Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-08
THE Color LINE ~ MISSISSIPPI
IyTOLERlNCE or DE NOCRATS.

Nv IOLE hIAC or pE nCCH-i TO-
In letter published in the New York Herald of
last Saturday Mr.. Nordhofi remarks as follows IN
relation to the color line and the intolerance Of
democrats in Mssissippi
at is complaint. also, Of the democrats, that
their opponents have, for corrupt purposes, man
tanned the cclor line in politics. 1t Is true that the
Ames men cultivate the negro vote by base means ;
but it is also true that the democrats help them.
In Arkansas and Louisiana | do not remember
having once heard of the negro except as part Of
the body polite ignorant, to be sure, but a good
worker, as often said to me by democrats,
"not to be blamed that he went wrong under bad
advice. But in Mississippi the commonest top
ic of discussion is the damned niger" \ dozen
times at least, prominent democrats told me he
was peculiar being, not possessing the virtues Of
the Caucasian and not fitted by nature to vote
or TO sit on the jury or to bear witness creature
admirably calculated to make cotton and so on.
have heard such discussions going on III the pres
ence of colored men, who naturally listened with
all the ears they had. Now the negro is not an
idiot. lie would be if he voted for and with men
who habitually call him "nigger" and often a
damned Niger" and who openly assert his inca
pacity by nature to perform the functions of cit
izen. When the most respectable citizen" in
Vicksburg clustered about the Postmaster appoint
ing a damned Niger" he was heard by at least
twenty. five colored men and women. Yet IN that
very town leading democrats groan about the I'M
possibility oil the COiOT me- OuC WOultl
have contempt for such politicians were not their
course constant injury to the State in which they
are so foolishly noisy, and in which the quiet, SEN
sbe and orderly people seem to have almost en-
tirey resigned the power and supremacy which
belong to them.
The thing which was ofenest said to me in
Mississippi by democratic politicians was this -
"Our only hope is in the democratic success IN
the next federal election. The democratic sue
cesses last fall gave us our first CLEAN of light
But when asked how democratic admnistra-
ton could help them, the reply was, "because then
we can disorganize the colorod vote. They will
not vote without white leaders to organize them.
And when asked one Of the leaders Of the white
line" movement whose object is to draw the color
line strictly how he could hope to get all the
white people, with their strongly diverging views,
into his movement, his prompt reply was, "Ne1l
make il too damned hot for them to stay out. y
| Now to me this docs not look like the American
way of carrying election. 1t is a method of
buster and bullying and force. The honest re-
publicans, whom asked whether the white liae
movement could possibly draw in all the white
voters. all replied in the affirmative. 1t would 81
lence opposition, at any rate, they said.
At present there is vigorous opposition to the
"white line movement among the more sensible
democrats. But in the meantime they do not at
tack the corruptonsts and extremists in their par
ty, and what seems to me more deplorable and
fatal still, they have nothing to say against the
brutal intolerance displayed by democratic dema-
gogues, either toward the colored men or toward
honest white republicans. All Northern men are
united in one general and fierce condemnation, as
"carpet- baggers." But many of these men
thus condemned and held up to hatred have lived
in the State since 1885, they are men Of means
and have all their means invested in the State;
many of them are large planters; against the
honesty and high character of many OF them no
one can say word. 1t is charged that some OF
these hold office but why should they not? They
citizens Of the State in every sense ofthc woid
and worthy, capable men, whom no one charges
with speculation or oppression. Only little Wis
dom on the part Of the democrats would lead them
to conciliate these men, to win them over to CO.
operation with them. But nothing of the kind is
done. There are sneered at as "carpet-baggcrs"
and made to feel that the democratic leaders VIII
have nothing to do with them. SO, too, with
Southern men who have chosen to join the repub-
hcan party they are at once denounced as "vie
repegades," entirely regardless of their actual
character. Thus Judge Niles, who represented
Mississippi district i'll the last Congress, is habit
ually spoken of as that renegade Niles" Now
Mr.. Niles is a man of singular purity of cbaracter,
quiet scholar. an old resident of the State, a
planter. No democrat pretends that he is dishon-
est or that he tolerates corruption. But he is
republican, therefore he is "vilc rene gadc," not
fit for the society Of decent men.
The same course is pursued toward the colored
voters They have among them somc-a few
men of education and honest desires for good gov
eminent. But these are denounced, in common
with the whole herd of ignorant and easily corrup-
tible black voters, who are the prey of designing
and INSCRIPTIONS white politicians. On the other
hand, a man ceases to be a 'carpet-bagger' the
moment he becomes democrat. For instance,
former sheriff of Warren county, then republi.
can, Northern man, has recently become 4 dem
ocrat, ard is at once made respectable citizen"
Yet is notorious that he to the State poor,
is now worth over $00 600 and does not own a
dollars worth of property in the State. lie keeps
in hnn1 9th tiou and - &c
said, pays no taxes at all in Mississippi. But the
democrats do not hesitate to accept him, while
they cry out "earpet.bagger" against men who
have invested all their means in the State ard are
large taxpayers.
TLE HEEGLLEH IL1L 4 I TILE W IL ",