Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-05-21
The coIored Democracy.

We notice, says the New York Even
ing Post, signs in different Southern pa
pers that Democratic politicians begin to
accept the situation. The Savannah
News, for instance, which IL most ran
corous Democratic sheet, in its issue OF
the 2sth Of April heads leading editori-
al article with the words. "The Colored
Democracy Of the South" and quotes
the following letter from Bfarshalville,
in Georgia:
II wrote you day before yesterday that
we had one hundred and fifty colored
men to carry to the polls at .Oglethorpe.
We carried them, and they voted the
straight Democratic ticket. As we came
back on the train the ladies of Montezu-
ma presented us with beautiful flag,
with the name of Gordon inscribed
upon 1t. When we got to Andersonville
we did not open our stores, but went to
work again, and yesterday we went down
with one hundred and fifty more voters;
each man, black and white, wearing a
badge Ia piece of pink ribbon) in his but
ton hole. The enthusiasm was intense (;
the negroes whooping and shouting for
the Democrats and Gordon. When we
arrived at montezuma we were present.
ed with another banner, on which was
inscribed, Gordon our Governor 1t
was presented by Mr.. Neal, of that place,
in behalf of the ladies', and was received
by Major Booton in behalf of the Mar
shalvilians, with soul-stirring speech
of about five minutes duration. We
then started for Oglethorpe. Arriving
there the negroes were formed in line by
twos; one banner was put at the head,
one in the center and one at the foot of
the column. The word forward was
given, and 1 never heard such yells for
Gordon and Georgia in my life. There
was not Radical TO be seen on the street,
and we had everything our own way
About twelve O'Clock, FraiI, the negro
candidate for the Legislature, made his
appearance. The negroes went for him,
and would have handled him roughly
had not the soldiers and whites inter-
fered for his protection. The guard per-
formed their duty promptly, but showed
no disposition to go beyond the line of
theirduty, by interfering in the election" I"
The News comments OH this, in these
words:
"The writer mentions the name of
several prominent colored men who took
an active part in the election and work :
Su DCoiouSiy iuI Lhc SuCCSSS VI tHc uelllO-
cratic party.
"This, with numerous other incidents
that have come to our knowledge, gives
us assurance that the newly enfranchised,
as they come to understand their true
interests, will be a prolific source of
democratic strength"
The same journal remarks
"As information reaches us from the
interior of the State, where the colored
people had not been deceived and cor
rupted by lying emissaries and miscre-
ant renegades and office-seeking traitors,
we are confirmed in the opinion that, il
the proper steps had been taken in time
to enlighten the race in regard to the
true issues involved in the late election,
and the character and designs of their
pretended friends, very large number
Of the more intelligent and respectable
men among them could have been in
duced to have cast their votes for the
true interests of the State"
Whenever the democratic party accepts
the new order of things, and cordially
favors impartial suffrage, we do not
doubt it will be able to attract consid.
cradle part of the colored vote. But Sc
long as it opposes what it calls negro
suffrage, it will hardly get thesupport OF
the class whom its success would dis
franchise.