The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-12
THE COLORED VOTERS DOWN
SOTTH.

This question Of how shall the colored voters
be managed in the South, is just now perp!ex.
ing the Democracy not q little. 1t is
troublesome matter. II this oolored vote in
the Southern States goes for the Republicans,
it will carry all those States with that party.
The question with the Democracy, therefore,
is what can be done to carry over n sufficient
number Of those voters TO turn the scale IN
favor Of the Seymour and Blair ticket New.
ertheless, there is a division down there rs to
what Is the best policy to be pursued, but
here in the North the entire Democracy lcok
on with dstrust. Northern Democracy is af
hicted with mgJophobid, and we find in the
North the very worst type of that disease, hence
anything that locks towards tho elevation or
improvement Of the colored mans condition
is rejected at once and with scorn.
In the South the Democracy upon this
question may be divided into three classes.
There is one class who do not approve Of the
negro's voting anyhow, and they will never
conieat to allow him that right. They bold
him to tc an inferior being scarcely human.
and only fit to DO slave. They are mos: in.
-
white mans government, and that the ne.
gro's normal sphere is servitude slavery
These men are not generally politicians, and
don't care much about parties any way. They
vote always, when they have the chance, the
Democratic ticket. because tG-. comes the
nearest to their ideas Of Whist government
should be They have no faith in Rrpubli
cpnism because that means liberty and human
rights. These people would never allow the
negro to rise They would treat him we'll, or
at least do SO according to their notions o.
what constitute good treatment.
There is another class down there who are
disposed to make what use they can of the
colored mans vote, to get it 10 Ruy way
and by any means, fair or foul and when they
have got it, to put the negro down, to deprive
him as soon as may DO Of his right to vote,
and to so far reduce him to the condition Of
ehattelism that his status will DO but small
remove from what il Was before slavery was
abolished. They will rOt hesitate to use the
negro, and then they will not hesitate to abuse
him Giter having used him and despoil him Of
all his rights. With those people may be
classtd very generally the bulk of the North
ern Democracy, What they mean il, m short
to make the colored man contribute to place
the Government Ia thsii hands, and then
they can assume trol to cut of the oolored
population from sil participation 10 the Gov
ernment.'-
Then there IL another class OF men in the
South, and many Of them belong to the Dam
osratic party, who have no Digestion to the
negro; and, whils they would not admit his
equality with the white race. they are per
fectly willing he sh )uld enjoy his rights as I
citizen; that he should vote, and all that They
have been brought up with the negro, and are
consequently, free. in a great measure from
that foolish prejudice which ind lsncss North,
ern people and leads them to look upol this
long oppressed race with contempt.
It Is cucious question, in this state o
things, as to what will be dJns in the South
and how the colorsd vote will 60 oar faith
is, that by far the llrgsr portion of 1t will b.
cast with the Republicans, and for this rea
son the Republican party Is the negro
friend, and what has bean d1ae to elevate
that race thus far has beou done by the lie
publican party. Some will be intimidste'
and starved into voting with the democracy
but the bulk OF them will stick by thei
friends and will vote for the ticket. All tina
class among them who wish to keep the ballo
will most certainly do it. So we believe