Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-18

Of these two opposing facts abundantly
explains why the colored people have SO
universally allied themselves with the
Republican party. They would be fools
TO have done otherwise. Democracy has
never done anything for them. IL has
never sought their elevation. Itopposed
the constitutional amendments, and has
opposed all legislation for their enforce
ment IL has never gone beyond
reluctant acceptance of the emancipation
and enfranchisement of the colored man
as an unwelcome necessity. Its princi-
Piles and temper toward the negro give
the lie to its party name. The Ku.Klux
klans were made up of Democrats; and
the white Leagucrs" that are now taxi
ing their place and seeking their ends are
also Democrats. The whole history of
Democracy in respect to the negro for
the last thirty years is htly represented
by calling it the White Mans party.
Politically considered, IL is the party of
fixed antipathy to the colored racc and,
| IL ever war Of races shall occur, De-
mocracy will be its chief cause.
The Alabama Democrats, in their pro-
gramme of white civilization" have not
| originated new idea in the history of
Democracy, but simply brought to the
front what has long been thoroughly
dyed in the wool" They hope by an
appeal to the preiudices of the white
men to carry the election in that State
this fall and thus establish the ascend
ency of our GLORIOUS Caucasian civiliza-
ton" For this purpose they throw down
the gauntlet of the race issue and seek to
draw the line between races. The Re-
publicans, on the other hand, true to the
instincts and history of the party, pre-
sent the programme of American civili-
zation as defined by the Constitu
tion of the United States and
founded on the broad doctrine of
equal rights, without any distinction of
race. They reject the issue of race
against race. What they demand for one
man they equally demand for all men.
They propose that both races, in respect
to civil and political rights, shall stand
on the same footing Their theory is one
of harmony between the races, without
any prescription of either.
We have hoped and still hope that the
issue of races will never in this country
develop itself into an active struggle.
There is no necessity for it, and it can
accomplish nothing but evil to both races.
Both are sufficiently numerous to perpet-
uate their own existence, and exist they
will and must under one common politt-
cal system. The colOred people at the
South since their enfranchisemen have
undoubtedly made some grave mistakes.
The wonder is that they have not made
more. Yet there is no evidence of any
disposition on their part TO force the race
issue. What they ask and what
they ought to have is the full enjoyment
of their rights as citizens, and because
the Republican party is pledged to this
doctrine they are themselves Republi-
cans. Let Democracy squarely and hon
fact lxy Tab, fl.a flNAt,
prove its faith by its works; let it cease
to be the white mans party; and then
and not till then will it cease to be justly
obnoxious to the colored people Till
then they must vote against il or put in
serious jeopardy their own interests.
Nothing, moreover, is clearer than that
the Republican party will not have com
pleteo its mission so long as Democracy
holds to this white mans theory 1t
fought the theory before the war, fought
it during the war, and has been fighting
it ever since; and it must continue the
fight until the theory is absolutely dead
and buried. There has been no time
since the war in which Democracy could
be safely trusted with the rights of col
ored men. That time has not yet come.
The issues of the past are by no means
dead and will not be until Democracy
shall be dead or thoroughly reformed ON
the great question of human rights, in
cluding those of the colored people.
Were the General Government in its
hands Ku-KluXism in some form would
speedily be revived at the South.
The constitutional amendments and the
laws enforcing them rest to-day just
where they have always rested-upon
the ascendency of the Republican party.
The white mans party, if in power,
Il In4f raIrpo ha
former for the most part to dead letter.
1t wants still longer quarantine to
rid it of the old virus of negro antipathy.
~. Y. Independent.