Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-19

COLOR AS an EAEME&T IN OU&
The Richmond Enquirer states some
facts which show very clearly the drift
towards the formation of parties on tie
basis Of color. The Enquirer says that
Immediately upon the enfranchisement of
TIE colored man in Virginia, he Vas not
only invited, but earnestly solicited, to CO.
operate with those amongst whom be had
been rearsd in a political party which prom
ised bin justice under impartial laws. max.
ing no dissemination Of rsce.n The response
be made TO the hand of friendship and fair
ness thus held out to him, IS thus stated by
the EnqaireT: GAS soon as be was invested
with the ballot he assumed an attitude Of
hostility TO the white man; and he has
learned nothing from experience. His race
is even more united ia opposition to the
Conservative party to-day than il was four
years ago. Every evidence of generous
feeling exhibited toward him by the party
in power in the State has been lost upon
him. he shows no appreciated Of the
BUSINESS Of the policy Of the people whom
he opposes moro and more strongly with
each recurring opportunity fora display of
his prejudices He, is In favor of whateyer
the Conservatives disapprove, and against
whatever they advocate and espouse. All
the negro wants to know at any election, in
order to determine upon the candidate for
whom his vote will be cast, Is who is the
man the great body Of the white people
are upporting-who is the Conservative
candidate. II Dir. Greeley has been rop
posed by the white men Of the South, does
anybody believe but that the negroes would
have been enthusiastic for limp"
Whist is here said Of the negroes in vir-
ginia viii hold good as 10 the race in the
other Southern States. There is no occa-
sion for this antsgonism of race, and yet it
is being forced upon the white people of the
South as persistently as II the existence of
the negroes depended upon srraying them
selves sin one sold body, as no other race
has done, against the men among whom
raised. A Massachusetts gentleman, who
has always acted with the Republican party,
stated in s letter TO the Boston Advertiser
several months ago, that be met with
large planter in South Carolina who in
formed him that be had retained on his plan
tstion nearly all Of his former slaves, aud
that they were in the habit of consulting
him about all their business anssCtions,
but that they never would vote as he did.
They had confidence in him so far as their
business interests were concerned, but when
politics stepped in they would shave none
of him." 1t is not SO with the different
races of white people. A majority of Ger
mans or Irishmen or other races DOM
iciled in this country may go with
one OF the political parties, but there is al
ways large minority who go with the op.
posite party. But this is not the case with
the negroes. They go together with a
unanimity: that is wonderful, and with q
strange perverseness against the men among
whom they propose to make their homes
and upon whom in so many instances they
are dependent for the means of making
support for themselves and their families.
There is no question that this policy is
working out its legitimate results. Year
by year the white man who owns The soil
is becoming more independent of the ne
gro, while the members Of the Democratic
party in the South have ceased to expect
ala from the negroes in any election. This
condition of affIirs bodies any thing but
good to the negro. Parties based upon po-
liticaI issues are necessity in republican
government, and the more nearly the par
ties are balanced, the better and more hon
estly will the government be administered.
But this thing of parties based on colcr
in States composing about one
third Of the Union, is new eIe-
NEXT in our political economy, and
if carried to its legitimate consequences,
cannot but result in disaster to the weaker
race, numerically as well as intellectually.
The problem which lis thus working out,
presents some serious questions for The con-
sideration of the more intelligent men of |
the African race-men who, by their posi- |
ticn and knowledge of men, scquired by OBJ
servGtion and reading, are entitled to be
heard and their counsel respected by their
race. The duty before them is plain, and |
it is for them to discharge DOr not as in |
clination may dictate. If the negroes de-
sire to become strange people in the land |
Of their birth and their manhood, they have |
but to pursue to its end the policy they have
adopted in the politics of the country.