The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-06-24

carried out Tor year or tWO, Iuey VIII az M ooe
the Justice and propriety of it.. They. Will see
that there is more to be gained by just and
friendly course toward the colored man than
by one of violent opposition and they Will
thus accomplish what they should have accom-
plished six years ago. =.
Now, sir, your true policy is to cultivate fra
ternal relations with all classes of men, and to
break down their prejudices by convincing
them that YOU yourselves are not bound up in
q prejudice that may not be laid aside when
you are satisfied that you have nothing to fear
from the opposition of your white tellow-cltl-
zens, with whom you are associated IN the ma
terial prosperity or destruction OF common
country. The laying aside of all prejudices
that grow out of your former relations as mas
ter and slave, must establish mutual conf
dence, and enable you to put the control OF
public affairs in the hands of the best men OF
both races, and cannot but lay the foundation
of prosperous future that will not be sur
passed by any section of the United States
whilst the maintenance of separate and dis
tinct organization, based upon color and oppo-
sition to the former SHAREHOLDERS must even
tually lead to a complete wreck of whatever
prosperity you have attained-for time certain
" has developed the fact that you cannot
depend upon the influence of Northern politl-
clans to sustain you in any conflict that may
arise from your "race, color or previous condi-
tion of servitude" I have frequently heard
your people demand political recognition and
representation, in proportion to your numbers,
on the same ground that the adopted citizens
of this country from Ireland, Germany and
other foreign countries claim it. In this you
forget that the second generation of the Irish
and Germans are Americans, and have no Pc
culiar traits which distinguish them from other
American citizens. But your race have been
here for more than 250 years, and still they
are Africans; and should you remain 1,OOo
wears more, you will still be Africans, although
you will be American citizens. You must re-
member that you are separate and distinct
type of man, and that this country is full! OF
the deepest prejudice against all races other
than the Caucasian.
You should also remember that many OF the
leading Republicans of the country, in the
earliest history of the organization ct the re-
constructed State Governments, passed through
the South, and returning to the North with the
most terrible statements OF the opposition or
the Southern people to the National Govern,
ment and their bitterness towards the colored
man, assumed the most radical ground IN ana
out of Congress for political purposes. Some
in their attempts to give public expression to
their political opinions while in the South.
And vet, after the lapse of few years, the
same parties have revisited the South, and
have returned to the North presenting another
phase of the picture, completely vindlcatlng
the white men of the South and condemnlng
the colored man. This revolution in feeling
and Judgment can only be understood as an
indication of the revolution that has taken
place in the political opinion of the North,
which is now ready to hold you responsible for
their own folly and mistakes, and to unite with
the white men of the South in your elimination
from the field of politics. And so we find that
all these men who, q few years ago, were The
most violent in favor of the negro, are now
practically his most uncompromising oppo-
nents. This shows a want of knowledge OF
human nature They should have known at
the time that it was not possible to take man
out of the cotton-feld and make him states
man. any more than you can make just man
out of those who adopt that line of policy.
With the past and the present as l have pre-
sented them before you, what is the duty of
the colored people of the South in the future
would say, in answer. that whatever is to
your interest is unquestionably your duty.
The question, therefore, is: What is your
interest? I hold that your true interest is to
stand aloof from all political parties. You
have little to hope or expect from union with
anv political party, and further than its own
interest can be subserved by afiliating with
YOU. With this uncertainty as to their support
of YOUR interest, and the absolute certainty of
the opposition of every politician who believes
that he can succeed in his political ambition
without your aid and that he can make more
bv opposing than by supporting you, my advice
to YOU is to maintain an independent position.
IF YOU quietly stand by and see those comblna-
tions made by which you are to be sold out,
YOU will make fatal mistake. If you are to
become the subject of barter among political
parties, my advice to you is not to become party
to the sale of yourselves. You can make bet
ter terms with your former masters than can
the old time Abolitionists for if they make
the sale you gain nothing by it in the way of
political power; but if you yourselves enter
into combination you can reasonably nope TO
secure some share of political power and 1nhu-
ence for yourselves and Jour posterityy;, Do net
tie yourselves to any party which Will be GER
tain to sacrifice you whenever 1t has accom-
plished its own purpose; but say to al parties
in the future that you will support men instead
of parties that you will support tho men IN
antee the largest representation for your people,
and in whose guarantee you can put the great
est trust for the protection of your rights as
American citizens. This course will cause men
of all parties to seek your support and infl-
ence. They will meet your people with t feel. 81
Representation as will be compatible with
rood government. advise this policy because
I believe it is for your best interests, and also
for the best interests of the country. If you
pursue a different course-if you unite your
political fortunes with any party, and that
party is defeated, you can have no reason to
hope that the party which you oppose will con.
cede anything on the high moral ground of >.
justice to your race. Recent events make it
highly probable that great changes are likely
soon to occur not only in the e administration ms
administration of the National Government
itself.
Such are nv views on the momentous subject