The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-04
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A Word with Southern Conservative
FFonl ne TfTbune
with those citizens of the Southern States
who are accustomed to call themselves "Con-
servatves," we neither feel nor profess any
politioal sympathy. 1t is not probable that
thev and we shall meet otherwise than as an
tagonists. And yet, there are many OF them
who say and earnestly believe that they are
doing their best to bring their respective
States into practical relations of harmony with
the Union and to these we would gladly De
useful, even by giving them unpalatable coun-
sci. Having recently, at some cost, alded 10
save our own party from committing grave
blunder, that would, if consummated, nave
olouded the prospect of an early and hearty
restoration of national concord and fraternity,
we are quite willing to do like service 10 the
opposite party, and take our pay III tiie salle
coin, So we will at least make the attempt.
tits common complaint among you, South
ern Conservatives that the negroes are belng
banded against you in secret leagues and
lodpes-tSat they are managed by low adven-
turers and interloping demagogues, VINO de-
lude them with promises of cOnfscation, etc.
that they are under virtual duress, and not at
liberty TO act as their judgment and better
feelings dictate, etc., ETC., etc. These COM
plants reach us through various channels,
and are no doubt well founded to this extent
that you are not likely to secure many black
votes at the approaching elections.
Now, why will you not see that this is main
ly your own fault-that you are allowing
yourselves to be controlled by passion and
prejudice rather than reason and good sense
that you are cursing others for result of
your own inexcusable folly2 Why will you
not see that you never concede point to the
blacks until you are absolutely forced to it
that you are perpetually compelling them to
distrust and shun you
We do not mince our words. 1t is no time
for sacrifices to politeness. That you are
swamping yourselves as party is no concern
of ours we object only that you are at the
same time injuring the country and prevent
ing its restoration to genuine peace. Why
IOiH you act so madly
You know, as well as we do that the con-
fdence and goodwill of the blacks is essential
to your restoration to what you consider your
rights. How could you, then, attempt to
exclude them from the street-cars as you did
in several of your chief cities How could
you permit, without remonstrance, your
women to refuse to ride if blacks rode with
them Scarcely ten years have elapsed since
your ladies used to shame our Northern
caste-worship by insisting that their colored
nurses and maids should ride with them in
our stage-coaches and other public convey
ances. You still have blacks in your
kitchens, your parlors, your nursuries, and
all about you. 1t is not, therefore, repugnance
to blacks as such, but to their newborn
political equality, that prompts the effort to
exclude them from street-cars. Can you
imagine that they do not understand this {?
And how can you expect to win their votes
while you thus seek to trample them down
You used to be shrewd politicians, at all
events; have you lost or renounced that
capacity If not what can you mean ?
You say that the blacks are preudiced
against you in secret lodges by unprincipled
adventures: we insist that it is all your own
work. They would like to vote with "Old
Massa:" but he will not give them a chance.
1t is his doing, and not the radicals, that
imbues them with distrust and aversion to his
political guidance
Here, for instance, is Maryland, under COM
plete conservative" control, with "Con-
servative" Convention, busily engaged in re-
Vising her Constitution. That Convention,
that conservative majority, might at once
enfranchise the blacks of Maryland but it will
not. 1t insists on going to perdtion its old,
blind way. But can you imagine, colserva-
tives, that its blunder will not be scored up
to your account Do you fancy that there is
an uneducated rice-feld or cane brake
"nigger" so stupid as not to know that what
the conservatives of Maryland do is just what
you would do if you had the power Can
you be so besotted as not to know that, while
you keep disfranchised the blacks of Della
ware, Maryland, and Kentucky, every black
in the South will believe that you would serve
him just so if you couldl
OF course, you will not mend your ways for
anything we may urge. You have counsel
lors whom you trust, and who are in full
sympathy with you, as we are not. All we
can do is to tell you just how you (and not
those whom you denOunce and detest) are
setting the faces of the blacks like flint agains
you. Do not blame them, then, as pervers,
or misguided; blame rather your own mulisl
infatuation. Were you in their place you
would act just as they do.
National Political Parties-The Pas
and the Future.
From the Times