Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-10
The Politics Of the CUlOred People.


The Politics Of the Culored People.
Notwithstanding the earnest appeals of
Harris and the other speakers in their ad-
dresses at the Theatre on Monday night, to
their colored fellow-citizens, for unity of
political action among the negroes of the
State and South, it is not probable that
their appeals will be SO far needed as to re-
ceive the approval of the race Nor is it
right or polite that they should be. Moth
ing is more certain that thorough union
of the blacks as against the whites will be
met by similar union of the whites
Pride, self-respect, natural and justifable
retaliation, to say nothing of self-protec-
ton, will dictate and compel this course
If, then, the colored people listen to the
demagogues who would persuade them that
the whites are their enemies and will deny
the political rights which have been given
to them, and possibly remand them back
to slavery, if permitted, they but compel
those who really are their best friends, with
whom they must live happy and respected,
or otherwise, to regard them as unworthy
of their sympathy and undeserving their
encouragement. Should this course be
forced upon the whites; should the colored
people, by their own act under the bane-
full teachings of bad men, prove unworthy
the kind feelings which the Southern peo-
pie have for them and which they have
heretofore merited; if the blacks are to re-
fuse to receive the intelligent and honest
advice of those who have formerly taken
care of them if labor is to make sinful
and unprovoked war against capital, none
can be SO ignorant as not to foresee the in
evitable result.
The colored people will soon discover
that the unity of races as against one an
other, must certainly result to the detri-
ment of both, and the utter ruin of their
own; but we cannot pc that as a general
thing in our large cities and towns, where
their ignorance and inexperience in politi-
cal matters are taken advantage of by I'M
scrupulous and designing demagogues, that
this view alone will save them from being
entangled in the meshes which the cum
ming trapanners have set for them. They
will be saved from this danger, however, by
the political aspirations which very natu-
rally have taken hold of a very large num-
Der, and against which they were most sol
EMMY, but uselessly warned by their ora
tors on Monday night who are themselves
all aspirants for office. When the time
comes it will be seen that many will de-
clare themselves candidates, and will all
hope to ride into Office through the preiu-
dice and unity of their race. But indivi-
dual differences and preferences must lead
to party divisions, and when the claims Of
white radicals, to say nothing of those of
the Southern whites, are brought to bear,
it will be found that party discipline and OBJ
multi of the excitement and novelty of the
occasion, and the votes of the colored peo-
pie will go for candidates representing every
shade of opinion.
This will at present prevent unity of
races, which aspirants for Office now seek
to accomplish; and, we trust that through a
most natural ambition for political posi-
ton, the evil designs of bad men may be
averted until the blacks, by education and
the elevation of their race. will learn their
true interests. Men with black hearts,
whatever may be the color of their skin,
are to be feared, and these are the very
ones who will take advantage of the igno-
rance and poverty of the colored race, and
make them the dupes of their ambitious
and mercenary schemes growing great
and rich at the expense of a people through
the very weakness, which entitle them to
and gain for them, the sympathy of all good
men. Demagogism, which has so long been
practised to the detriment of the country
and the injury of the ignorant voter, has
now o new and inviting field of operation,
and we see, as was expected, mushroom
politicians springing up in abundance,
whose only chances for success are their