Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-16
THE NEGRO AS A POLITICIAN.

As politician, the negro is failure
The mass of them are inert, and move
only when played upon by designing
politicians of the opposite race. Few
of them. have sufficient intelligence
TO comprehend the issues involved in
political canvass, and, being unedu
Gated, must rely upon the meagre knowl
edge gained from the mouths of theil
leaders, who themselves are either knave'
or fools. The most arrant tricks are re-
sorted to, and the weakest sophistry, ia
keep them from voting any other than
the ticket placed in their hands by the
masters of loyal leagues And even force
is used, and threats offered to prevent q
departure from the plans laid down and
prescribed in these midnight conclaves.
individuality of action is not to be
thought of among this class-at least, Sc
it is ordered by those who have had the
care of the negro since his late emanci
patton from the white master of the
South. We have tried in every way ia
reach the ear and understanding of this
people and have found no argument
potent enough, save that of crushing
defeat, to induce them to 60 with those
who are their only friends. AS long as
a carpet-bagger is left in the country to
tickle this ignorant class with the idea
that they are indebted to them for
freedom, so long will there be ne
gro narty of the South. But this
pa-.J, as no other, can long stand
defeat, and must be scattered abroad
and absorbed by its more powerful adj
versary. In this way we may in time to-
tally disgust the negro population with
the thought of being voters; and finding
no immediate pecuniary benefit arising
to them from an exercise Of the right,
will remain at home during elections,
and will soon be forgotten as an element
in the political world. We should make
no compromise of principle, either po'
litically or socially, in order to bring
over this strength to the Democratic
ranks. It must by the nature of events
become incorporated with us at the polls
as soon as the starying-out process is
completed with the carpet-bag fraternity.
We should meet these, as all others who
oppose the Democratic banner, in an
open field of discussion, and by fair ar
gument endeayor to dissuade them from
the error into which they have fallen,
and leave the matter to be finally con.
tested at the ballot-box. Experience is
the great teacher that must direct this
mass of stupidity in the path of then
true interest, and nothing short OF IT will
cause the scales TO fall from eyes
blinded by years of ignorance. We are
compelled to recognize the right OF all
TO vote, and each individual in the com.
munity is responsible to himself only as
10 how he will exercise the priv
ilege. Men proclaim every day that
they have a right to vote as they please
AS ia proposition it is correct, providing
they vote right. No one has a right to
do wrong, and as little in the exercise OF
the privilege Of voting as in anything
else. Each Of us is constituted Judge
at elections, and fearful responsibility
rests upon our shoulders as to how we
shall perform the duty of government.
Tennessee, thanks to the true men of the
State, has now a good government, and
agents elected from the people who will
be careful in making laws for the gene
raj benefit of the citizens at large.