it is otherwise-the very reverse? That,
whether willing or not, that race has been
reduced to vassalage by the warfare 1t
has engendered and continued? All this
is plain. What, then, is the remedy
Leave these struggling governments TO de.
pend upon their own strength or weak.
ness, and to stand or tall as they
may, giving them only the aid of counte.
nance. Invite representative men of the
South into the counsels of the party,
thus attracting to Its support the original in
habitants Of that section, and producing q
healthy action Of political sentiment, by
local divisions among the people. This
will result in lasting reunion. and recall
the colored voter to the polls; for when
parties are equally respected, they will
nearly evenly divide the people. and all
the elements Of power will be brought forth
in the contests of suffrage. The colored