The Van Buren press., 1871-06-20
A Word Of Advice.

A Word Of Advice.
Advice Is easily given, costs nothing but
We often dislike to take it, There is prob
lem working itself out in the Southern States,
that can be somew hat hastencd In its final So
luton, if Democrats will take course differ
ent from the one heretofore pursued. As this
is year for "new departures Se now pro-
pose another "new departure to our Demo
cratic friends.
The hnal destiny of the African race III
America, is the problem referred TO. What
their fate is to be, we cannot yet foresee.
They may realize the fond anficipations ofthe
Wendell Phillips school of philanthropists,
but cannot hope so sanguinely. They may
learn by experience and they may not learn
much. When the war ended and we returned
to our old, dcsoatcd, homes, we found Our
country In the hands Of strangers and politi-
cal adventures. We found those who had
been our recognized property, free, and claim
ing all the rights Of freemen. We also found
them the mere dupes of designing politicians; !;
led by them by foolish promises of land and
mules, etc, and we thought time would open
their eyes and present these dcceivers in their
true character Years have past. Not one
acre of land or one mule has been given. Of
fees have been dealt to the negro with mig
gardly hand. The entire control of the cuun-
try has been In the hands of these pretended
friends Of the African. And yet while the
votes of the African have been used to elevate
these friend to Office and place, not one prom
ise has been fulfilled. These advcnturcrs
came to our country without substance and
could extend no material aid to the destitute
protigcs Of the government. The negroes nat
nrally turned to their old friends, the South
ern land holders, the Democrats, for aid. Be.
lieving the negroes would soon learn who
ere their real friends Democrats have hith-
erto, unhesitatingly, aided them as far Us their
limited means would permit. We did not
consider the negro to blame for following af-
ter the men who claimed to have freed them
Freedom is sweet, desire tor 1t natural; and
that the uniformed negro should vote with
the Republicans, even to disfranchlse their
former masters friends, was not, under tho
circumstances, matter of special wonder. The
negro has been fagrantly deceived, and, be-
tween election days, sadly neglected by these
friends of freedom. and yet, they continue to
vote with dcceivers, and to aid in perpetu-
ating the political thraldom, under which
many Of the people groan.
Have they not had time to learn something.
We think the negro is now to blame, If not
for their conduct towards us at the ballot
box, at least for not learning the base impo-
sitiVn that has been practiced upon them by
this Republican party. AS they seem deter
mined to continue to assist the Republican
party in It's unjust tyranny in closing the bal
lot-box to the heaviest taxpayers in the
South, let us henceforth leave them to seek
materia. aid from this party. We have been
the ones to aid them In their business opera
tion. They nnhesitatingly call on Democrats
to help them in time of need and as unhcsi-
tatingly vote the Republican ticket. Now,
as years have demonstrated this, let us deter
mine that, as they will deliberately go with
our oppressOrs in poYItical matters, they may
also 60 to them for assistance. in the other
paths of life. II the Republican party really
adores the negro SO eminently, let the mem
bers of 1t strive who shall do most to aid him
materially, as well as who shall be most sue
cessfhl in humbugging him at the polls and
In political meetings by the foolish offer of
land and mules. In their open, as well as Sc
cret meetings, these Republican orators abuse
and villify US, and the negro cries "bravor'
and make the .welkin ring with his plaudits.
Let us havea "ncw departure. 1t is certain
ly not disloyal to refuse to aid your foes.