New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-03-19

u IN,
Ihelr advantage to give us their orders fer cards
! handbiiiS, ssc., etc.
IN the honesty and good intentions of the
masses OF Cllr people. believe that when
ever the question Ofhoncsty or dishonesty, of
economy or extravaganza, in public affairs,
ofpatrioism or OF debauchery, is fairly presen-
ted to them, they will be found on the right
side. believe the colorcd people Of this
State will rcsond as promptly to such an issue
rs any people. What we need, what We must
have, is an awakening of all the people TO
| Their duty. Each man who holds vote must
feel his responsibility for that votc-feel it as
his responsibility in his own personal affairs.
| / or. after all, this misgovernment Of which
complaint is made, this reckless extravaganza
which now characterizcs and disgraccs us,
Will rest, III the end, upon the common people.
| The laborer in the end pays the penalty Of
bad government. Every mill or tax Unneccs-
sarliy put upon the property of the State is
burden on the man who owns nothing but his
own bare hands. If taxes are high, wages
VIII be low. If taxes are heavy, rents will be
high. All interests suffer in the long run
| alike. Aside from the injustice that may be
done, the adding ofan unnecessary tax on the
| lands result in reduction of the laborer's
wages who tills that land, or in IN increase
OF his rent. So that it is true that the poor
man suffers as much, and more, from mis-
| government than tho rich man In n doepcr
| sense than any political creed can express it,
we are all brethren in the misfortune, the
burdens, the Injustice, the distress which bad
government brings in its train. None us
| can escape these consequences. By the ma
! lural law OF cause and effect by the force OF
laws which no man can make or mar, we are
bound Tor veal or wo to the fortunes Of our
state. Constituting 4 aiorty the voters
J i
world for her condition: her disgrace is made
char&eabIe to Us, and in all the evils which
may threaten her we will be sufferers.
LET THEM DRIVE OFT TIE TII!EyEs.
And now, fcllow-clizcus, 1 appeal to
you, in the name OF our true friends cyery-
where in the name Of the Republican Party,
| under whose guidance all our past progress
| has been achicvedi in the name of the colorcd
race, IN the name OF patriotism, OF Justice, OF
honor, OF seli-inte-est as 4 race, in the
name Of the government by the people, OF
the people, and for the people. to arouse
yourselves TO these great urgent, commanding
and sacred duties. | appeal TO my fellow
Republicans OF every race and nationality to
arise in their strength and shake ca the terri
| bic incubus that weighs down our party, to
strangle' the poisonous yirer that is sucking
our liic-biooG, to remove The coriing leprosy
that Is gnaWlng at the VltalS Ot0ur body polite.
1t IS TO you more especially, nv colorcd
lGlloW-cit!zens that l al this time appeal.
Our salvation or destruction will come from
Our own hands. Only those who refuse TO
use their eyes will deny the evils Of which
, have spoken. Only those who refuse TO con-
suit the universal experience ogthc world can
doubt that such condition ofallairs VII! come
to an early and disastrous end. Misgoyo.n-
ment works its own suicide. appeal 10 you
all as Republicans. Our principles arc true
and Undeniable. Within our own political or
ganlZatlon le; ls work out the needed retOrma-
ton. At or side, adm, Us with all the
moral support Of noble characters and spot
less lives, will be found the great leaders of
the Republican Party, the President of the
United States, the great chel!ain and great
| civilian, true always TO civil rights and to
| the colored race, who seeks nothing so much
as that true and lasting peace for our south
| EN- states which comes from good government
| and the material prosperity OF all our people;
| Charles Sumner whose lifelong devotion to
the cause Of freedom entities him 10 our graft
tacse, o'ic Vice rC@>:i.~l,t, tc;o always 10 tho
best interests OF ourrace; Morton, Dawes.
Butler, Lawrence, Hoar, all those honored
names, who, on the floor OF Congress and
throughout the country, have ever been swift
TO vindicate our rights and to advance our well
fare. Fellow-citzens, the voices ofsuch men
must be heard.
! They call on lis to discard such Of our lead
ers rs are bringing disgrace and destruction OH
U.s. They bid us rise in orr manhood, and
/ put Of our false and dangerous sense of securi-
! ty in our numbers. They bcseech us to rally,
! one and all, to the great work OF restoring
good government to South Carolina. They
tell us in plain terms that our own safety
depends on reform in our state affairs, in cut
ting off those who have proved unworthy OF
the trusts con!ided to their care, III recalling
and reinstating honor and ability in our high
places of public trust. They do not asl, us to
to!sakc the Republican Party, but rather to be
true to that party, to vlndicatc its fair name,
to make it, as it is the party Of progress, OF
intelligence, of public economy, and good
faith. They warn us that, unless the Repub-
Leans OF South Carolina take heed to their
way, purify their administration OF public
good, the national Republican party will no
longer recognize them as members ofthat par
ty, or permit them to,atliliate with the national
organization. l cali upon you, therefore, fel-
low-citizens, TO look to your safety, to take
instant heed for the honor and perpetuty of
our party. Let US here resolve that South
Carolina shall no longer be our reproach.
; Let us clear our skirts of the Odum of govern
mental abuses. In such good work our
frieuds everywhere will join with us-the
great Republican Party will aid us throughout
the nation,
HONESTY, ECONOMY, AND GOOD GOVERN
MENT.
Above ali things, fellow-citizens. as repre-
senting the colored race, let us remove this
inehablc disgrace and stain from orr record
J as a race. We may be ignorant we may be
poor--but we can be honest. There is to-day,
within our party, intelligence and integrity
enough to give to our State q good govern
[ ment. There arc men in our party who may
, be called to the helm Of State, and who will
! faithfully carry out the pledges made in our
, party platform. Pledges are good, but We
i must put men behind these pledges who will
2 keep them to the letter and il the spirit.
t Honesty, economy, good government-in
Y city, county, and State-let this be our watch
t word, and our stern resolve. In that sign
r we shall conquer, and with our victory will
f come more cheerful acqueiscence in our eo-
t litical supremacy, more friendly and helpful
S spirit between our two races, 4 more rapid
= progress in all moral and material interests,
Q and final vindcation of the capacity OF the
i colored race to preserve their own Liberties
C and to respect the rights Of others. To the
C accomplishment of such q work pledge my
y most earnest efforts. With one heart, one
g aim, one determination, let us move forward
If to the re-establishment ofan honest economi'
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