The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-18
The Opportunity of the White South.


1t is every way unfortunate that so grave and
delicate question as this of the colored mans
civil rights should be knocking about, the
merest political football, between the two par
ties. All thoughtful people are agreed about
that-South and North. The spectacle is an
unpleasant and disquieting one. The best and
wisest friends of the newly enfranchised citi-
zen are the most disturbed by it, and the most
anxious to see an end put to it. They are
looking beyond this game of selfish and insin-
cere politics, now playing in the capitol, to the
probable effects of it all upon the fortunes of
poor Sambo; and the prospect is anything but
reassuring. Here is question, if there ever
was one, that calls for craftsmanship; and it is
being kicked hither and thither under the feet
of scufling partisans. 1t is not an encouraging
outlook for the colored voter or for the coun-
try.
We again appeal, with the earnestness of a
sincere goodwill, to the white people of the
Southern States. 1t is quite within their power
to do for themselves, their colored neighbors
and the country, in this crisis, what their
friends at the North cannot do for them. We
know that the grossest injustice has been done
them in this matter; that their feelings and
motives and acts have been shamefulIy misrep-
resented that their good has been evil spoken
Of that large proportion of the current out
rage literature is either wanton exaggeration
or pure fiction. But we also know, and they
know, that this exaggeration has kernel Of
truth that this fiction is founded on fact AS
a people, they are not the prosecutors and
murderers which it suits the game of a despe-
rate partisanship to represent them. AS a
people, Notwithstanding all they have under
gone during these first years of tremendous
experiment, we believe them to be as kindly
and justly disposed toward the colored citizens
according TO their lights, as the people of Mas
sachusetts. But there has been persecution !;
there has been murder; there is no doubt or
question about that; no candid Southern man
whites as people have been unj justly and cru
individuals, for the worst crimes committed by
organized gangs of whiskey -crazeC desperadoes,
for the foolish and wicked utterances of this
public man and that newspaper-they have
themselves partly to blame for it.
We do not ask them to waive any honest OBJ
lection they may have, upon constitutional
grounds, to the bill now pending in Congress.
We do not even ask them, at this time, to walk
courageously up to this spectre of Social
equality" and satisfy themselves by closer
and cooler inspection what an idle bugbear it
is that has shaken the nerves of brave people.
But we do ask them 70 make new, systematic,
persistent effort to convince the people of the
Northern States that the political and purely
civil rights of the negro, the undoubted, con-
ceded, guaranteed rights, are entirely safe at
their hands. If in any State there still fingers
an unjust discrimination on the statute book,
let the people of that State, through their rep
resentatives, make haste to wipe it out. In
the conservative States, especially, let the Leg
islatures, the political conventions, the news
papers declare with one voice that the colored
citizen shall have as free and tranquil access to
the polls as fair play in the courts, as ample
and vigilant protection for his life and proper
ty, as good schooling for his children, as are
enjoyed by his white neighbor. If additional
State legislation is needed to make these pledg-
es good, let the legislation be promptly forth
colors, take the place of white leagues and
other like organizations at the earliest possible
day. Let the same people of the South hiss
down such crazy orators as Toombs, and starve
out such mischief making journals as the
Shreveport Tines. Undiscouraged by past
failures, let them redouble their efforts to con-
vince the colored people of their sincere friend
illness and so to bring about better state of
feeling. Above everything else, let them from
this time out show such energy in bringing the
icowardly scoundrels who perpetrate outrages
upon these poor negroes to swift justice and
condign punishment that the United States
marshals and cavalry officers shall find their
occupation gone.
In this way, and in this way alone, can the
white people of the Southern States effectually
turn the tables upon their enemies and SANDER
ers in Congress, disarm whatever partisan leg
islation may be- passed of its sting, benefit
themselves incidentally, and at the same time
bring the whole country into their debt. Will
they do it itP-SprinqfeM Republican.