New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-25

the last "nigger' in Virginia before they
would submit. And when it come to ing
gers voting! Jimony! Show ME white
man that would go to the polls with one
Where, oh, where was there a man with a
white skin that would suffer such an indigni-
ty? And yet, to-day we find ringers {"
reading and writing, and even study Geogra-
ply, Grammar and Arithmetic, without mo-
lestation and none dare make them afraid.
And on election day, if one Of the colored
folks will only vote the Conservative ticket,
he can get a hack ride, and that too with a
white man on each side of him. Just so
would we find all the blatherskte and bonn
bast to disappear when once the Civil-Rights
Bill was fixed fact. The most lamentable
fact is, that of the great number of scala
ways" and carpet-bags," who hold office
in Virginia, under the Federal government !;
not one, as far as l am able to learn, is in
favor of, or has the manliness to ayow HIM
self the friend of this just and necessary
measure. l claim that it is just, because it
elevates millions of people and degrades
none, and because it is in strict accord with
the doctrine of equality as expressed in the
Declaration of Independence. That it is
necessary, l have never doubted, because it
will dispense with the necessity for future
legislation for any peculiar race or class. So
long as either political party which exists
now, or may hereafter exist, finds it neces-
sary to mention NEGRO" or ''color'' in ma
tional legislation, just that long will we of
the South be in condition of servtude to
prejudice and prescription, who fear any
measure tending to elevate the negro and
improve his condition. But, Mr.. Editor, my
efforts to arouse the negroes of this district
and State to proper appreciation of their
ability to control this question and their du-
ty to make that power potential, will be Of
no avail, until the masses ignore and repu-
date those of their own color who live by
hiring themselves to politicians, and who sell
their birthrights for even less than that
accepted by Esau of old. Should the pres
ent Congress fail or refuse to pass the bill,
and the colored voters of the South neglect
to make it an issue in the coming Congress
sional contest, l fear from present indications
the Republican party will pass out of exist
ence without having fulfilled its mission
without having added the finishing stone to
the splendid edifce it has erected in behalf
Of the people who, for two hundred years,
were held in bondage by us of the South,
and to whose labors and fidelity we owe so
much for the advantages many of us now
enjoy. OF the great debt of gratitude due
the negro, and the first payment Of which is
yet withheld by the Southern people, 1 mean
at no distant day to make the subject of a
series of letters which, if not very interest
ing, will be filled with truths. But a few
lines back 1 referred to indications looking to
the end of our party. We are apt to judge
the condition Of things generally by facts
which exist in our midst, and 1 base my pre-
diction upon what 1 see going on at home.
From Virginia we now have five members of
the House of Representatives and one Sena-
tor. After the expiration of their present
terms, unless great changes take place with
out delay, the next delegation will consist of
but two Republican representatives, and, it
is even probable, Of but one. Here in Rich
mond, the metropolitan district Of the State,
We have the principal Federal offices filled
| by persons utterly worthless as party mana.
gers. The Custom House is full Of individu-
ais who seem to have no regard for party,
but make their personal and pecuniary ad.
their acts. Their subordinates are mere
tools, without reputation or fame in the par
ty, many of them known to be outspoken
enemies of the party which is supporting
them. This Custom House has been, and
still is, the refuge Of persons who could new
err exist week in Virginia without office
and who never had an idea Of remaining here
except to obtain living through Uncle Sam
They are no sooner out of place than anoth
er is found for them, or they leave without
ceremony. l might cite youto several nota
bic instances to sustain what l say, but
presume no one will deny the truth of wha
1 assert. We will never be able to correc
these and numerous other outrages, but WI
will soon see the fruits of such mistaken
policy in diminished strength, and in th
retirement from the party Of many of it
best men.
We carried Virginia IN 1872, not, as man
suppose, by the weakness of the enemy
ticket and the strength of our own, but be
cause we had well-managed campaign an
the administration was ready to and di
make changes in the officials that enabled u
to work successfully, but the great reaso
was because nearly every colored man in tn
South was at the polls on election day an
voted the Republican ticket. Witness tn
conduct in our last gubernatorial struggle
, The managers of that campaign with an ey
, more to promotion and administration fave
in the future than for party success, neglect
ed the colored voters, made no efforts to ca
out their votes, and lost the State by stupid
ty that was criminal. We are going to re
, peat the same thing next fall. 1 fear. If OF
e good President would only inform his officia
, that they need expect no favors from h
, hands, where they become candidates to /
:. beaten only that they may control the pa
5 ronage, he would assist us very materially
e but this do not hope for, seeing that his a.
visers in Virginia are of that class to who
n 1 refer.
: Civil rights and all other ''rghts" elaine
k by Republicans, will soon disappear frol
/, Virginia, unless material changes are SOC
r made and especially in this district, for,
n repeat, there is not prominent official her
>ct onJ ,3o,,bt if fhara ia ono in tho Stoto MI