The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-17

lion OF colored men, most OF them
emancipated slaves, and to .leaven
our already deterioratipg, national as
sembly with the elements such o mea-
sure is calculated to produce. That
this can be done, and the national
edifice still hold together for some
time longer, may be possible enough.
The discomfort that comes of con-
scious degradation is, perhaps, an
essential precursor of revolution, and
o community which accepts with
complacency, or with cynical apathy,
the presence in Congress of thieves,
gamblers and pugilists, may assent
to their association with new MEM
bers, quite probably their superiors
in morality, if not color of their
SKINS"
Again, speaking to its own people,
the Round Table makes the following
illustration:
Suppose, now, to the population
of New York should be added an
equal number of negroes, or, to per-
feet the intended analogy, q greater
number in some wards, lesser in
others, SO that, on the whole, the
two races should be numerically ba-
lanced. Suppose. further, the fran
chise to be equally conferred upon
all. The political result would then
be what it is proposed to bring about
in some Of the States of the Union.
How long would it last in one case,
and how long is it likely to last in
the other? Mr.. Lincoln, with his
homely sagacity, perceived NIL the
difficulties Of reply. He has left
upon record distinct and explicit
warnings against the concession of q
suffrage to the black race. He knew
the question must arise; that its deci-
sion in the affirmative would be
strongly in the interest of the domi-
nant party; that such decision
could never harmoniously and peace
fully be carried into effect; and to
escape the difficulties of the problem,
he even contemplated wholesale de-
portation.
The Table asks, why cannot We
educate the negro? 1t replies:
"The objection lies in one of the
most amazing discrepancies that has
ever existed between theory and
practice. It is said we can form no
just idea of the negroes capacity for
development, because of the protract-
ed oppression to which they have
been subjected. This seems rational
enough; but we cannot forget that
for centuries the African race, mas
ter of its own destinies upon its own
continent, has made no progress
whatever, but remains sunk in the
very lowest depths of barbarism.
All that can be said to this is that
contact, association, mingling with a
higher race, will produce different
results. But morally, intellectually
and physically, this contact, while
only temporarily benefit to the in
ferier, seems invariably to be q detri-
ment to the superior race. Are ma
tions to be expected collectively to
submit to degradation from which
individuals are justified in shrink
ing?"
The Round Table is afraid that our
institutions will develop themselves
downward in progressive decadence,
until the lowest depth is attained and
the nation is ripe for despotism, and
then concludes its article in the fol-
lowing paragraph:
owe would gladly hope for bettor
things; but when agrarianism is pro-
posed as bait to the populace by a
leader of one faction, and nepudia-
tion is similarly suggested by leader
of the other, we cannot doubt that
the country is almost prepared to
accept extension of the franchise in
any and every direction, regardless of
education or consequences, and can
see little promise in the future, or Mt
least until our craze of mob worship
has run its feverish course and
brought its usual fruits"
We are convinced that nothing but
impartial suffrage-that is, the same
qualification for both whites and
blacks, and that qualification to be
based upon education-is to be the
only salvation from anarchy and final
despotism.