The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1874-12-16
A Fair Field and NO Favor.

Fair Field and NO Favor.
II 10 too early to condemn the negro ~
. political failure. He has not had Q fair
chance. Petted and psmpered by one
political party and distrusted and abused
by another, 1t Is not strange that, like .
child subjected to similar treatment, he
should sign' of turning out badly. Little
OF tho legislation ostensibly framed for
his protection has been really designed
for his benefit, and that with q good
object has too often been perverted to his
injury. The object has been to keep him
In . good humor with particular polit-
ical party, and to secure his vote for that
party, rather than to qualify him for the
duties Of citizenship and to protect him
in their free and intelligent exercise. In
making the Constitution of Virginia, On
sxtrssagsnt homestead provision was
framed 90 as to encourage him 20 idle.
- -.ahse than En.4.r habits Of INDUSTRY
and thrift. In South Carolina and Lou
isisHa email Offices were multiplied inor-
dinately with to rswardlng plantation
Politiciana In Alabama thisving has been
actually encouraged by laws throwing
OBSTACLES IN the ~=5 6! petty larceny. In
nearly every Southern State the negro
has been relieved from taxation, in many
cases not even poll tax being required,
and the lesson taught was that the white
people ought to bear all the expenses of
the Government, although debarred An
equitable share in its administration.
There h q reason to fear that many of the
provisions Of tho Federal Reconstruction
laws were conceived or modified In the
same spirit, while they were palatabls to
tho honest voters of tho North by the
plea that the freedom of the freedman
was In danger. Even when . law was
excellent in design and letter, the negro
was often persuaded that it was enact.
cd to place him above his white neigh
bors, rather than an equal with them, and
the word passed from cabin to cabin, that
do what he might, Congress and the
President would secure him against the
penalty of crime. We can point to hardly
. single case in which the colore d people
have used the ballot box for the best in.
terest Of their race or their country. rbe
white men whom they have elected to
Office have been as rule only those who
have pandered to their worst tastes aud
prejudices; men deprave. or ignorant.
or both. The negroes who have been
thus elevated are not less discreditable
representatives Of their constituencies.
There are few honorable exceptions
such msn as ex-senator Revels of Missis-
sippi and Lieut-Gov. Gleavcs of South
Carolina among the number; but all the
exceptions man be counted on ones fin.
gers. The ablest mon of the culorsd race
are to he found in educational institu.
tions, editing newspapers, preaching the
gospel, or even in the humber walks of
life. It is fair to presume that Fred
Douglass would stand small chance Of
getting South Carolina senatorship II
pitted sgainst Congressman tlliotts sharp
practice or the gresnbacks of Senator
Patterson.
! What 10 the remcdyf With sincere
good wishes for the we; fare of the colored
man, We honestly b-lieve that IL may be
found In the treatment Of the colored cit
lien as other citizens are treated. Let
him be taught that, having secured his
freedom and his citizenship, he must no
4 longer conader himself ward of the
nation. He should learn that honesty Il
the hrst qualification for Office, and tha.
the man who combines honesty with edu.
cation 10 the msa best fitted to be q ruler
OF the people. BE must learn, too, that
legislation can do little II any moro than
it has done for his sdxsnccment, socially
or politically. The rest is With him.
hesntsme, po:iticaI psrfise can not do bss.
ter than keep their hands OF tho negro snd
give him chance to work out him own
salvation. He knows his rights, and the
Jaws on the statute-books are ample fol
his protection. With fair chance, and
/ with no more time than he is entitled to
claim after centuries.of bondage and ig.
norance, We belieyehs will establish his
right to retain the ballot box. even if he
e himself convinced that he got it pre-
maturely. Twenty years hence 1t will be
time enough to- pronounce the expert
ment OF universal suffrage an unmitiga,
ted failurc.--N r. Tribune.