The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-16
COLUMBIA. s. c.
Tuesday Morning. July 18, 1872.
For President Of the United States.
Fol, Vice- President.
b. GRATZ BROWN. OF Missouri.
sday Morning. July 18, 1872.
Plain Talk to the Colered People.
b. GnATz BROWN. OF MISSOURI.

Plain Talk 10 tho Col0reO Fe0ptes
We wish, this morning. to say few
words to our oolored citizens, which
shall be simple and practical, and which,
we hope, will be not only comprehended
and logically digested, but will be dis
cussed and reasoned among themselves;
that they may thereby perceive the
exact relations they bear to the whites
who are ''native here, and to the man
ner born" as also to those who are de-
signated as soalawags and carpet-bsg-
gers. as we'll as their duty to themselves.
We shall address ourselves directly to
the colored citizens of the State. and
will first undertake to prove to your
understanding that under our present
form Of government, there is no distino-
tion between Democracy and Repnbli-
eanism, properly speaking. The word
democracy is from the Greek. Demos,
the people; crateo, to rule. Therefore,
democracy is the rule of the people. The
word republican is of Latin origin. Res.
a thing OF an affair; pu6licus. public.
Therefore, republicanism is popu-
lar form of government; government
in which the peorle choose their rulers;
in short, democratic rule. Now, there
being no distinction between democracy
and republicanism, in their original or
Photographed sense, wherein exists the
difference when applied to the political
pasties in this country? Why, &e will
tell you; only in the name that you feel
called upon to give yourselves or us, by
which to distinguish those who formerly
advocated and maintained negro slavery.
and whom, you believe, are still the ad-
vocates of that system, and those who
have been equally ardent in their sup
port Of government under which all
men, white and black, should be free
and equal. Well, suppose those appella-
tions bore sufficient significance to main
tain that distinction in 1860, or in 1866.
Has not the system which gave rise to
the distinction been swept away? The
Republican party rode into power on
the popular cry, ''the Union," and
lugged in the abolition of slavery as the
main stay to it's existence. In due course
OF time, the emancipation of slavery was
decreed and accomplished. That act de-
stroyed The dividing line between the
two parties. If the Republican party
claims to have given you your freedom,
their claim is a fraudulent one; for there
we're about as many Democrats in the
Union armies as there were Republicans;
as we'll also in the national legislature.
The thirteenth, fourteenth aud fifteenth
amend men:s TO the Constitution of the
United States were submitted to the
people for ratification. and they became
part and paroepof that instrument by
popular declaration. The advocates of
she measures claim that they were adopt
ed by an overwhelming majority. Then.
why do you call white man, who is op-
posed to the present administration,
Democrat any more than Republican?
Whcre do you draw the line of differ
enoe? For our part, we cannot perceive
it. It formerly existed, when part of
the people-the colored race-were in
slavery. and had no voice or vote in the
choice of the country's rulers; but now,
when the Constitution and laws of the
country place all men upon civil and
political equality, there is but one party,
as far as Republication or Democracy is
concerned; and when slavery existed, the
parties in the country should have been
designated as anti-slavery and pro.slavery
parties.
But We will proceed to the matters we
had under consideration when We started
out. And before going farther, let us
tell you, colored fellow.citizens, that We
do not propose to deal with national af-
fairs in the course of our remarks, but
intend to conAne ourselves wholly to
local matters, and may refer to the sub
ieot Of slayery again in illustration OF our
views. - -
Now, what we're and are the relations
between yourselves and the white oiti-