Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-25

been and still is that. just as slavery did more
:harm (if less wrong) to the whites than to
the blacks, so will the franchise in, black
hands do more harm 10 the latter than the
former. The experiment may not end, as
some predict, in the absolute destruction of
the negro race; but so long as whites and
blacks are what they are on this continent, so
longdo VIC believe their permanent and peace
full association upon the basis of enforced So
+ cial and political equality to be utterly hope
less and impossible.
+ Why, then, can We not educate the negro
The question is natural, plausible, and hui
name. Why not? The objection lies in one
of the most amazing discrepancies that has
ever existed between theory and practice. 1t
is said that we can form no just idea OF the
negroes capacity for development because of
the protracted oppression to which they have
been subjected. This seems rational enough;
but We cannot forget that for centuries the
African race, master ofits own destinies upon
its own continent, has made no progress what
ever, bu4 remains snnk in the very lowest
depths Of barbarisu. all that can be said
to this is that contact, association, mingling
with higher race, will produce different re.
suits. But morally, intellectually, and ply.
sically, this contact, while only temporarily
benefit to tie inferior, seems invariably to be
detrinent to the superior race. Are na-
tions tc' be expected collectively to submit to
degradation from which individuals are
justified in shrinking? The condition of the
mongrels in Mexico is solemn warning
agaiusl an admixture which ends only in de-
.structicin. Il is true that opposite races are
not compelled to intermarry because they vote
together; yet this, which sounds conclusive,
means little or nothing. The Spanards suf-
ficiently despised the Indians at the time of
the conquest of Mexico, hut the blood were
mingled notwithstanding to produce what VIC
now see. Perhaps it might be well to let the
negro alone for awhile. Perhaps it would be
WE'LL before undertaking either to educate or
enfranchse him, to try to educate those who
already have the suffrage. The number Of
grossly ignorant persons who vote is increa5-
2g, and increasing relatively to the whole
vote thrown. Already theintellect, the taste,
tie culture of the country are swampcd, and
eouut for little or nothing in it's government
or progress is it wise to carry this state of
things still fur;her-to place al power still
more rcservcdly in the hands CT the ignorant,
the debased, aud the needy? Possibly it is
inevitable. Per!aps it is altogether insepa-
rable from Institutions ike ours that they
I sfn701aid deve1ope dowawards in progressive
decadcnce unti! the loves; deep is attained
and the nation is ripe for despotsm. We
would gladly hope for better things; bul
when agrarianis,n IL opposed as bait to the
popnlAc. by leader of Que faction and re.
pniiation is similarly suggested by a leader
ol thc ";her, NC cannot G"uDt that tHe co'!n
try is almost prepared to accept extersion
Of the franchise i'll any and every direc'
ton: regardless of education or consequences,
and can see little promise in the future,
or a. least until our craze o; mob-worshlp
has rua its feyeri,A course ard b:, ught its
u.ual fruits.