The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-01-21

Il =
and let me say that in my judgment no man Is
more likely to be wrong, than he who Is
over confident that he has been always
right.
Il a. not most Of our legislation soon af-
ter the war founded III error. Inc iunda'
mental error, in MY poor judgment, was our
failure or refusal to recognize the great fact
that we had lost the fight, and that there
was nothing left for Us To do but accept
such terms a. the conquorer might dictate
Our refusal has heaped upon u multi
tude of woes and we have been forced
to it practically at last If this i not 20,
why DO the people Of New Orleans ana
Vicksburg and in fact everywhere IN the
South Law down their arms and retire on the
first appearance Of Federal soldiers? am
not saving in this connection, how things
ought to Be; am only saying how they are;
and candor compels me TO add, you have no
power to change them
The man Of color has the same right TO
vote and hold office that you or 1 have
and it ought to be admitted in theory, and
faithfully carried out in practice. l do not
at all hesitate to say that the negro has the
same right to restrict or call in question, by
intimidation, or other unlawful means, the
right Of white men, that the white man has to
restrict or call in question by the same agen-
encies, the rights OF the black man.
thit4great truth, and are sincerely in favor Of
seeing it carried out, | do not allow myself
to question for a moment. But 1t cannot
be denied with truth, and therefore 1t
should not be disguised in fact, that there IS
a minority who not willing to admit
the plain legal and constitutional fact that
in this country. ali men are equal before
the law.
1t IS follv for Us to dream ourselves, and
Il u sr-Tl colt HptuElnn
tempt to deceive the negro. five seek the con
fidence of the negro, we must deserve 1t And
that in nv Judgment > about all that Is
necessary to obtain it. We must not talk
with two tongues, one dipped IN oil and
honey for the negro, when we are talking to
him, and another in gall and NORWOOD;
when We are talking about HIM you would
never get the confidence Of a white man IN
that way, and it is folly to try it on the ne
gro.
The observance Of one single, plain, and
simple rule will 90 a great way III gaining
the confidence Of the black man, and secur-
| ing his cordial cooperation in every good
| work and that is to treat him as our equal
in politics and in all our business dealings
with him, give him the same measure OF
| Justice, that you would deal out TO HIM II
he was swhite man. DO TINS IN coIu
earnest without hesitation and without
mental reservation; do not presume on his ig-
norance Forget that his skin isblack inyour
| political and business dealings with him,
! and though it be IN fact as dark the ra-
vens' wing, treat him with Is much justice
as though it were As white rs snow. Try
this and be in earnest about it, and you will be
| surprised at his aptitude. The scales viii
drop from his eyes, and he will take in at
once the great lesson we so earnestly desire
| to teach him. and that is, that his interest
and your interest are identical. This being
done he will not only vote with you, but for
| you.
There IS another great error into which
| too many Of our people have fallen, and that
| is in supposing that everything has been
done that can be done to induce our colored
| friends to think right and act right. Has
| itneyer occurred to you, my white fellow
citizens that while some have worked zeal
ouslv. others have hadno heart in the cause,
| and have too soon grown weary that yOu
! had not corrected your own errors before
YOU undertook to correct the errors of
! others Would it not be better to make
| sure that YOU had got the beam fairly out
| of your own eyes, before you commence
| searching for notes in the negroes, eyes
| Suppose the colored voters do not rally to
your support at the first, second, or third
| call; suppose that after years of honest toll,
/ they still do not come; suppose they do APP
| pear to some of you a stiH-necked, and
rebeIlious people. Does all this furnish
sufficient reason for giving up the struggle,
and handing them all over, and with them
the State, to hopeless ruin?
what would be Thought or a missionary
to Persia China or Japan who after a few
wears of toll in his Master service, should
in despair over his poor success, or disgust
at the obstinacy Of the natives, suddenly
abandon his work, declaring that the heather
like Ephraim is joined to his idols, | will
let him alone" / do not mean to compare
our c0lored tellow-citizens to heathens But
it is no exaegeratiOn to say, that when they
were anc:pated they were almost as ig-
norant in politics. as the Chinaman is of
Christianity. And It ought not to be
matter of special wonder that they have
been almost rs slow in cOmprehending po-
litical problems, rs the heather has been III
understanding the mysteries of the Chris
tian's faith The wonder rather Is, that
they should have learned so much when we
take into account that every appliance has
been used to mystity their minds and excite
their prejudces.
1t has been charged in high quarters that
this is not what it purports to be, a meeting
Of taxpayers to petition for redress of
grievances, but that the real purpose is to
pull political wires, to the end that we may
gain a party advantage; verify the wicked
flee when no man pursues." Men conscious
OF their own 1eCJliuue are not apt TO be
always ascribing bad motives. If | had sup
posed that that ascribed motive was in any
wise true, | would never have put my foot
across the Threshold of that door and if |
thought so now, | would at once step down
and out. This is a meeting of taxpayers,
composed OF white and colored men, repre-
senting almost every shade of political opin-
ion, and actuated by a single motive. that of
removing by peaceful means portion of an
INT |,
vious to be borne. | can see but one object
in charging a different motive and that Is
to excite prejudice, and keep alive the
embers of discord | warn you my friends
to keep cool. Neither for this nor any other
offence, allow yourselves to be provoked to
anger GU must rely upon corrected
public sentiment for a redress Of grievances
With this will come pure judiciary, and
an interrupted ballot-bOX, and then the
bright sun Of unbounded prosperity. with
its genial rays, viii cause our beloved State
to flourish again a a green bay tree Be
slow TO anger, and slower still to acts of
violence. Remember that it is better to
bear the ills you have, than those you
know not OF.
There IS another point which, in correct
ing errors and laying broad and deep a
foundation for that union of hearts and
minds 20 essential to success, you ought to
consider. 1t Is this, how to get clear of
marplotS. 1t Is a great mistake to suppose
that ali the Radicals are on one side There !
are Radical Democrats n well as Radical
Republicans. The Radical Republicans do |
a great deal Of mischief by deluding the |
colored man, and the Radical Democrats bv |
abusing him; and both persuade him that |
q genuine Conservative Is person not fit to |
be trusted. They abuse one another until /
they get tired and then they unite in /
abusing the Conservatives l am for with /
drawing from between them and let them |
pound each other to their hearts con /
tent
The line Of policy, fellow-citizens, which