The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
THE CoLoRED VOTERS OF THE SOUTH.



Reasons why They Should Vote
with the Conservatives.
CoLoRED FELLOW CIrIzENs-I am well aware that
some democrats in the North have been saying that
not only will they not solicit but they do not want
the negro vote. Now, candidly speaking the. demo-
Gratis conservatives OF the South cannot afford to
affect this mighty Indifference. and, In point OF fact
they do not AFFECT It, While the vote OF the negro Ia
comparatively insignificant In tho Northern States,
and may, therefore, be despsed there by the politi
cans In the South 1t Is important, vital, critical an
element not only Of politics. but Of the general well
fare there; and We, speaking for the democratic
party, do want It, and have already shown such EVIL
deuce Of our desire for 1t, that IL would be quite
useless for now to affect the contrary to play ut
the game OF the fox in the fable and declare the
grapes sour because we have been unable to reach
them.
We, white conservatives Of the South, want your
votes, my col0red fellow citizens; but mistake,
so far, has been that we have wanted it without
afordng you reason for our wanting or an induce-
ment for you giving It. That has been just our
mistake. We, your "old masters" wanted your
vote, and, very f0olishly, as we now see, we ex-
pected get 1t by the asking for It.; and some
are now disposed to be offended, and are sore with
disappointment, because you did not give them your
votes simply at their command, or on some trivial
persuasion. For myself. believe that the vote OF
the negro is to be obtained by addressing his intei
gence and interest, just as much as those of any
other voter; that we must be prepared to compete
with the radicals In solid argument and In logical adj
Dress and that the first step towards securing your
vote for the conservative party is to give salts
factory reasons for best0wng 1t there, instead OF
suppOslng that simple word of DESIRE or the small
est article OF cap-trap, ut most. are sufficient for
the business sufficient TO outweigh the immense
and elaborate organization the imposing display OF
argument and device that the radical party has
brought to bear upon you. ! am not one OF those
Southern conservatives who, because you did not re-
Gently vote with u.s. after the slight and unworthy ef
forts which made to obtain your ballots would say,
"Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone" and
point the finger TO a nope expired and task aban-
dOned. /, for one, now and repeatedly, wish to
speak to your intelligence and interest as would
speak to those of any other political constituents.
want to have some plain counsel with you. There
is no device In the language OF the heart. have
lived many years in the South, ana from my birth
upwards have been among your people wherever
the sun shines from the Potomac to where the Rio
Grande the great river sets up the boundary OF the
habitation Of your race. Departing from my native
State (Vrginal as shall do soon, with the burden
of many mixed recOectiOns shall leave here not
among the least shall regret, people OF your
race--back men and black women whom have
Lowell and who to this poor life OF mine have given
OF pleasure and OF afection's experience, and OF
honor or Gods creatures often more than those who
have white faces and on their limbs the fine linen
and purple and the garments that the black, weary
Some of these coored people yet tarryng in the
shade Of the great trees Of Oakridge where played
in youth and where in lonely manhood have stood
In sight Of the sweet graves; some in the Christian
and kindly home OF beloved trother, some eXiles,
wanderers from the groves OF oaks, and the warm
shining fields which were once all that 500 negroes
ever knew OF any home on earth.
Thank God that In the worst days OF slavery had
an affection for the oppressed, and that could find
1t in my heart to say of your race that despite Its
bonds 1t one OF the most tender and interesting
ones on the face OF the earth. 1 never knew what
was meant by the thing called 'nigger," except
that it was some sort of thing between brute and
human Kind the name for wSch was invented by
tho passion OF the slave diver. And here want
you to understand that when .sl cali you negroes
III this name than that OF African or any other pro-
per name OF nativity, unless you foOishly consider
1t your disgrace that You are native Of Africa;
that you came out of that ancient house of
nations that age and mystery have made ut least
venerable and interesting. I have always had a
strange interest In You: YOU are vet to become curl.
Gus study to the whole world: unequal as you NAV
be to the white man In intellect and cunning and
appliance, yet a race OF romance, a strange, poetic
race, full of umOr and tenderness and courage and
pastoral simplicity. Be assured that you are going
to excite somehow or other great curiosity in this
living world; and If have thought OF you before as
q peculiar people, you can now understand how
with even greater interest regard you, since God
and put your feet on the weary and mysterious
course OF His Provdence--the same that led out
from the Red Sea and that shifts the sands of the
desert and makes all the paths OF the worlds EN-.
pre.
dainty the radical side OF the story Of freedom.
IL has INK deep IN yOur hearts, it has constituted
the very strongest appeal of that party to you, and
in any ordinary conflict OF motives or doubts 1t has
come as a supreme guide, an irresistible inspiration,
an unanswerabe argument, that you should vote
sheraton lies the main strength OF the radical
party with you. The argument Is plausible, power
swerable But now let us see If there Is not a con-
sentative side to this story. Let us see If to this
great agd hitherto prevailing argument OF
the radical party we cannot produce an an
swer somewhat better than is afforded by that
miracle of stupidity, the Southern press since the
war ror during the war The press of the South was,
indeed great estate, the power, briancy and
tact Of some OF the Richmond journals being conf
plimenied even In the courts Of Europe); that
wretched journalism which slavery has left as the
vilest Of its dregs to cali assassination chlvary;
to abuse every memory OF the South forcourage or
for wisdom, and to display daily soughing OF re-
pOrters' wit about "nggers, az the highest wisdom
on those political and social questions which the
mind of the world elsewhere meditates so pro-
fOundy.
COO forbid that should deny or disparage your
rejoicing IN your freedom. But, while asking who
the givcrs OF this gift, has IL never occurred to
you TO enquire from whose loss and suffering you
have it, whether from the Northern people Or the
white people OF the SOUTH That Is the question.
From whose suffering has your freedom been pur-
chased not who claim TO have given 1t to you but
who have suffered and are yet suffering that you
might be free, who have paid the loss, and have
not yet done paying lt; for tell you that under God
tits this last people who are the donors OF your b.
erty, and not those who say, Lord, Lord, have
not prophesied in Thy name.'' Now, this is new
view of the subject, and want you to lay hold Of
1t. What did the North do for you, and how did 1T
draw the sword against slavery more than
It did against anything else representing
the property and strength OF the South
IN the late war? It attacked slavery, not out Of any
enevoence to you, not for any solcitude for you,
but that this act might help along the war. What