The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-03-19
Trfhing with Truth.

TF14EuS VSAGE 1EEIFEas
In 1867, only three years ago, when
body Of extreme radicals, who had declared
themselves elected, and assumed the name of
THE General Assembly Of Tennessee" in
violation of law, declared the negro a voter,
perhaps there was not FIVE thousand men in
Tennessee who did not feel horrifed. The
negro did not ask it The white man could
not have been more outraged, and but fer
the restraint of military power they would
have condemned the radical usurpers to
death or banishmeut The next position
was, that they would by public opinion dis
grace any man who assisted negro to get
| certifcato to vote-and as soon as they gotin
power they would undo allthat the radicals
had done. The next was that it was polite
to let them have certificates, but for each
farmer to vote the negroes on his place, and
no one else should dare to talk with them
No candidate would talk with them; it was
entirely degrading to think of such thing.
The next was to agree that it was policy for
the candidates to talk with leading negroes,
hut as for common negro it was awful
to meet them on the street. shake hands and
have a friendly chat; to assure them that we
were their friends; that we would never allow
the ballot to be taken from them; that we
were better radicals than the radicals them
selves and so policy has degraded Gs to the
level of the negro politically The objection
TO his holding Office and sitting on juries Is
st
Is not the Lieutenant Governorof Louisiana
a negro2 Is there not negro in the United
States Senate from Mississippi Is shere
not negro on the Supreme Court Bench of
South Carolina2 Is not the Chairman of
the County Court in Nashville negro7
Why certainly they are. Don't you under
stand the progress of the times; it is policy.
Have not our dear representatives at Wash
ington changed our Government to a con-
solidated Government? 1t is policy Has
not the lovely bondholder on his silken
couch given US a strong Government, which
works like a charm Why there is such
beautiful system of taxation that the farmer,
mechanic and ploWholder, send up present
every year which our dear Government
converts into gold and hands over to the
charming bondholder Is it not nice It is
policy, 'Tis strange that we should ever
have held to principle. Principle may do
for madcaps, rebels aud old women that can
not appreciate our darling policy What
are constitutions and principles to policy.
Is it not strange that in our glorious day of
policy, that everybody does not endorse
what our dear Northern brethren have done
In excluding the Bible from schools2 It is
| policy. The city of Memphis excluded that
| book from the common schools . few days
/ ago; Memphis understands policy. Memphis
at the same time licensed houses of ill-fame.
Don't you see what happy change policy
is making. "What is truth p said jesting
PLATE, and stayed not for an answer, though
the King of Glory was there to answer it.
When the people of Tennessee have
voluntarily adopted the new policy Constitu
ton, by voting the negro their equal, we
gently pass into the open arms of our sweet
negro and radical friends How soft and
lovely the embrace. This is consolidation,
practical union. Let the Democratic or
Conservative party of the North taunt US
with principle We heed not their clamor;
but sweetIy resting in the arms of our be-
loved, upon this marriage bed, whose
! springs are policy aud accomplished facts,
we merge the pale and black face into the
splendid progeny of bright mullato. Let
each man who votes for the new Constitu-
ton, ask himself and answer it if he can,
this simple question, What Is Truth