Year: 1867

-------------


The leaders of the Democratic party, in the
late canvass, were perfectly aware that George
Z. Gorham was not the choice of a respectable
minority of the Union party of this State !; they
knew perfectly well that his nomination was
secured by succession of political tricks of
which their party was perfectly familiar with in
Its days Of power and they further knew that
the private sentiments of Mr.. Gorham, proclaim
ed at time after his nomination had been thus
obtained, were not to be taken in any sense as
the views of the Union party But in playing
their Old neutrality-suspicious. follow
ing up their old tactics, by appeals directed to
the prejudices of those whom they were address
ing, the private sentiments of the Union nomi-
nee for Governor were dragged into the canvass,
and Ignoring the platform of principles laid
down by the party in conventon) these private
opinions which were but the utterances of one
man, were necessarily proclaimed as the politi-
cal creed of the Union party. Not satisfied with
quoting these opinions on every conceivable oc-
casion, they construed them in such manner as
should have provoked no other feeling than rid
icule, yet which was not entirely without its eff
feet upon the minds of ignorant, lliteratc and
unrcasoning men.


=" Manhood Suffrage" was one of these ex-
pressions, and it tit-bit in the mouths of
these opponents of freedom and progress. But
manhood suffrage" in the sense in which it
was used by Mr.. Gorham and "manhood suf-
irage " as construed by Democratic politicians,
were as distinct and different as day and night.
AT hrst the accusation that the Union party of
California indorsed Chinese suffrage appeared
so contemptibly ridiculous that it remained un-
noticed. Every man who was gifted with COM
mon sense knew that the power of conferripe
citizenship upon Mongoians was vested in Con-
gress alone, that question having been so de-
cided by the Supreme Court of the State many
years ago. Not one of them ever heard any
Union man express himself distinctly in favor
Of such measure. But they omitted to men, !
tion these facts, and proclaimed it as a Union
measure from every stump, when they knew it
to be false. With them manhood suffrage +"
meant that every thing that bore the form of
manhood was to be hurried at once into citizen
ship. And when the canvass was closed and
their ends accomplished, they acknowledged,
" On no, we never thought you favored Chinese |
suffrage or Chinese immigration any more than
we DO ourselves, but, it was a good thing to use
against you, and We used it." And this is one
of the means by which the election was carried.
man who sought 10 advance his own private
ends in business by false representation would
be thought dishonorable; but politics is diff
ferent thing.


Leading men of the nation favor q tmanhood
suffrage" in the sense in which the expression
was used by Mr.. Gorham. Some favor it upon
the ground of justice and right, others upon the
ground of expediency. If ever ''manhood suf-
frage" does become the law of the land, the
Democratic party will be responsible for it, That
party upheld the rebels of the South, and
responsible for the immense debt which was in
CURED before the rebellion was crushed. 1t op-
posed the draft and discouraged volunteering,
until coored troops were enlisted, and therein
the best argument in favor of negro suffrage was
furnished its advocates-in fact, it was not un-
til the negro race had shown on q hundred bat
te-felds that it was true to the land which had
given it freedom, that the question of endowing
the negro with the elective franchise was raised
Now the Democracy-true as ever to the slave
oligarchy of the South-are opposed to giving
the negro race the common rights of humanity.
And if the struggle continues until the negro is
endowed, not only with the rights, but with the
privileges of freeman, the Democratic party
will be the one on whom the responsibility will
rest.


1t may be news to those who deem the result
of the late election triumph Of Andrew
Johnson's policy, to know that he is the frs, who
authoritatively recommended negro suffrage TO
the people of the South. In his letter to Gov
ernor Sharkey, of Mississippi, the recommenda-
tion made that the ballot be given - to such
negroes read and write, or who own real
estate to the value of $3.50 and pay taxes there
on" We suppose on the same principle the ne
gro with 81 900 in real estate, should be entitled
10 four votes, and so on in proportion. It would
be pretty fair specimen of Copperhead consist
ency.