New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-09

were conceived or modified IN the same spirit,
while they were made palatablo to the honest
voters of the North by the plea that tho free
dom of the freedman was in danger. Even
when law was excellent In design and letter,
the negro was often persuaded that 1t was
enacted to place him above his white
neighbors rather than on an equality 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. The idea of the newly
enfranchised race was expressed by their com
mon saving that ode bottom rail on top, now
and by their almost universal belief that
every negro in t1e South was to have iorty
acres of land and mule, by way OF compen-
sation for what he suffered in the days Oh
Slavery.
The course of treatment to which We refer
has had an effect 50 unfortunate that the
minds Of the warmest friends OF the negro
are filled not only with the glOOmiest doubts
as TO his future, but with some suspicion that
he ought not to have been clothed with tho
right of suffrage. We can point to hardly
single case in which the colOred people nave
used the ballot for the best interests OF their
race or their country. Tho white men whom
they have elected to Office have been as a
rule only those who have pandered to their
worst tastes and prejudices; men depraved, or
ignorant or both. The negroes who have
been thus elevated arc not less discreditable
representatives of their constituencies. Ihcre
are a few honorable exceptions; such
men as ex-senator Revels of Mississippi ana
Lieut.. Gov. Gleaves of South Carolina among
the number; but all the exceptions may De
counted on ones fingers. The ablest men OF
the colored race are to be found IN educa-
tional institutions, editing newspapers, preach
ing the gospel, or in even the humber Walks
of life. 1t is fair to presume that Fred Doug
lass would stand small chance. OF getting
South Carolina SenatOrship ii pittcd against
Con gresham Ellott's sharp practice or the
creenbacks of Senator Paterson. Louisiana
more than any other State in the Union can
boast cOlored men of Responsibility, wealth
and culture; even before the war some OF
them mingled in society with the most arls-
tocratic white men of their State; but the
Louisiana negroes reject such material ana
confer their honors upon Pinchback or an
Antoine, who have a smatterlng OF education
indeed, and much shrewdness but scant hon
esty.
What is the rcmedy' With sincere good
wishes for tho welfare of the colOred man. we
honestly believe that it may be found in the
treatment of the cOlored citizen as other citi-
zens are treated. Let him be taught that,
having secured his freedom and his citizenship,
he must no longer consider himself q ward of
the nation. He should fight his own battles,
the Government charging itself only with the
duty of seeing that lie has fair play. He
should learn that his manhood, not lis color,
was considered by those who gave him free
dom and suffrage; that patriotism, not party
fealty, makes the good citizen that honesty
is the first qualification for office, and that
the man who combines honesty with educa-
ton is the man best fitted to be ruler of the
people. He must learn, too, that legislation
can do little if any more than it has done
for his advancement, socially or politically.
The rest is with him. 1t is gratifying to per-
ceive that these lessons have already found
their way into the minds of a few represent
alive men of the cOlOred race, as is shown by
the late elections in the South-notably In the
Independent Republican movement In South
Carolina and the detection from Kellogg in
Louisiana. 1t will be well if the leaven speed
lily permeates the mass. Meantime, political
parties cannot do better than keep their hands
off the negro and give him chance to work
out his own salvation. He knows his rights,
and the laws on the statute-Dooks are ample
for his protection. With a fair chance, and
with no more time than he is entitled to claim
after centuries OF bondage and ignorance, we
believe he will establish his right to retain
tho ballot, even if he is himself convinced
that he got it prcmaturely. Twenty years
hence it will be time enough to pronounce the
experiment of universal suffrage an unmti-
gated failure.
HOLD ME- M
Gen. Grant has at last got mad about the