The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-26
Canvass the SOuth.

WE publish elsewhere in our paper to-day
thoroughly sensible letter from Oscar M.
Waring, a colored teacher in the South,
addressed to Judge Kelley. The views taken
by the writer are full of force, and must con-
vince every member of the Republican party
in the North of the absolute necessity of
liberal action in regard to the Southern blacks.
What is needed at the present time is a vast
supply of political tracts, pamphlets, and
speeches, plainly worded which will convey
at once even to the uneducated mind of the
blacks, the true position of the various parties
in regard to negro suffrage. The freedmen
aTe as a body illiterate and susceptible. Their
former owners are endeavoring to oaress and
cajole them into a belief that their true in
terest is to support their former masters.
There need be no surprise, if the North
remain inert when the colored vote in the
Southern States is cast for our political foes.
Accustomed, as the down-trodden negroes
always have been, to obey every word of their
white neighbors, and to receive from them
only superciious contempt it is not unnatural
that they should yield to hattery, and hail
with Joy a smile from a source which hereto
fore had given them only frowns.
Unless, therefore, the North at once takes
the matter of educating the blacks in political
truths in hand, and commences Immediately
to inundate all the Southern States with radi-
cal tracts, we will deserve to meet the fate in
store for us, and see the black vote with the
Rebel. If, however, the Republican COM
mittees commence to work, if they forward
every species of publication of Republican
doctrines, and scatter them broadcast over the
South, we can, beyond all doubt, secure the
entire negro vote. What, then, is needed
We do not hesitate to declare that the great
requisite is money. The Congressional COM
mittee appointed by the radical caucus pre-
vious to the termination of the session, is
ready to 60 to work as soon as the necessary
funds are placed within it's reach. 1t will
doubtless appeal to the purses of our wealthy
Republican citizens, and such an appeal has
never and will never be made in vain. Hon.
William D. Kelley, member from Pennsyl-
vania, is already taking active steps, and has
thus far met with that success which the
urgent necessity of the case demands. But
much more is needed.
Not only are writings necessary, but the
canvass of the Southern States should be
conducted the same as we do canvass in our
own State. The entire country ought to be dis
tricted off speakers allotted to each district,
who, supplied with pamphlets, would go
through all the land enlightening the blacks;
we must organize such a crusade. Senator
Wilson is already at work, but he is one
against thousand seductive Southern orators.
Let us have Wilson in every county Of
every Southern State. Let colored and white
speakers be furnished, and when once our
energies are aroused, and the party well in
working harness, the blacks will see their
true friends, and never mistake task-master
for guardian angel. If we act at once we
will be in time; if we delay year it will be
too late. Now is the accepted time. "The
harvest indeed is ready, but the laborers are
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