Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-23
THE "POOR WHITES AS VIEWED
BY THE RADICALS.

LOhLhhs3 1AAANAAD5 DAOhESs AhNEA-At
DUcGAN, and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of all who
are now 80 determined in their efforts to
elevate our recent negro slaves to terms Of
political equality with the white man, were
but few years since equally as jealous in
their efforts to disfranchise all white men
who might seek homes amongst US from an
other country. The very men who are now
forming secret leagues throughout the
country, aith the view Of melting strife
between the negroes and the whites, were
among the foremostin the secret lodges organ
lied in this country a feWyears ago towage a
bloody persecution against the Irish and the
Germans. They contended then that the
elective franchise should be restricted TO
men who were able 10 comprehend our in
situations, and who had shown their capacity
for intelligent citizenship. They we're not
willing to admit the Irish and German to
the enjoyment of political privileges, upon
the ground that the majority of them were
illiterate and too pliable in the hands of
Democratic politicians to be thus entrusted.
These same leaders now, under different
party organization, are advocating negro
suffrage, and encouraging the formation Of
secret clubs, to make war, If necessa-
ry, for their purposes, upon their
own color, kith and kin. To carry
their own ends - the attainment of
power-they were willing in 1855 to
drench the streets Of our cities with Irish
and German blood. For the same despicable
ends now they seek to keep alive the fires
Of discord, and, If necessary, even to insti-
gate the shedding Of the blood of their own
kindred, neighbors and former friends.
Their unholy aims in the first instance
were power and plumber, reckless of the
peace ofsociety or the value of our political
Institutions. Their purposes now are not
less criminal and base. In the first instance
they sought to hide their deformity under
the pretence that "none but Americans
should rule America" and that Office should
seek the man, and not the man the Office. IN
the present instance they are no less boast
full in their pretended loyalty to the Coz
eminent. iaa te f-tar aate
That it is not apparent to every one, that
such blatant hypocrites, such shifting dema-
gogues, are the basest Of men, totally devoid
Of principle, without the slightest semblance
of honesty is matter of wonder to Us.
But we have wondered somewhat from
the purpose Of this paragraph, which was
simply TO introduce the following extract
from the speech Of Radical leader in Ohio,
Col. PIATT, whom we suppose to have COM
manded negro regiment, il he ever saw
any service during the war. We find the
speech reported in the Cincinnati CONNER
cial, with one from ex-Gov. SCHENCK and
others. 1t shows the bitterness they feel to-
wards that class people at the South whom
they denominate the "poor whites" because,
forsooth, they have exhibited that man.
hood and selfrespect which resists
the injustice and degradation of being
forced TO an odious and unnatural equality
with the black race. We want the laboring
men of the South to fully realize the de-
signs of that party who, il there is not virtue
enough at the North to resist them, are bent
upon making the shoulders of the negro a
TO their more thorough subigi-
cation and dishonor. We do this believing
that all manhood and honor has not forsa-
ken our unfortunate country yet, and that
the base charlatans who thus seek 10 outrage
the rights and honor Of brave people may
yet learn that they have entered upon dan
erous ground, with greater obstacles to en-
counter than they in their eoneeit have yet
The following is the extract.i
1t is sufficiently suggestive not to require
ANDREW Johnson is one of the meaner
and worse results Of slavery, poor white Of
the South. He is a representative man Of a
race that in its moral condition of vicious
ignorant bigotry is far below the negro. /
Born in land where labor is degradation,
he followed for living that calling which
Of all others is held IN the greatest contempt
We had not well studied the facts when
we took this man as one fresh from the peo-
pie, rejecting in feeling and opinion all the |
noble attributes ola Democracy. If Southern
Institutions had accomplished any one end,
It was the utter degradation Of the laboring |
whites. Submission is the law of the inevi- |
able, and as the slave bends INCREASINGLY |
10 the whip Of the master, the poor white |
bows TO the viii Of his superior. A North |
ern laborer will resent an indignity put |
upon his calling, but the poor white Of the |
South Cringes and begs. It is the result of |
he process by whieh,a man is divested Of |
his manhood.
When this war broke upon us, we stu
pidly believed that this class Of men, SO cru
ely oppressed, would be on our side, as
against their oppressors. We found il made /
ip of our deadliest enemies. They were be- |
heath the slaves. The slaves could notsbe /
made 10 fight for their masters; these crea-
nres fought for their oppressors. 49,
We were not more cruelty disappointed in |
he poor whites during the war, than we
AVE been in this poor white since its close.
THE fidelity of General GRANT to his