New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-04
The editor Of the Agpcai follows his caption
with TIL. Introductory paragraph:


with TIL. Introductory paragraph:
I'VE have nothing against the negro ~ n
negro. On the contrary, quite the reverse.
But Pompey and Sambo DISGUST us wnen
they appear in the role Of politicians. Inc
TACT is, they do not belong to the proper
breed of folks 70 undertake 10 rule white
men, Anl,lo-Saxous The unnatural attempt
to do this thing has been inaugurated, and Is
now IN progress in Virginia. II has peeh
instigated By a few seurvy white leaders, VINO
furnish what little brain is necessary to Per,
feet, drill, and organize, and keep the herd
together, in consideration n the offices which
they hope to obtain"
1t will be seen here that the whole objec-
ton of the appeal TO the negro is the TACT
that he unites rih his friends, the Republic
cans, and against his enemies. the Conserva-
tives. "Pompey" would, doubtless, dsii9h
the Democrats and rebels Of the South, and
receive the highest encomiums for shrewd-
ness and wisdom as a politician, were he to
throw his influence in favor Of 1" Ole massa.'
The appeal considers the white Republi-
+ cans of Virginia who are supported by COL
ored men "scuryy'' leaders. In the very
next column to the one from which We clip
the above, in noticing a rumored visit Of GER
tain colored men to General Kemper to assure
him Of their support, the appeal urges the
Conservative candidate to become "scuryy"
leader in the following language:
"We suggest, in regard to the vote OF the
negroes it should neither be solicited nor
rejected. That is the way We feel about it,
The negro vote of Virginia in favor of Con-
servatism of course would render the success
of that ticket foregone conclusion. With
out it there is some doubt therefore, it must
not be rejected Perhaps the Appeal dis
covers entire consistency in its position.
Further along in the leader we are in
formed that history writes the whites of Nir-
gina as the descendants of the most distin-
guished race Of men, in all respects, the world
has ever known while "the whole history of
the negro is one dark, dead, level Of harhar-
ism and bestiality.'
, Does the editor of the appeal know any
thing Of the Roman account Of his descend
ents, when Julius Cesar began his mission
airy work among them some fifty-three years
before Christ-a work continued by the Nor
man conqueror? History tells of no people
on Gods earth, snatched from more abject
condition Of barbarism and bestiality' than
these same descendants. And pray what
had they been about during the four thousand
years before Cesar stirred them up: Name,
if you can, their "heroes, ""poets, ""states-
men," and shipbuilders" previous to the
example set them BY the Romans and Nor
mans.
For any advancement which the negroes
may have made in this world, in any degree
creditable to them, the Appeal ascribed the
credit to American slavery in the following
: language:
"The noblest specimens Of their stock, all
will concede, have been reared and developed
beneath the lash and the tutlage of the
Anglo-Virginian master. The most illustri-
, GUS compliment ever paid the institution of
, negro slavery was paid by the party now in
power in these United States, when it pro-
nounced the negroes of the South qualified
, for the responsibilities of citizenship. So it
, appears that even our enemies concede our
assertion, that under the lash of the Southern
master, the negro attained the highest posi-
: ton ever occupied by any portion Of his
race
This piece Of reasoning is remarkable as
coming from descendants of the illustrious
Anglo-Saxon race. Under an application of
the principles of logic and common sense, its
substance vanishes as mist before a morn
: ing sun.
1t is true that beneath the lash, )" or, not
, outstanding the lash, in spite of the chains
, and degrading influences of American slav-
in Spita Of oil 1nu r,alyino al
offence to educate negroes, despite fugitive
slave laws, black laws, and decisions of the
Supreme Court of the United States, the
; negroes have furnished an astronomer in the
person of Banneker, whom Thomas Jefferson
complimented Placde and Phillis Wheatley,
poets; Douglass and Iangston, orators !;
Paul Cutiey, an enterprising ship-owner,
well known to Nirginians Older than the
editor of the Appeal; and others whose names
would fill an entire column. And yet the
editor Of the appeal considers that slavery
deserves the credit for having developed
these characters. Upon the same principle
slavery is to be thankedfor the emancipation
proclamation, the reconstruction measures,
and all the results Of the late war. Upon
the same principle the devil, having beguled
Adam and Eve, is to be praised for the great
plan Of salvation.
Having further reference to the most
illustrious compliment ever paid the institu-
ton of negro slavery, We may inform the
appeal that the party in power in the United
? States did not pronounce so much upon the
qualifications of negroes for citizenship as the
disqualification of rebels. In the reconstruc-
ton of the South, loyalty to the Union was
the essential qualification. The Appeal
knows that at the end of the war such LOYALTY
with some noble exceptions) was to be found
only in the negroes OF the South and the
Union soldiers who remained there upon the
breaking up of its armies.
We accept, with pleasure, the grudging
concession of the appeal that the negroes are
qualified for the responsibilities Of citizenship,
but these qualifications are the results of the
use which they have made of opportunities
and facilities offered, as well as experience
gained since the Institution ofslayery received
its death knell.
The appeal thinks Fate has decreed that
I