American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-09-14
LO, the COiOred Brother!

Are our colored brethren anxious
to prove that they are entirely unfit
for the ballot! When they emerg-
ed from the state of bondage their
enemies alleged that of necessity
they must be too ignorant to use the
suffrage properly, that they could
not be good legislators when they
had only so lately become freemen.
The probabilities of their acGuitting
themselves creditably were against
them, and it was essential for their
own sakes that they should be eau
tious and moderate, removing pre-
.judice by their ACES and winning
approval by their self-restraint. At
best, the new order of things WIS
but an experiment easily recalled
and sure to be if it failed even by
those who had most strongly ia
vored it. The negro was undou5t-
eddy placed in Il difficult position,
and even his friends feared for him
and the result. The ignorance of
superstition, barbariSm and slavery
was to be given mastership over in
telligence, education and refine
menl. Well might even the ex-
tremest negrOpholist pause.
/ Now the system is about to be
judged. 1t is on its last trial, and
if it fails, though it may linger for
IL time, its deathblOw will have been
given. In this country the spirit of
the times is towards combining not
extending the suffrage limit. 1t is
being cOnteuded that restricted
number can govern as well as the
whole mass, and that the best men
can do better for the community
! than the indiscriminate rabble.-
Whether this view is an error or not
it is the tendency of public senti-
ment. The negroes must succumb
to it as we'll as their betters, for the
people settle such problems as they
please. Ii negro suffrage fails, ne
gro suffrage will be abolished as
surely and suddenly as it was con-
ferred. 1t Can be Withdrawn much
more readily than similar privi-
/ lege from any class of whites, for
the repeal of single amendment
/ ~ thO SphStItuttoh uOCS
SO far little can be said in favor
of it, wi en- it is judged by it's works,
the black man as a voter has not
proved success, he has exhibited
the same passion for politics that
he always felt for camp meetings
and sham soldering, but he looks
upon one as no more serious than
the other. He takes part in each
of these with an cffIusion only
Ie4ualled by his ignorance, and to
all he brings innate jollity and in
sOaciaRce of his careless nature. His
votes have only proved his utter
folly, and only served to assist in
crime which was rarely for his own
benefit. He has been the silly tool
of designing men, aud, worse, the
blind fool of a selfish party. He
organized not to serve himself,
but a political party, which despis
ed while it used him he bound
himself wholly to that party when
independence would have made him
sought by both sides, secured him
respect from each, and made his
newborn rights permanent.
Under The white mans rule, the
Southern States were well and eco
n0mically managed, financially I'M
der the back mans government
they have toppled headlong to bank
ruptcy. When the war closed they
were comparatively free Of debt,
now fraudulent issues OF State bonds
have been piled mountain high till
honest and dishonest liabilities are
swamped together. Without negro
suffrage the carpet-bagger, that
vilest spawn of Il corrupt political
party, would have been an impossi-
hility, and honesty would at least
have remained as Il name of what
is right. Without the black mans
elevation there might have been
murmnrings of secession, but there
would not hare been public acts of
official robbery. Nor has the au-
tagonism of race, nor the luminosity
of sectional differ enceS been abated:
they have been rather strengthened
by the change. Has it done any
good
The negroes are banded together
in oath-bound societies, an act
which of itself proves them unfit
for the suffrage they are pledged
in such societies to obey their lead
ers as the Jesui!s once obeyed their
chief. they have no independence
of will they are politically no more
free than they were ten years ago.
They are impatient of opposition
among themselves, and intiict due
personal punishment on any of their
members who is false to his order.
They are as cruel as the Ku KluX,
have as little justification, and ex-
list for Il more dangerous purpose.
Five hundred thousand votes unit
ed by pledges and VOWS they dare
not break, ana threats they dare not
meet, are peril to free institutions
which must die out of itself or will
be put out by the universal action
of the people. Such Il state can
not exist within free State; it
would not be permitted to any class
and will never be allowed to a race.
1t is reputed that the eli tire negro
organization in all its ramification
of al 70