Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-08-24

ohJ h@hiSA "HeSeS'Stt 49,
angry rejoinder: =" We don't wan
to hear that; we are all one colo
nowl"
These ridiculous absurdities were
fostered by the demagogues the bet
ter to conceal their own perfdy anc
keep themselves in the best positions
as" {" Republicanism knows no race,
they taught.
Another imposition was that color.
ed people did not require intelligent
colored leaders that the constitution
had been. purged Of color by Radi-
cal Congress, and to be a Republican
was all that was required to make a
true representative. That mental
culture and qualifications were only
required by the proud and arrogant ;
that all who requested those accom-
plishments were enemies to both
black and white; That race represen-
tation was making distinctions on ac-
count of race and color. By this
means they opposed the qualified
men among the blacks, encouraged
the ignorant and less qualified that
they might Of necessity take the lead
and occupy the best places in the
party. These are plain, indisputable
truths; which will not be denied by
any upright intelligent Republican,
black or white.
Before the introduction of these
men among them, there never was a
better population, rural or town, out
of which to shape : useful political
element. Good-hearted, simple-mind-
ed, mostly uneducated, they were
ready and willing to recsive any in
struction supposed for their own
good, which they anxiously awaited
and as eagerly sought. And could
they have had the advice of the ma
turely intelligent, good and vlrtuous
friends of humanity, such as was re-
ceived and given by us during more
than thirty years toilseme battle
for liberty and right, there never
could have been the caus for the
complaint against US as race, now
in measure justifable.
One most fruitful cause of mis-
chief in the party arose from the
age and want of experience on the
part of the good white men who as
sumed to lead in politics-as well as
ignorance in the most Of them-and
the same may be said Of their color
ed colleagues. For the most part
young men, where they possessed the
cultivated qualification, they were de-
fcient in experience and knowledge
in politics.
To such an extent are they misled
that they regularly trained them
selves with firearms and marched in
companies to political meetings, fre-
quently led by miserable white men
Menacing, threatening, abusing, quar-
relling, confusion and frequently RI
oting, are common. results of this
most disgraceful state of affairs un-
der which we live, all in the name Of
Republicanism.
The effect upon the people is won
derful. From a polite, pleasant, agree
able, kindly common people, ever
ready and obliging, there is now to
be met with an ilI-mannerly, sullen,
disagreeable, unkind, disobliging pop.
ulace, seemingly filed with hatred
and ready for resentment. These
changes in the character Of the peo-
pie must have been noticed by every
intelligent observer, in contradistinc-
ton to their former excellent reputa-
ton. Formerly they were proven
bal for their politeness, latterly they
are noticed for the absence of it.
These people are despoiled of their
natural characteristics, and shame
fully demoralized by renegade in
truders.
The remainder of the letter is
mainly devoted to mention of the
grievances under which the black
n major conceives that his race still Ia
bors, and to the consideration of the
most available remedies.