The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-04-22
THE REPUBLICANS AND NEGRO VOTERS

AS we took occasi some time since to
predict, the great virtue of gratitude" is al
ready beginning to be dinned into the ears
ofthe imam and brother" of African descent,
by the leaders of the Republican party
Wendell Phillips, according to the Boston
Advertiser, "lately advised them, if they had
any sense of gratitude, to vote the Republican
ticket unanimously and invariably" Now,
we do not care particularly in what shape
the 'honey- Juggling" comes, which will of
course be resorted to, to bind the negroes to
the Republican party, but it does seem to be
poor compliment to the intelligence of the
new voter, that this is the ground upon which
he is expected to cast his vote for that organ
ization. Are there no principles to be COM
mended to his understanding-no policy of
government which his unbiased reason will
approve, to win his support? Or is he, in
their estimation, not capable of approaching
these, and other means are to be adopted to
ensure his faithful following? And do these
gentlemen also forget that constant remind
ing of favors conferred releases all obligations
marked before, it is no great concern of ours
in what particular mode and manner it may
best suit the Republican party to pay court
to the negro. In our opinion they will have
q troublesome time of it anyhow, or in any
fashion, to keep him well harnessed, and
pulling steady in the traces; and they will
fully earn what accession of numerical
strength he may bring, by the care and any
ety, and sacrifice of personal and political
respect, which his management will entail
But outside of all this, does it not unmask a
most pernicous design, q most heterodoX idea
of republican government, that, on account of
his color and race, now when he has
become political equal, according to their
theory, they should attempt in this way
10 herd and drive him as mere irrational
creature? Ifhe is fit to exercise the franchise
they have conferred upon him, he is compe-
tent to discriminate in what way and with
what party to cast his vote, and the
party that appeals to him, as in the in
stance cited above, or indeed in any other
way than to his reason and intelligence, in
that very appeal stultifies itself, by tacitly
denying such reason and intelligence to ex-
ist The negro will eventually appreciate this
estimation of his character-and if no third
party intervenes; if no stranger interferes
between tic Republicans and tho oitiaono of
African descent, in this imam and wife, ar
rangement and intimate union that has lately
been consummated between them, upon
whom both may turn to vent their wrath
there may yet be domestic broils, and some
thing like Chicago divorce ensue, as the
natural result. We are glad to see that the
course we advocated some weeks since in
regard to the negro vote is substantially en-
dorsed in almost all sections of the State, as
the true policy to be pursued by the Demo-
cratic party; indeed as the only one at all
compatible with its past history and present
principles. We hope to see our county set
an example in this matter that will keep the
escutcheon of the party here bright and un-
furnished, through all the perplexities of sur
rounding political entanglements.