The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-11-13
The Negroes.


Discussing the situation In the light
Of recent events, the New York Herald
SAYS:
We have no doubt that the rights OF
The negroes will be more secure In
democratic than in republican, hands.
II Is the tendency aud effect OF the re-
publican policy TO array the negroes in
hostility TO the classes OF the Southern
population. and thereby obstruct the as
tendance OF intelligence, character aud
property in Southern politics. Negro
suffrage has proved 10 he great evil,
chiefly on account of the divorce effect.
ed in the South between numbers aud
intelligence. The Southern blacks have
been formed into political party un-
der outside guidance and coutrol--a
party which had set of interests, or
supposed interests, separate from the
general interests OF the Southern com.
munity. In healthy state of politics
there Is solidarity" of feeling be-
tween the prosperous and the poorer
classes, and although there may be two
parties--as there always are in free
countries--they are composed or both
sides of the rich aud the poor the intel
ligcnt and the ignorant. II is the pre-
rogative of intelligence TO control igno.
rance, and the chief evil OF Southern
politics since the war has consisted IN
such an organization OF the blacks rs
has arrayed thcm in opposition to the
enlightened local feeling of the com
muuities with which their lot Is cast.
But as soon as federal influence shall
cease to control the negro mind intell-
gence and capacity will reassert their
sway aud negro voting in the South
will be as safe rs the Immigrant vote
has ALWAYS been In the North. The
democratic party will have no tempta-
ton 10 deprive the negroes of the right
of suffrage, because IL will have no diff
when the potent federal influence CO.
operates with local intelligence instead
OF frustrating and defeating 1t.
Even under the great disadvantage of
having the federal influence opposed to
them the Southern democrats have
made some Roadway in controlling the
negro vote. In the recent election in
Louisiana quite proportion Of the me-
gro citizens acted with the democratic
party. AS soon as democratic ascendan-
CIV is established in Washington demo-
cratic negroes will be as common in the
South as republican negroes. and the
negro question will then cease 10 be an
element OF disturbance. The true inter.
csts of the negroes are identical with
the trne interests Of Southern whites.
Tho negroes cannot prosper when the
community in which they live is impov.
erished. They can find rcmunerative
employment only when the wheels Of
business are in full activity. IL capital
Yields no profits labor cannot expect
constant employment or good wages (;
and tae most important lesson the
Southern negroes heve yet TO learn Is
that they cannot thrive on the dcpres-
sion and ruin OF he owners Of property.
Their credulity has been too long abus-
ed and their simplicity deceived by in
terloping dcmagogucs, who have incul-
Gated the idea that they have a separate
interest from their white follow citizens.
This state OF things is likely to continue
so long as the negro mind is led by the
Republican party; but within year or
TWO after ills left to local control ma
iority Of the negroes will be steady
democratic voters and the negro prob
lem will disappear from our politics,