New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-27
From k entucky.

Sometime having elapsed since wrote for,
or have seen your, paper now attempt to
fill up the vacuum.
Kentucky is great State. Negro hate
has reached its eliminating point here. They
love the negro in his place Gas they say not
knowing that as men and citizens their place
is any they are capable of occupying, and
that citizenship admits of no discrimination
on account of color or previous condition OF
'servitude.
find there is not independence enough
assumed among our colored fellow-citizens.
They are too passive to that which is op-
pressive and wrong. Icould give instances,
but as do not wish to personate, forbear.
l wrote you last at Maysville, 1 think.
This is a small place, situate directly on the
Ohio, and is not greatly improved from that
of ten years ago-very little enterprise or
public spirit is shown and but few own prop
erty among our people. Their intellectual
status is not of very high order, but con-
sidering their surroundings it is as good as
we might expect. Bishop Green, the Baptist
minister at that place is man of large heart
and an intelligent, worthy and influential
man whose character IS as fair as any man s
in the State. He is devoted to the interests
of his people, and has done much in building
them up; he is now building large brick
edifice for the use Of his Baptist brethren,
which will be success. "a.
did not stop long enough in Paris to form
an .opinion of the place or character of the
people. This fact, however, was apparent
they as acemmunity have more property than
any other people l am acquainted with in
Kentucky; almost every man who has fam
lily owns home, and a number of others :
besides, they are more Jealous and devoted to
their religious duties than any people know
of. This 1 consider highly commendable.
God will prosper the people of any such
place.
Lexington comes next. This is large
city, very handsome in its external appear
ance; it is historic in its character and is
noted as the birthplace of large number OF
distinguished citizens, and is now the home
of John G. Breckenridge, and also of our
friend, the Hon. Mr.. Beck. The cOlored PEG.
pie are some of them quite intelligent and
we'll to do; great number are indolent and
shiftless. There are several men Of note
here, though have not time to partcularize.
There are number Of fine churches in Lex
ington, three Of which are baptist, with a
very large membership and large congrega-
tions. The most of the people are penurious
and close. Some of them know how to take
strangers in. Look out for some of the
boarding houses. There is some wealth and
refinement here, but the masses of the PEG.
pie are mo CO."
In Frankfort, KY, there are also large
number of our people who are very we'll dis.
posed-mnst of them are poor but honorable.
and fully calculated to give character to the
place and themselves, by their industry and
frugality. They have number of examples
of wealth and influence, derived from honest
persevering toll, and from dignified course
of manhood. There are two gentlemen
there by the name Of Smith who are quite
wealthy. He supports five fine houses, fine
horses, carriages, servants, etc. lie is esti
mated to he worth from fifty to seventy-five
thousand dollars the one speak Of bears
the name of Peter Smith. There are Others
also, doing we'll. Mr.. Martin, the Baptist
minister is man of great influence and char.
acter. Churches there are only common.
place.
Twill now give you synopsis Of the pc.
litical horizon.
THE ELECTION
has taken place since arrived in the State
Kentucky is hopelessly Democratic. Ne
groes are bought and sold as in the days o
yore. The candidate who pays the highest
price gets the largest number Of votes, and
saw in Louisville where they actually Offered
themselves for sale. l also saw money Of
fcred at the polls, bids made and taken by
our people, and strange to say that many o
these votes were against colored candidate!
who were running for the minor offices, ant
every effort and influence and means wer,
made to defeat them in every way possible
vent. If the negro voters had remained tru
to themselves and to their race, they could
with the aid of the white votes have elected
clerk of the city court, jailor and coroner
these men were all qualified for their severa
positions although colored. The coloret
voters of Lexington, many of them, wer'
equally as regardless of principle and sol
their manhood and their race for mess G
pottage.
The election was like the handle to a jug
all on one side. l regret to say that tn
course pursued by a great number of thes
voters proved themselves unworthy of tn
high trust reposed in them. Italso indicate
most clearly their inability to appreciate tn
privileges and immunities of the civil-right
bill, if conferred. A man who can be bough
and sold is not capable of selfgovernment
am proud to say that more than a majorit
of our voters are right on this question, a
though the only colored paper in the Stat
opposes the bill. especially the school prov
sion.
In this county, Bowling Green, we hav
had an election, very exciting one we ha
a young man, full Of promise as we'll as ed,
cational ability to put himself forward as
candidate for jailor. His name is Thos T
Meago. He is man of good parts, and he
courage, nerve, and decision. A volcan
bursting forth and scattering its fiery Law
everywhere, would not have created create
NJ