New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-08-28


the negro men. This is the man who carried
the State of Ohio for Greeley. EsKIAN.
RICHMOND, Va, August p, 1873.
T. rs Eii'ors Of tie Ss,- National Err daf Citisen.
DEAR EDITORS: have just returned
from a meeting en- masse of the - Grand Mo-
guls" of the Democratic party in this state.
But before | enter into description of the
meeting and its speakers, let me say some
thing about the very well-known insignia
adopted by the city central committee of that
party.
This insignia is * X X" Now, We, the
Republicans, are Somewhat strict construc-
tionists when we have to consider Democratic
signs and words; so we say that this is
nothing more and nothing less than Ku Klux
Klan, for as it has been adopted by Demo-
cratic organization, and knowing as We do
the hatred of the Democrats to the colored
men, we say that these initials have buried
behind them every thing that appertains to
the Ku Klux spirit brought into existence
soon after the close of the war.
/ The Hon. A. II. III. Stuart, formerly Secre-
tary of the Interior, was expected to be
present to address the assembly; but as this
gentleman could not be present, he thought
he could enlighten the people Of Virginia,
by writing letter touching upon the condi-
ton of the negro, socially, politically, and
morally.
| His epistle to the Hebrews is quite incon-
sistent; inconsistent in that it acknowledges
the design of the colored race to rule Vir-
ginia; and yet he says the negroes have
shown and acknowledged their incompetency
from the fact of their having nine-tenths of
the Republican votes of this State, and yet
refuse to place colored man on the ticket.
If this gentleman's remarks were really true
with regards to their desire to rule Virginia.
why did they not place colored man on the
State ticket: Why don't they place colored
men in all the offices in the counties of the
State when they have majority? Sirs, the
ignorant as well as the educated negro of
this State does not deny that the majority of
his race are incompetent to hold office; and
their way of MISUNDERSTANDING this incompetency
is by the placing of white men in office. Mr.
Stuart further says that "the blacks are ar
rayed against the whites" Is this really
so? Who heads our State ticket to-day
Robert W. Hughes the recognized leader of
editors of his native State, and who devoted
his pen, his speeches and name to the cause
of the cOnfederacy. Let A. II. H. Stuart,
r. NJ. 7. Hunter and the rest of the Demo-
cratic leaders of this State like Hughes rec
ognizc the negro as a BROTHER and, recogniz-
ing him as a brother give him all the rights
he is justly entitled to then will the colored
element OF this State file under the banner
Of kemper, Wethers and Daniel, with the
same patriotic devotion with which they are
following Hughes, Ramsdell and Fultz. Mr..
Stuart also says that if the State comes I'M
der Republican rule we will suffer grinding
taxation, State and individual bankruptcy.
L will say that it is almost impossible for
the people of this State to bear any heavier
taxation than at present; and as heavy as
the taxation is, the Democratic authorities Of
the State scarcely pay the interest on the
State debt, much less the principal.
AS to bankruptcy, will say that there
ilolC thto otdlC IMAM y
other in the Union and not only mairidua
bankrupts, for the State itselfis about to take
the Bankrupt Act" in the form of repuda
ton. All this is accomplished under Demo
cratic rule pray what could the Republicans
do to harm more this tme-honored but now
almost God-forsaken Commonwealth.
Prior to the commencement Of the Demo
cratic rally, three balloons went up, repre-
senting Kemper, Withers, and Daniel. W.
think that on the fourth Of November mex
) If the political carcasses Of these three pc
litical chieftains will not be received il
the air, that they will be gently con
, veyed up Salt river. Our gallant Governor
J Walker presided Walker has the eradcabl,
misfortune of being carpet-bagger; ant
! in order to obtain and hold the confidence Of
the +. +. VS.. has TO stOop to a great many
things unbecoming Governor. Gen. KEN
per, the Democratic nominee for Governor
was the first speaker. His speech was simpl.,
a rehash of old Democratic editorials abus
ing the negro and white Republicans. Thu
Dispatch says: lie pictures in brillian
7 colors the condition Of affairs in South Caro-
lima and Louisiana"
| Col. Withers followed in the same strain
The principal speaker Of the occasion was thu
i Honorable II. NJ T. Hunter, ex-U United State
Senator from this State. This gentleman i,
good scholar and quite fine orator.
/ His speech was quite mastery effort il
behalf of the cause for which it was intended
: Mr.. Hunter says ''If 1 am called upon t
suggest the measure which would soonest re
store the Southern States to peace and pros
, perity, 1 would say put their State Govern
f ments substantially in the hands ofthe whites
of those States as far as may be consisten
with the Constitution Of the United States a
it now stands, and with the circumstances o
the country. Let the Carolinians govern thu
Carolnas, the Georgians govern Georgia, AZ,
the Virginians Virginia"
, The better part of his speech was taken VI
: in trying to produce some ideas on the de
funct and almost extinct State rights argu
) ment.
All Of the speakers said some fine thing
about the colored man but we say to then
as the blind men said TO their guides whei