The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-11-19
THE FUTURE CONDITION AND STA
TUS or THE NEGROES.

| ana re-echO over the broad land now that
the fierce passions which were kindled by
the war and made more bitter by the out
RACES Of an usurpIng government have given
way to fraternal feelings, and the white
wings of peace stretch over the country
now that crime and dishonesty have been
rebuked, and the minions of power sjgnally
, condemned, it becomes necessary for the
Democracy to prepare to grapple and deal
with the great questions of the day in q
broad and statesmanlike manner.
Much of the trouble and outrages to
which the South has been subjected by
Radical greed and hate can be traced to
the enfranchised negroes. That party
sought the control Of the several
States as a necessity for the protection
of the negroes. This was only pretext,
as we know. Their real purpose was to get
in position, so that they could manipulate
the treasures. But all Of these issues from
Radical standpoint have passed into his
tory, except the fate Of the civil rights bill,
which may or may not be acted upon by
Congress at the next session. As the mem
bers elected on the third instant do not
take their seats before the fourth of March
next, in the second session of the Forty
third Congress the Radicals will have ample
time to show what they have in store for the
country.
The eyes of the world will be turned to-
wards the Democratic party SO soon as they
shall come into power, IN order to find out
their policy and purposes. Among the
great questions which will require solution,
will be the one of the condition and status
of the negroes. 1t has been all along con-
tended by the Radicals that Democratic
successes would destroy the liberty, rights
and privileges of the colored people; and
they were for many years deferred
from voting and acting with them
on account of this assertion, which was
persistently dinned into their ears. But
Democrats as pertinaciously declared that
such was not the fact, and that they would
be as safe and free under Democracy as in
the embrace of Radicalism. In the course
of time Georgia and Texas overthrew Radi-
calism, and thus removed the shield which,
it was alleged, was the only safeguard of
the negroes. At first we verify believe that
the poor deluded creatures expected to feel
the bloody hand of the Ku Klux, and
looked for them through the black shades
Of night But, as weeks and months rolled
on, and they were as secure, and much more
prosperous, than under the spoils-bearing
party, they began to see that the whites of
the South were not the terrible and vindictive
enemies that they were induced to believe.
The great speech of the Hon. Carl Schurz,
of Missouri, also did a vast amount ofsgood
for them, and pointed cut, in clear and
plain language the true road to political
freedom and the security of personal rights.
We have reason to believe that that speech
did much good. 1t was great light at a
point and from source which carried con-
viction of the honesty of purpose and wis
dom of the plan proposed. The negroes at
the elections held on the third instant
proved by their votes that they appreciated
the situation and intended in the future to
maintain their political as well as their
personal freedom. Louisiana would have
been lost to the Conservatives, had it not
been for the votes of the colored people.
Caddo Parish had twelve hundred majority
of colored voters, and yet that parish gave
six hundred Conservative majority. In
New Orleans there were several colored
Conservative clubs, and the Democratic
majority of the city was largely increased
by their votes. In other portions of the
State there is indisputable evidence which
shows that they voted with the whites.
in Alabama, great many did likewise.
The riot in Eufaula was caused by a col
ored man who voted the Democratic ticket,
and was about to be mobbed for so doing
by men Of his own color, but the whites
defended him at the risk of their lives and
severely punished the aggressors. The col
ored people having given proof of their sin
cere desire to work out their political fu-
ture to the best advantage for their race,
they now stand before the American people,
as body, asking that their condition and
status may be wisely and humanely deter
mined.
While it is true that the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments were not adopted ac-
cording to.the provisions of the Constitu-
ton, still, by acquescence and Endorsement,
we have recognized their validity; and it
would not be wise or well to disturb them.
The great damage has already been done.
We have passed through the crucible of ne
gro suffrage and have reached the broad
plane of human rights with full conscious
ness of their Importance and influence.
We cannot turn backwards, If we would.
But, fortunately, there is now no necessity
for such a course. The colored voters can
be led to see, as many Of them do, that
whatever is good in the government for the
whites, viii also be for their benefit; that
their interests are identical; that when the
whites suffer, they win suffer; and when
the whites prosper, they viii also. The
only difficulty which remains for solution,
is the one Of qualified suffrage, which
would be applicable alike to all. But this
would be attended with dangers which we
may not now be able to avoid.
Therefore we think that it viii be wise
for the Democrats not to disturb the cOndi-
tions Of suffrage BY an educational or a
property qualification; but to disids ths ques-
tioas to b C0teR spoa - este Prohibit taration
ef properly for specific Purpos,s e1cPt 6g sy-
.1rugnns ssAo ora property ef a .Jl1eF Uaiue. In
the election Of all officers and represents