Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-02-27
Plain Talk From a Black Congress-
man.

Congressman r. 3. Elliot, col, WHO
is now in Columbia, made speech in
that city on Monday night, which is
noteworthy as one of the signs of the
times. He told his hearers that the
Taxpayers Convention was no assem-
| blage of sOreheads, but that it was
seeking to do the work which it was the
duty of the Republican party to have
accomplished. He rasped the State
Administration without mercy for its
violation of it's most solemn pledges,
aud washed his hands of all palticipa-
tior in its bad faith. The salvation of
"The Party" he declared, depended
upon its instant reform Of existing
abuses. A great change was taking
place in the politics of the country,
and it was useless for them to shut
their eyes to the fact. If you go to the
North, he said, and mention the name
of South Carolina, yorl will find the
estimate that they will put upon IT
there. To mention South Carolina Is
| to merit the sneers of the Common
weaiths of the North. When corrup-
ton WAS spoken of i'll other States, it
was different thing, but when it was
spoken Of in South Carolina, it was
laid to the blame of a negro govern
ment. 1t was therefore, tho duty OF
the colored people of South Carolina
to demonstrate to the world that they
desired an honest government. 1t was
| time that they did something to remove
this stigma. Continuing, Eve quote
| from the report in the Columbia {'nin,)
he said:
elf the government Is to 81 on from
bad to worse it would make the repre-
sentatives ashamed to rise up and
plead their cause. It was with the
people to remedy this. He had told
them only of what Frelinghuysen.
| Dawes, Sumner, Butler and others
were thinking, and of what every man
who had travelled outside of South
Carolina must have heard, if lie kept
his eyes and ears open. The negroes
have been in the majority and voted
the element into power, and they are
responsible. They have been deceived;
time? Will you permit this state of
things to continue? It cannot be hid
| den, that there is something rotten in
Denmark. There must be no promised
reformation, but practical reform. IF
there be any one in the way of that re-
form he should be at once removed out
| of the path, and now is the time to do it.
| ''The National Republican Party to-
| ''day is ready 10 cut aloof upon the
| "slightest provocation from the corrup-
"tion now existing in the South. and
''unless you do something, and that
speedily, they will be compelled to
"cut off the rotten branches" He
| had warned them of this more than
! year ago; this was no new thing. One
| thing he knew, that instead of being
better it appears to be growing worse.
| The Taxpayers Convention is no sore
head movement. The people have
rightto petition under the constitution.
and when it came, it would come from
his constituents, whether they voted
| for him or not, and he was bound to
have it properly referred. That peti-
ton will be considered; and do not
allow yourselves to be misled about it.
The only way you can prove that you
sympathize with an honest admins
tration of affairs is for you to give
notice to those who have mal-adminis-
tered affairs to quit, for you to bring
forward a new set of men. 1t is your
duty to vindicate yourselves, and
prove to the world that you are in
sympathy with all those who want
honest government. He had no cause
here to announce, or champion the
cause of any particular set. But it was
his duty to point attention to errors
that have nearly resulted in the bank
ruptcy of the State. It was time that
the hands that had caused these errors
were stayed. With the finances thriv-
ing and the agricultural interest in
creased, it would be alike felt by the
rich and the poor. If the wealthy
man suffers, the hborer suffers ten
fold; if his taxes bring burdens, he
makes them up from the laborers."
Mr.. Elliot closed his remarkable |
harangue by telling the men of his race !
how earnest was the public opinion of |
the country and how unanimous was |
the newspaper press in condemnation
of the corruption that reigns in South
Carolina. NeaUs & Courier.