The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-05-16
EQUAL RIGHTS IN cLARKsBuRe,
The Bottom Rail on Tor.

burg as the epoch Of aegro equality, co.
cinlly and politically, in their midst
The new order Of things which has been
established by the neanest and basest Of
white men, and which is designed to
bring under subjection to an inferior and
degraded race the white men and women
Of our eoustrv, was practically insugu-
rated on tha. day, in the election held
within the corporation for municipal off,
GERS. Could tho people Of the county
generally have witnessed the spectacle
with which oar eyes we're greeted at &
very carly hour in the morning, and soon
after the opening af the polls, they would
need no further argument or warning
from us to convince them of tho degra.
datisn, social and political, that has been
prepared for them by their lying radical
masters. AS public journalists, We feel
it to be our duty in chrsnicling the event,
to make such comments as the scene sug.
gested, and to hold up to public e1ecra-
sion and contempt the men with white
skins and black hearts who countenanco
aud encourage the enfrauohissment the
ignorant and inbruited African and re-
fuse to cnfranchise the intelligent and
respectable whitc men who do not wer.
ship at the ebony shrine. Radical ora
tors and radical editors llavo told tho
people for the past Eve years that the re-
publican party was opposed 10 negro suf-
frase, and that in this State The negro
could not vote until Tue Constitution was
amended by striking out tho word "wbitc."'
Thoy have lied. und the people now
uon it. Tho negro has voted, while
hundreds Of hslcst white men, who are
large tax-psyers, and feel an interest in
the government, arc denied that privilege.
Fifty-si1 African vstcs wero pslled on
Monday last'for the very mca who have
SO persi,tcntly denied being in favor Of
negro suffrage. On Sunday night it was
announced to tho negroes by a colored
North Methodist preacher named S.eol, at
the close Of their church services, that Oh
the following morning they we're expected
to assemble at tho negro scheol.houss, TO-
receive their tickets from wealthy and
influential wi,ito radical, who would be
there TO distribute them. In accordance
with this announcement, = motley crowd
ofDlsck and tan humsuity, old and
young greasy and ragged, lecr-cyed and
savagc-looking, were seen carly in The
morning wendiny their way to the ap-
pointed rendezvous 10 receive ballots
tho weapons Of enlightened freemen. For,
some reason tho expected white dispenser
Of tickets "didn't come to time POr-
haps bis conscience, after peaceful Sab.
bath spen. in meditation and prayer, re-
bukcd him for bis presumption in ut.
tempting to join together in social and
Political bands What God has put ssunder.
Out of charity 70, him, wc nre willing
thus 10 account for his absence. i's5f m.
The failure Of the white brother, how
over, was supplied by Rev. Steel. This
black apostle and ambassador, after
brief e1bor.ution, Which elected rounds
ofapplause from the nsuly.asdgcd ebony
voters, placed in the hands Of each Of
them ticket bearing the names Of eight
we'll known and leading ,adherents and
advocates Of the negro party, with an ad-
monitiou to put them in their pockets,
and let no one see them until they reach
ed the polls. But few, il any, Of The il
norant creatures knew whose names were
on. the ticket. They only knew that they
were "guins to vote. de publikin ticket
wild Mr.. Northcott and General Moore
Being thus prepared and instructed th,
dark crowd loft the school house, ant
forming in procession, marched doubl,
file down Main Street, uiping the perspi
ration from their faces and exhaling odor,
TO tile Court House, where they depos,
tied their votes. Ituas sad and curiou
sight. There was The radical master,
who once occupied high official position,
and was voted for his fenlty to the ''po.
euliar institution" cla.ping the hand oI
his former slave as brother. and dopos.
iting With him the same ballot in tho
same box. We could not help pit, ing
him, as We beleld him in lis fallen and
unsAyiable state, and saw the sorry figure
be cut, sanduiched as he was by a black
ofebon hue on one side, and tan color'd
brother on the other. We thought oi
Il JoLn Repiolntio mo,tnrsi Uk. .h:,..