New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-03
Down with the Nisger!

Down with the Niger!
1t does by no means require an unusually
acute sense Of hearing to distinguish this old
Democratic war whoop through all the sweet
love songs with which our Liberal and Demo-
cratic friends endeavor to enticc us to their
ances to the effect that all the laws securing
equal rights to the negro will be as religiously
respected and enforced under their rule as
under that of the most radical Republicans.
To be sure, it is not roared out directly and
openly, as in old times, when the Democratic
leaders and standard-bearers inscribed their
favorite doctrine of "thc white mans gov
eminent" on their banners, and now flatter-
ing the gross prejudices of the rabble by
chronological proofs Of the inferiority of the
black race; now string up their evil passions
by horrid pictures of the inevitable conse-
quences Of negro equality, deliberately in
cited and encouraged persecution and ,io-
lence on the contrary! Benevolent looking,
smooth-mouthed gentlemen stretch out their
hands, and, with patronizing smile, they
assure the negro of their everlasting friend
ship; and it is only by way of circumlocu-
tionary insinuations, through inference that
the white masses are to como to the conclu-
sion that they will be oppressed, their own
rights interfered with, unless they do away
with Republican rule and negro equality
The pretended evils of carpet-baggers' gov
eminent, and the terrible sufferings of the
poor unrepentant rebels are painted in the
darkest colors, and the chief cause of this
sad state of affairs is discovered in the vote
Of the ignorant negroes, through which those
scanps got into power. Thus the keynote
is struck for the favorite Democratic air ::
"Down with the nigger!'
Horace Greeley admits that his enmity to
slavery was perhaps a mistake, and that
there were excuses and provocations for the
known that these outrages were committed
for the sole object of frightening the colored
people out of the exercise of the right of suf-
frage, the inference lies near, that negro suf-
fragc and negro equality are evils so aggra-
waiting as to mitigate essentially the guilt of
those midnight assassns, and occasion is
given for the characteristic Democratic shout:
"Down with the nigger!'
Theodore TiltOn, with a fine oratorical
flourish, asserts that the white people of the
South often suffer terrible provocations from
| the negroes, who are intoxicated with their
new-iound freedom, and mistake liberty for
| license. He knows perfectly well that, far
from enjoying any privileges, in many places
they are not yet allowed the full exercise
of all the rights guaranteed to them by law
yet he furnishes an excuse to intoxicated
Democratic rowdies for raising the yell /:
"Down with the nigger!'
Edward Pollard, who some time ago en-
phatically and pathctically, with professions
| OF VAIN interest, warned the c0lorcl people
against casting their votes in a body for the
Republican candidate, took the ground that
due consideration for their own welfare re-
quired division Of their vote, lest in case OF
Democratic victory, achieved in spite OF
their unanimous opposition, they might again
be deprived Of the right of suffrage in punish
ment for their obstinacy. This threat is but
too Ineligible signal for tho familiar De-
mocratic refrain: "Down with the nigger!'
| Hon. j. r. Doolittle, vrtuous, but dcsti-
tute of taste and judgment, as we have been
informed by the Tribune, in consequence OF
this defect, is less guarded and cautious in
his utterances. He has disclosed the true
designs of his party to put an end to "ne.
gro supremacy" and thus has assumed the
enviab'e position Of a prompter of the famous
Democratic campaign song: "Down with
the nigger."
To leave, however, no doubt either to the
dullest understanding, or to deaf ears, the
representatives OF the Southern fire-eaters
as for instance the Richmond Enqui,er, as
well as those of Northern rowdyism, such as
the blessed old Btathaskite, incapable and
unwilling to control their negotiating pro-
| pensities, indifferent to the dictates of sense
and prudence, are actually fddling and whist
ling, huinming and bawling the old melody,
inviting the rabble to roar in chorus the
Democratic hymn: g. Down with the Mig
ger!"
Thus the seeds of the old negro hatred are
slyly strewn out by political tricksters, wher-
| ever the soil is deemed favorable. No doubt
they would rapidly grow under tho fostering
hands of the Democracy and yield full crop,
If they were not destined to be swept away
by the great tidal wave Of an overwhelming
Republican victory.
B4rIn another column will be found an
interesting speech on the political Situa-
ton, J" by Hon. John F. Quarles, colored