Year: 1868

oiecuon. Ii washington, the locus OF piotS,
schemes and bargaining, they are both active
and greatly puzzled. They are trotting out
the various candidates and prominent public
men to try their mettle and points Of qualifica-
ton. Grant, Chase, Butler, Hancock, Sey-
mour, Pendleton and number Of Others, are
put through their PAGES and examined. These
shortsighted politicians are foolish enough to
suppose the approaching election is to be de-
cided upon the merits or popularity OF indi-
viduals alone. Never was there greater mis-
take. They are burrowing in the ground like
blind moles when there is one great highway
to march along in broad daylight They are
spending their time uselessly upon side issues
and little party schemes when there is great
issue before the country which involves the
very structure Of our political and social ex-
istence.


The negro, as an element Of political power,
and ultimately as an element in our social life,
is the vital and paramount question of the time.
Upon this the Presidential election must turn,
and men-heroes of the war or prominent poll
ticians-will amount to nothing with the people
when they will be called upon to solve it next
November. 1t will overshadow all others, and
the public mind is ripening fast for the issue.
Congressman, managing politicians, the partisan
press, and even the sharp newspaper cores
pondents at Washington, do not SEQ the bear
ings Of this mighty question and the inevitable
solution Of it in November.


The balderdash about rebels and rebellion,
when there are not and cannot be such things
in existence, is simply ridiculous. No one is
weak enough to believe the old rebels are not
eHectually squelched or that they ever dream
of raising their heads again. The people are
tired with such radical trash, and it is SO
thoroughly played out that il cannot have any
influence hereafter. The great question, then,
is as to the status of the negro. politically and
socially, in this country. Shall the semi
barbarous negro, just emancipated from
slavery, hold the balance Of power
nay, become the controlling power
in the republic? Shall this ignorant and brutal
people-the lowest type Of the human race
outweigh the votes of the white people and
control the destiny of the republic? Shall the
proud Caucasian race-the highest type of
mankind-be put in subsection to q people
little removed from barbarism? 1t is impOssi-
BILE. The mind of every white man or woman
revolts at such an idea 1t is contrary to
nature, repugnant to their sense of decency,
and utterly subversive of the whole political
and social fabric of our country. Yet this Is
the great issue before the country. This is
the question to be settled at the coming Presi-
dental election. Who can doubt the result?


The issue is represented on one hand by our
radical Congress and politicians The whole
framework of Congressional reconstruction is
based on giving the negroes political power in
the South, with the view Of controlling the
government The object is to make three or
four millions of barbsrians political element
to rule the destinies of thirty millions of white
people through the balance of power they
would hold. All the bypocritical talk about
humanity and mankind being free and equal
is sheer nonsense. 1t is simply a question Of
political power with the radicals. On the
other hand is the conservative, wise and
consistent policy of President johnson to re-
store the Union upon the basis of white
mans government, as it was originally estab-
lished, and as every sensible man believes
it should exist. He wishes TO give every
protection to the negroes under their new
born liberty and every opportunity to elevate
themselves in the scale of civilization. So do
the masses Of the white people, both North
and South. Buth is opposed to making these
ben,ghted people controlling political ele-
ment in the republic. He knows, as we all
know, that this is utterly repugnant and would
be dangerous. He knows that this would lead
to great social evils. The negroes, with po-
litical power in their hands in the South would
soon insist upon social equality and pass laws
to bring that about The leading blacks in
and out of the Southern conventions talk very
boldly OF this. The negro men want white
wives, and are looking forward to such result
Of their newly acquired position. Over two
years the President has stood firmly and boldly
on this vital issue against a radical Congress
He, therefore, is the representative of the prin-
ciple which is now going before the country
His messages and conduct constitute the only
platform on which the conservatives can con-
duct the Presidential contest He has, by great
saracity and remarkable frmness, overthrown
the radicals, and he is now master Of tho situ-
alton. He cannot be ignored, for he and his
policy torn the controlling object Of the COM
ing political revelation. He must either be
the candidate or make one All side issues
and men become Insignificant before the great
issue Of which he Is and must be the central
figure.


City Churches.


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