New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-23
Republican Fidelity.

Republican Fidelity.
We still cherish faith in the Republican
party. The isolated cases of downright in
difference among Republicans to the negro's
welfare, which may occur in States like Vir-
ginia and Georgia, serve only to mark with
conspicuous emphasis the general sympathy
and the prevailing honesty which obtains in
the States which have sent Sumner to the
Senate and Butler to the House of Represen-
tatives.
While here and there men may be found
who are bounded in their political philan-
thropy by personal ambition for place and
sordid estimates of negro support in securing
positions, the fact remains that the great
heart of the common people North still beats
with such emotions Of patriotism as takes in
with loving "reminiscences every instrument
and agency that assisted in preserving our
great institutions, and dedicates to the future
the black mans fidelity to the nation as the
especial object of their mutual reverence and
their hope.
BY some it may he forgotten that the col.
ored man never knew hesitation in the hou,
of the nations peril, and that his brave deeds
were the interpreters of his patriotic in.
stincts; others may forget his fidelity to the
party of emancipation may forget that his
loyalty made US able to rejuvenate half an
empire; but Congress, in making an est.
he
demption of the nation, has never under.
estimated the presence and power of the
colored man upon Southern soil.
Nor can these happy and harmonious rela'
tons be disturbed without the grossest reck'
lessness on the one side and the most unpar'
donable stupidity on the other.
Upon the fair and faithful acknowledgment
of the blacks every right depends too many
problems to allow of trifing on the part O
the Southern nation, or Of treachery among
so-called carpet-baggers. The members o
the Republic are linked to it and to one an
other in bonds so indissoluble that no race
can afford to indulge in the guilty pastime o
badgering the feeble race, or join in the
guiltier conspiracy to build its glory upor
another races shame.
For long time to come the South mus
depend upon agriculture. The dryness of it:
climate, the ignorance of its population, the
scarcity of capital, the unsettled condti IN o
its society, and, above all, the viruence o
its political animosities, unite to forbid the
ingress of The enterprising emigrant, the
skilled artisan, and inflow Of money neces
sary to the development Of its mineral re
sources, the establishment of manufactures
and the building of great railroads.
1t is conceded that the colored man i.
especially fitted for agricultural labor-tha
he likes it, and thrives in it, and that along
with this natural fitness for the cline ant
industries of the South, he possesses an ire
pressiblc desire for education, for social ad
yancement, and religious progress. Is it moi
then easily seen that whatever party obtains
the ascendency in the South it must fa
without the hearty cooperation Of the colorei
people? The faith of our people in the Re.
publican party is rs simple as it is firm
They do not look for social combinations O,
even religious intercourse, as means Of solv.
iny the great problem wrapped up in theil
presence upon Southern soil. They turn
their eyes TO the national center with the
faith of a religious devotee, and with the con.
stancy of Jewish exile, with the simple but
sublime ejaculation Of the Scripture, 40 Lord
make haste to help u.s."
Heretofore but little stress has been put
upon thrift and economy among colored peo-
pie, but during these few weeks of financial
excitement an examination has been made
into the monetary capacity of the colored
people, and it has been found that in less
than ten years the deposits of the lately
enfranchsed have amounted to nearly fifty
millions Of dollars, and that four millions OF
that amount was due them when the Freed
mans bank claimed its right to give notice
before tie withdrawal of funds So it turns
out that the jolly negro, of whom it was
thought that only songs and dances waited
on his exertions, is riyaling his white neighbor
in the creation of wealth and in the manage
ment Of his capital.
So, too, in the matter Of education. His
strides are unexpected and unprecedented
lie has become a teacher as well as student.
He startles the quiet neighborhood of the
South by the swarms Of his offspring which
deluge the school-houses, and astonishes the
highest circles of Europe by the displays of
genius and art in song and culture.
Where then is the wisdom of keeping up
among either the natives or those
who seem to fear the natives more than the
negro does?
Where is the justice Of delaying the fulfill
ment Of the pledges made to us by the party
with which we have honestly, sacrifcingly,
and hopefully acted:
Let the sharp pressure now upon US, and
the indications given in Ohio, where some
have grown discouraged through hope de-
erred, awaken all good Republicans to a
realization Of the seriousness OF the situation.
Justice will save Us all. Fair dealing will