The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-09-27
From the Cosmopolitan.
TIE NEGRO AS A REPUBLICAN

| Il fanCct tSiatSS bhab ~ N"c va vas
interviews with Bismarck the latter
spoke of the difference between the
Germanic and the Gallo races in
respect to their capacity for self
government. The Germans and
the Americans, he said, have in
them the elements Of Republication,
Of which the French are in a great
measure destitute. The opinion OF
the great Prussian politician appear
ed TO be that the character of the in
stituiions 10 which a people are
adapted is determinable from quail
ties intrinsic in themselves, and not
from he political theories which
they may have accepted, or the de-
gree of culture which they may have
enjoyed.
Under TIC instruction Of that or
der Of teachers, who are imagined to
be special representatives Of human
progress, the philosophers of the
United States have reached an OPP
posite conclusion. They are assur-
ed that all human beings are created
alike, apl that there is but one lc-
climate form Of government. If
there is any want of adaptation of
the people to the institutions, it
therefore follows that the people
have not been sufficiently instruct
ed; hence it becomes the duty of
the Government 0 provide for their
education up 10 the standard Of
qualification essential to their prop
er performance of the duties of ciii.
zenship.
These two theories arc quite un-
like, and the conclusions to which
they lead are very far apart. Il Is
not for every one to decide between
the opinions of the hard headed and
practical statesman Of the German
Empire and those of the soft-hearted
and imprectipable Missionaries who
have constituted themselves the lead
crs of public sentiment in the United
STATES. This much, however, may
be conoeded-that if the one is right
the others are wrong, and that the
question which is right and which
wrong is one that can be exceeded
by no her in Importance. III it is
race and not culture which deter>
mines whether or not given people
are fit for the responsibilities of citi-
zenship in a republic, q good deal of
the progress ef which Americans
have, of late, been SO boastfui, has
been in the wrong direction, and, for
the sake Of the State and the people,
will need TO be re,raced.
The admission of the negroes of
the United States 10 citizenship was
the work of the Republican party.
Although, at The time it was done,
The philanthropists of The country
were acting in unison with the Re-
the motive for the admis-
sion was not philanthropic. 1t was
done as a means to secure the con-
tinuance of power in Republican
hands. The leaders of Che party
well knew that, if they could not re-
ly upon the gratitude of the black
race, they could rely upon its con-
spirit of subordination to
authority. So far as the pretence
was humani' arian it was false. The
leaders of the party did not need 70
be told that The political effect of the
Acknowledgement of the negroes woui1
be injurious but, under The domin-
ion of party spirit and personal am
bition, men prefer 70 ruin rather
than not to rule. They felt assured
that, so long as they remained in
possession of the Government, they
could rely upon The negroes to assist
them in procuring hat possession.-
1t was not upon their independence
but their servility of disposition that
they counted and in this. they
were correct. Locally, the negroes,
eve ywhele, are made the special
implements Of corruption. An or
der which, nei her individually nor
collce lively, has any stake in the
State, which pays no taxes and is a
beneficiary for its protection, cannot
be otherwise than a TOOL for dema-
gogues and an implement of misrule.
To the question, Have Che ne
groes of the United States been i'm
proved by their enfranchisement !
an answer, priori. may be given
by asking another. Is it possible
Tor an order of human beings to be
advantaged through their prostltu-
ton to unworthy purposes The
While politicians Of he United
Siates-as there is an abundance OF
examples to illus;rate-are not too
good o use, for bad ends, those whs
are 100 willing 20 be used. And The
facts of the case are in accurate cor
respondence with the induction
The negroes of the United States
are becoming rapidly demoralized
under the influence of their political
promotion which is operating adj
versely 70 those industrial prompt
ings 10 which it was hoped they
would respond on their liberation
from individual ownership. They
are crowding TO the cities and OBJ
tanning employment under public
agents where they make up b. their