The daily gazette., 1874-11-16
From the Baltimore Sun.
Peculiarities of the Colored PoIiti.

A special correspondent of the New
York Tribune, writing from New Or
leans, throws some light on the politi-
cal characteristics of the negroes, and
the feeling of the Southern whites to-
ward the blacks. His experience
seems to have been confined to Louisi-
ana, but his observations on the feel
ing of the whites in that State towards
the colored might probably DO exten-
ded to the whole South. The writer
remarks that the whites speak uni.
formly with kindness and friendliness
OF the negroes, but, as any one ac-
quainted with the usual characteris-
tics of the negro race might expect,
they add that the poor blacks have
been misled that, considering their
Ignorance, 1t was impossible they
should not be mislcd that their po-
litical associations have had bad In
fuence upon them that they have no
self-control and no independence
They do not accuse the negro of malice
or of innate depravity of nature
Their mistakes are attributed mainly
to Ignorance and misplaced confidence
Tho obsticles in the way of the self
assertion OF the negro are greater than
any one not acquainted with the condi-
tion of Southern politics can have any
idea of. Oath-bound leagues exist for
the sole purpose of preventing their
desertion of the Republican party.
They are led to believe that their free
dom depends on the supremacy of the
Republican party in the politics of the
country. Not the negroes, but the
white men who have misled them are
the objects of the Southern white
mans wrath. The church in the
South is powerful auxiliary Of the
league in the interests Of the Republi-
can party. Tho rural negro minister
makes strange mixture of the cause
OF Christ and the Republican party.
He cannot always separate the one from
the other. Says tho correspondent of
the Tribune 80,
Political announcements are made
at religious gatherings, and religious
announcements at political gatherings.
Election tickets are sometimes distrib-
uted by the very (officers..who circu-
late the baskets to receive contribu-
tions for the support of the church and
the pastor. In some churches prayers
are offered for the success of the Re
publican party with almost as much
Regularity as prayers for the conver-
sion of the world. In an exciting
| campaign the people are warned under
fearful penalties against political apos
tacy the sermon. becomes q political
harrangue, and party fellowship il
openly made prerequisite for fellow
ship in the church. In tho campaign
of 1872 very intelligent head man
on sugar plantation, which visited
the other day, realizing the obligations
of his race to Mr. Greeley, informed
his employers that he was going t
vote for Mr., Greeley. As the maj
was truthful his employer did no
doubt his sincerity, but, knowing thu
difficulties in the way, watched will
interest to see If he would carry on
his honest intentions. On the day o
election the negro came to him in evi
dent trouble. 'Mass' - said he
I told you ] was gwine to vote 70
Greeley, and if you keep me to de pre-
mise I'll do it shuah. But it's har
work, sab Hard work, shuah 7 Bt
ing pressed to an explanation he fina
ly stated that there had been bi
meeting at the neighboring church o
the day before, and that Brother Simor
the preacher, had openly threatene
to excommunicate any man votin
against the Republican ticket. II
was released from his promise, wei
s with tho crowd to the polls and vote
with the crowd, and it is hardly poss
t BILE that he will ever be free from IL
shackles forged by the party and ia
Q tened on by the church."
The Republican apostate is said {
r be ostracised also by negro societ,
C deserted by his former companion
and treated like traitor. Even Ii
y wife has been known to abandon hi
= because she would not live in hou
with a "nigger Democrat. The
g can be but little hope of the poll
r. cal regeneration of those Southel
r. States in which the colored eleme
n is predominant, unless the blacks, lii
h the whites, desire to establish the
. political organizations without rcft
ence to color. AS o contemporal
sensibly suggests, it may be that und
different regime from that of Ra(
calism they will develop political {
!, pacity of which symptoms have not y
appeared.