Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-31
Mr.. watterson in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Returning 10 the subject Of our leader Of
yesterday, we cannot but mention the fact
that whilst Mr.. wArrxRsos STYLES GroRoE
WASHINGTON "the just among men," he
styles Mr.. LINCOLN 1.-THE inspired OF God"
We have no prejudices against Mr.. LIN
coin, and have always regarded his AS
sassinatiou ~ the greatest oalamity that
could hare befalen the South Of the time
that incxpressibly foolish crime was com
mitted, vet la tho Characterization oil Mr..
IaycoIy by Mr.. WILKINSON we cannot see
ANYTHING but the exirayagant declaration
of n man in search of striking, not TO shy
sensational, uttersnceS Mr.. LINCOLN nc
cspted the nomination for the presidency IN
1860 upon platform which recognized
slavery as protected by the Federal Con-
stitution. After he stumbled or blum
dered into war no for long time refused
10 agree to set the slaves free. But in
April. 1865. Just about the time OF his m
timely taking on. he was said 10 have de-
clared his purpose 90 adhere TO his enan-
cipation proclamation. and in saying that IL
the Hampton Roads Conference wouId
leave his emancipation proclamation IN
full furco they might have carte blanche 80
40 far AZ he was concerned. This remark
bears tho ear-marks of Mr.. LINCOLN. and
was no doubt made by him. He was not
inspired by any means. He had stood by
slavery as long ns he could. lie had then
promised TO stand by the slaves and make
them free. and this latter promise he was,
in April. 1895. bcnt upon keeping. lie was
not 1.-THE inspired Of God" in any other
sense than that In which General LEE
might have been declared to be thus in
spired. Nevertheless, when the South lost
Mr.. LINCOLN she lost the strongest and
best friend she had IN the world. And yet
slavery might have been perpetuated If
tho assassin had not done his foul work.
And slavery was the worst OF tho woes
that could havo resulted from Mr.. LIN
coLN's death.
Mr.. WiTrERsoS says that the people OF
the United States have had twenty-three
persons TO fill their highest Office. 1.-The
history of the world presents no success
sion of FIRST Magistrates equal TO them in
The GOOD qualities which grace leadership
in council mud In action" We take it that
this remark is true.
Mr.. wArTEHsoS SAYS that just after the
war between the States closed he had
conversation with Nr. CHASE. Mr.. CHASE
was exceedingly earnest, and argued the
case of the negros condition with the
mower which he threw into everything
that lay near bis heart. During ono of the
peuses in the stream of eloquenoo MIR.
WIr1E,soy said: Mr.. Chief Justice,
what are you going to do when. having
enfranchised the blacks and rehabilitated
the whites, they send JEFFERSON DAVIS
back to the Senate of the United Statesr"
The great Chief Justice did not hesitate a
moment: "Why. let them" he exclaimed.
And we believe IL is n fact that Mr.. CHASE
was one of the first of the really great
men of the land TO come out in favor OF
negro suffrage.
Coming down to to-day, Mr.. WArTERsoS
declares. dpropos OF the force bill I'VE
have tried force; the absence OF force has
tried itself. All to nopurpose. Guns Will
not educate the blacks IN citizenship"
"Schemes of colonization would be cruel
~ thew were not idle" They are totally
imprscticable for the reason that II hun
dred thousand negroes were deported to
Africa annually the increase of tho blacks
in number would continue. In q word,
colonization or deportation would utterly
fail TO accomplish the end for winch 1t
would have been resorted to.
We have the force bill before us, and We
must trample ii into the earth. Let us
not countenance any of the old schemes OF
the Republicans to regain power in the
South or by and OF the South.