The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-04
M;she G;sttt M:sIsJtts
ELKToN, DECEMBER 4, 1869.

Occasionally correspondent with
practical ideas finds his way into the col
umns of The Democrat, to redeem, in some
degree, the turged, opaque, political phil
osophy taught by that Wandering Jew OF
the 'lost cause" Such one addresses
himself to the s'colored individual ques-
ton last week, under the title of What
Shall We Do With Him?'
Taking the most obvious and common
sense view of the question, we would an
swer, let him alone. He gives abundant
evidence of being able to take care of him
self, and we are decidedly in favor of Civ
ing him chance to do so. The white man
has had an immense amount of trouble
taking care of the negro, and the greater
the care bestowed upon him the WORSE the
s.situation - has seemed to grow. This
colored individual seems also impressed
with the conviction that he is able to take
care of himself, if he has a fair chance
This notion may be very stupid-the Dem
ocraey declare that it is-but where ques-
ton refuses to be determined by argument
and reasoning, the bost manner to settle it
is to put it to a practical test.
The writer in The Democrat above refer
rcd to, after anathematizing the reckless,
fearless Radicals and expressing, we doubt
not, an honest SORROW at being compelled
to part with the cherished prejudices of a
lifetime, looks the question squarely i'll the
face, and very sensibiy announces the rem
edy for all those apprehended evils which
are feared from the colored voter, to lie in
education-a common school education
This writer stirs up the dry bones Of Dem
ocracy with the following Republican doc
trine, he says:
But it may be asked are we to be taxed
to educate the negro to this high standard
We answer emphatically-yes. They are
forced upon us as voters, they must be
taught the value of the elective franchise,
and the responsibilities of citizenship. For
the additional burden of taxation thereby
imposed upon the people we are in no wise
responsible but we will be responsible, if
we provide no remedy for this great evil
We say then schools must be provided for
the negroes, and competent teachers en-
rloyed to conduct them. 1t is our firm
opinion that the negroes can be made good
citizens-yea, far better than those of the
white skins who hope to make them n tool
ard use them for their own selfish purposes.
That is precisely our opinion. Negroes
can be made good citizens" If all classes
are properly educated, taxation will not be
so burthensome. If the negroes, and at
least one half the whites NOW ignorant)
are taught the value of the elective fran
chise, there will be less public money vast
ed, and taxes now thrown away and prac-
tically embezzled, might be applied to the
work of education.
We commend the teaching of this Father
Hyacinth of the Democratic church to the
Borbon congregation who have eyes and
see not. The Democrat editorially tlouts
the idea of g toaehin' niggers" at the pub
lie expense, and don't believe the XVIII
Amendment is fixed fact. Of course not.
Didn't believe the XIV would be passed
either, or the rebellion squelched.-
Education, the editor thinks, "has not
done much in moral point of view" for
the Yankee whites; rather more, it would
seem than for the Southern whites, if we
take Kentucky law and order, as their
standard. We hope, however, that the
free thinking correspondent of The Demo-
crat, will continue to tell his people those
plain, and it seems to u.s. selfevident truths.
Educate the colored people to understand
the value of the elective franchise, to think
right about all matters of government and
religion, and we are very willing that they
shall vote the Borbon Democracy ticket
That party stands sorely in need of an in
tellgcnt class of voters. To educate
voters, however, is novel way to make
them Democrats.