The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-11-27
TIE NEGRO IN FARpEMAN

THE NEGRO IN FARDEMAN.
The negro here as elsewhere has been
% great extent, since the war, the tool
Of designing politicians. As voter he
has had to cast his ballot as one to two
against the white man. and this has pres
vented his attaining Office himself, while
he has been disturbing element in polls
ties and only able to help thOss who have
seen proper to excite hatred in his bosom
sZainst the only real friends he has, in
order to use him at the ballot box for
their own aggrandizement For all the
friendship shown him and for all the aid
extended to him by the only people in
the world, Who are inclined to help him
IN return for his labor, he has, as
general thing, shown only ingratitude by
lending his vote to exnlt those who pos
iitically and morally have shown them>
selves to be the very worst enemies with
whom the land owners CT this county
have had to deal There are rare ex
captions and We are glad that we can
cay it.
Il would be but just, when favCrs are
20 be extended by the tax payers of the
county, to give the preference to those
coIored people who have ehnwn them
selves to be the friends Of the white race
and have not been drawn off by men
Who make their appearance only once in
two years just rrior to the elections.
The white man has been trying for nine
years to convince the negro that be will
extend to him all the rights and privil-
sges guaranteed to him by law, but being
naturally hard TO convince, the appeals
to bis prejudices by such men as Lewis
Aad Smith, have almost invariably caus
si him to take the side of his worst en-
saieB.
Ths result Of the November election
ssttlsd the status of the negro in this
sonatry, and on that subject he has not
been 90 dull of comprehension He has
retired TO his cabin and talks politics no
more.
Pinehihg poverty approaches with
winter, and as the cod frosts come
through the crevices of his chimney, he
curses the folly Of voting with his enc
sniss and resolves to have no more of
t. Hard knocks have made an impress
sion and time will show whether it is
sphemeral. It may last for year, as
We have no politics to entice him from
his home. If so, he occupies position
80 a laborer which will enable him to
bsneHt both himself and thu country. In
4he absence of sufficient white labor it
will be to the interest of land owners
70 give the negro all needful encourage
ment to work, and now when there is q
dearth in the land, hunger will impel
him to exert himself.
We have now the very best opportu>
nifty since the war of showing tho negro
Who are his real friends, and believing
that his nine years of severe schooling
has taught him some valuable lessons,
re think it good policy to help him
through the sore trials of next year in
Eeturn for his labor. This policy can dc
40 harm and it may do much good in
bringing prosperity to tho country by
bountifui crops next year and, may VIC
aot hope, by convincing the negro, in
bis destitution, that he must cling to
those with whom he has been raised
and who understand his frailties.
That the negroes have shown much
insolence during the present year is quite
true-that We have been provoked with
their stability to see that distress would
oeme upon them as punishment for
their idleness is also true, but bad white
men have made it a business to excite
their prejudices for base party purposes,
and TO make them believe that they could
attain to social privileges which are re-
voting to the dominant race in this coun
try for which they are not intended
We have the negro among us and while
be may not enter as an important factor
10 the future politics of the country exN
eept in special localities, and while his
destiny is yet unsolved, we had better
hold him as a friend than as an emmy.
lie is a success as laborer in the cot
ton field, and with politics far removed
from him we have now chance to show
him that his labor will be rewarded, il
he will make the necessary effort.
The negro question was not solved by the
Emancipation Proclamation. 1, gave him
his freedom and subsequent Acts Of Con,
gress made him citizen As such he
has been placed upon the same footing
politically with the white man. w,
have to deal with him as citizen nd
have no power to send him out of the
country, ir it were desirable or prao'ica
BILE. This being the case, it is clearly t.
eur interest to give him all proper en-
enlargement to add to the material wenl,l
Of she country by his labor.
Our firm determination, therefore
should be TO rebuke his insoleuee, If nc
eessaEy, by all proper means, aud teacl
him that bic only hope for living in Thu
country is hard work.
As limited above, we believe that tn
mind of the negro is in a better condition
60 profit BY this severe lesson than it Ia
eveF been. Let Us make the best Of it
Two years ago, Freeman, the Republi
can candidate for governor, carried tort
counties. Maynard, this year carrie
only thirteen. The returns in the subeF
material election are very nearly compiler