The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-07-08
Friday, July s, 1870.
Divisions il the Republican Party.

The divisions in the Republican par
ty ofthe State-the Earring gelissensions
between tho white and black elements S
arc becoming more apparent from
day to day. This discord finds cx-
preston in the bclligcrcnt attitude of
the respective organs Of the rival fac
tions---tho Repu0lican representing the
white clement, and the Missionary Re
cord devoted to the advocacy Of the in
tcrcsts Of the colorcd man. 1t is seen
in the late ontspollcn declarations OF
pcLarge, Delaney and Ransicr, that
the colorcd men have been deprived
Of their just share OF political power
in the State, and will he satisfied in
The future with nothing short Of an
equal division Of tue Offices, and a pro-
portionablc share in the State and Con-
grcssional representation. Ihc colored
man is the ruling power in tic State,
and tho consciousness Of this power is
beginning to assert itselC TO him the
Republican party is indebted for its
dsccndancy in the State: and why
should he be made q cats-raw to adj
vance the selfish purposes Of others
mere s'hcwcr Of wood and drawer
Of c-"-whi!st others enjoy al the
powers OF legislation and cmoluments
Of office? This is the question which
the leading co'orcd men are asking
! themselves, and which they arc begin
ming to proclaim from the hoasc-tops
1t is the question which the Missionary
Record is ringing in the ears Of the
rank and file Of the grand army. How
does the Republican meet the issuc?-
By deprccating any contest upon the
narrow basis Of color and race. But,
says tho Missionary Record, 'i! is char
actcristic OF that class Of white men in
the Republican Party. who are from
tho North, that, whenever colorcd
men express an opinion, that they
should have an equal share Of Offices,
they raise the hue and cry Of color !!
color cclor!!! race! racc!! We de-
sire it to bo distinctly understood, by
them, that, colerod men, being citizens
Of this country. and having fairly won
that honor by their valor on The field
Of battle, and by their fidelity to the
national honor, in the time Of need !;
do now intend to assert tAat liberty,
and claim those rights, which arc as
dcar to them as any other class Of
i-Hcn. We iutenl to claim whatever
ofright is ours, and VIC want them to
understand that the Republican party
in South Carolina, docs not depend on
the handful Of white Republicans in
this State, but on the fidelity Of the
eighty thousand cGorcd voters, and
that Of the leading colorcd men in this
State" Whether or not this resolves
itself into a question OF color or race,
it seems to be nothing but what is Just
and equitable, that that race, which
by the aid of tho Republican party,
has been admitted to all the privileges
! Of sovereignty-thc right to elect tllei,
l. lers--should themselves, if they SO
desire, be vested with the honors and
cmolunents Of ofiicc-that is, if they
be competent. And is it to be suppo
sod, that among the eighty thousand
colored men, who arc the sovcrcigns
|-vosted with tho full powers Of tho
ballot box--suitablc men cannot be
: found to fill the Offices of the State
Of this we may be very sure, that
if the requisite qualifications for office
be not found in the co!orcd men Of the
Republican party, these will not bt
supplied by the other element. 1t i.
E reasonable that it should be so. The
colorcd leaders uc the best rcprcsen
tatives Of their race, both in character
and intelligence, and they have proved
themselves for the most part, boil
honest and capable. Daddy Cain say
for himsclf-eWe defy any man tt
prove that at any time we have be
traycd them Or their liberties; on th'
, contrary, VIC have stood by them, ane
, exposed our life to maintain them
We arc now, as ever, determined t
do the same. We could have soid deu
our interest two years ago, if we de
: sired to sell, but We have no principle!
for sale" And we suppose that Wright
Delarge, Whipper and Elliott coult
present as fair record. These mel
seem to havo identified themselvc:
with tho interests of their race, anG
the adyaEce,nont of personal onds il
made spbservient to the elevation d
the black man. But who for mo
ment supposcs that the white Repub
Ilicans of tho 'State -cale anything fol
the Black man, except SO far as they
may mako him an instrument to -ad
vance their own selfish ends? For tho
most part, they are mere adventures
alosrenegadcs ;;-,and being restrained by
;tno ,bsinciple, will ecrupleat no means
4 Ass1night hayo 4beon expected, they
:; howe preseA the mostradica and rev,
a 4olhtionary SufS SHeir scherrea tand haJe