Mississippi Democrat. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1875-1???, 1875-09-29
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To rue CoL0RED PkoPLE or MIssIssIP

subject Of vital importance to your
present and future peace, happiness
AMI prosperity as a people.
Together with your white neigh
bors, you constitute the inhabitants
OF this great State. With these
neighbors you have ever been most
intimately associated. Nocaograph
zeal lines hav. separated '0u. but
from childhood you have grown mp
a. the members of one great house
hold, in bonds ofeommon sympathy
and good win. The war did not
change these relations. Since YOU
were freed you have found your
white friends trno 10 you-thcir best
council has ever been given you
they have planned with you for your
prosperity, they have aided you
when Ia trouble or distress, and
when death has entered your house.
holds YOU have their sympathy and
consolation, and thoir tears have
been mingled with your own. la all
things YOU have confidence in them,
aud counselled with them-sayo in
one-lct ~ consider whether ia that
one you have not made a great anu
fatal mistake.
As soon a. the colorcd men became
voters they were formed into a polit-
ical party, as compact in all lis parts
as military organization. How
this was brought about il i not our
purposc now TO onqIire--it is with
the facts only that we wish to deal.
The oolored man asked no questions
as 20 how his vote should be cast.
The words of advice and warning
tfom his friends fell alike unhccded
cn his ear. lie stopped not even to
.pGN as % The sharaaser Aof The
whose Z sme VS. On tle tltke.
lie b. turned 10 his L.. > or Club
30 know what ors.er Lad been scat 10
him by his snpe-iors aud then ooa-
sidcrod u his duty, blirdly aud Inn
plicitly, 20 obey. When thg drum
beat, il was for him to fail no llnc,
and he became as a machine IN the
hands Of those who controlled hlm.
And what is the result Of all tins !
We have an administration OF public
affairs 80 VIGOROUSLY corrupt that il
is a byc-word and reproach wherev-
or known. Some good men there
arc in public positions, hut they arr
in a hopeles minority. In your
conventions, the most honorod places
Of trust aud power arc bartcrcd and
sold like merchandise in the markets.
You are cut Of from the confidence
of the General Governmont-you
arc disowned by the National Re
publican party. Your white friends
at home are made your political
enemies, and your friends North,
and in foreign lands, are fast loosIng
confidence in you, and questioning
whether your enfRnchisemont has
not proved q curse instead of a bless
ing 10 you. The blood of the white
man and of the eolored man 80 need
lcssly spilled is crying from tho
ground 10 High Heaven against thi.
unnatural and unholy antagonism
The end is near, and can YOU doubt
what that end will be IL you persist
in your present eourseH
Let me suggest then whether the
cause OF all this trouble should not
al once be removedY This IL your
country-hcrc were you born and
here have you always lived-thcrc
Is no other 20 which you can 20
Your interests and the interests oI
the white people are identical, why
then, should there be strife and enmi
ty between your Turn away, and
forever, from the political
Leagues and Clubs which
have enslaved you. BE-
worthy the name of ireemcnl Il
vestigale for yourselves the merin
Of the candidates for whom you vote
Let your ballots be east only for so
ber intelligent God.learing men
Join hands with the white people I,
redeeming from tho spoiler You
lcommon country, and peace an,