The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-09-26
Tho White Majority.

Uoder late orders, the registration has
been extended in this District, and the
Boards instructed, We understand. 10 reg
ister all Who apply, marking the grounds
Of disqualification on the re .is,ry where
any exists. Should any who have here
tofore been denied registration, be ultimate
ly accepted and considered entitled TO
vote, either by reason Of the Presidents
amnesty, or from different coma Iuctiou
Of the law, to the extent Of such addition
al acceptances will the white majority in
Lancaster, reported las. week, be iucrsss
ed.
If we are inclined to regard white
majority in this District as subject Of
congratulation, it is not because We would
deprive the colored people Of any of tb cir
rigb" and privileges; but because we be-
lieve that If it were possible to have a
white majority for the entire State. it
would be far better, not only for the gen,
eral prosperity Of the Common wealth, bot
for the black population themselves. We
are willing TO conceds them all OF their
political rights, to recognize them as the
equals OF the whites in 90 far "a the law
can make them so, and we would oppose
any measures Of Legislation which would
discriminate against them as a class, or
which would be calculated 10 retard their
progress as people on the road to high
Or intelligence, refinement and usefulness.
But we do not regard them. in their
present condition, as being capable Of the
high and difficult duties Of making. in.
terpreting and executing laws, and hence
We conclude that Intelligent white m.
jorities may be useful and requisite in
checking ambitious aspirations Of delude6
blacks, led on and encouraged, as they
are, in many Cases, by bassr and more
degraded individuals Of the white race
With the limited privileges and opportuni
ties enjoyed BY their race heretofore. i, is
no disParsgemeut TO Say thar. at present,
they are not equal 20 the task OF leading
and governing a people Of the Caucasian
race. The time may come, iftbey deport
themselves ~ becoming their new relation,
by striving to educate and inform their
race. when they will be worthy Of the
high vocstions which some Of them pre-
maturely seek TO occupy. Until then, we
assume that it is for the best interests OF
oil, white and black, that the machinery
OF Government remain 10 the hands Of the
intelligent classss. With the kiudliest
feeling towards the colorsd people. and
with every desire to see them improve and
prosper. we must think that il 10 too soon
for them to sspire. As thes seem to he
doing, to fiII oil Of the high places 10 the
land. and 10 this view, We believe, many
OF the more Intelligent freedmen concur.
So far as the local affairs Of this Dis
trict are concerned, II the whites DO not
preserve their present supremacy. il will
be their own fault. They have the nu
msr'csl majority and upon them rest. the
responsibility Of proper efficiency and or
der III the public business OF the D,stric,.
Let them bear this in mind. avoid distr.c.
ton. and looking only to tho good Of all.
white and black, unite in bringing to the
support OF our public interests the bes,
qualified and most worthy persons among
US.