Mississippi Democrat. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1875-1???, 1875-08-25

"a
A Coiprod man writing In The Mia
sis-ippi Central, has the following 10
say ~ rsgard 81 the c0lorcd people +:
/ n nrgip them o. vote for an homes,
man Cor Sheriff lie takes the right
view - the matter, aud for hi
Thought he has been read oui of the
laadical party by the negroes of Wa.
ter Valley; "Recognizing the fact
that the liberty of speech and of the
press > 'aao OF the cardinal princi-
pies "a American liberty, and that
the tonsasution OF the United State
and fthis State guarantee 10 each
asd every citizen equal privileges
before tie law. ] venture, although n
eolored man, Ia ask hearing
through he columns Of your paper.
l have ~ desire however 10 establish
a newspaper notoriety; but do de-
sire 70 defend my race against a
charge OF presistent hostility to the
white race which DO not believe Ia
be well founded. In the incipleney OF
their freedom, and from the sur.
roundlngs II was but naturaIthat they
should be ReIu blicans, aud that they
should look to the Republican party
for an administration OF the govern
mett most beneficial to themselves
was equally natural, and that
they shcald cling 10 aheir first lesson
with soAie degree of pertinacity
could only BE- expected.
In the Beginning they viewed free
dom alone from one standpoint
se'fITeseryaiion, without noticing
the tact that there was community
of interesfs which the government
should guArd aud protect, alike with
that of thSir ewn. But the time i
coming, And bow, thousands Of col.
ored men fse1 and know that the in
terest OF oil the Southern people.
white end black, arr the san,e, that
While hey oppose discrimination
against lbenlselvcs, they are Charita.
lie en0ugh not to ask Il IN their own
fhvor. Equal benefits aud equal
privileges before the Law, ~
all that good colorcl men
want. Which has been denied To
none within my knowledge. We
wqtt T. hot viii TAX All alike, and
whieh VII tax none annccc ssarially.
II can 80 ionger b. concealed that
our people arc taxed beyond endur
ance, aad that, too az the expense OF
the laburiug masses. It is not the
money changer, merchant or mi~er
who suffer from oppressive taxation.
The sharper hides his gold IN hl- ooE
fer, aHl thg mcr, hant cAturts his
taxes from Dis customers. aud ina this
way al Tho lurthens ~ thc govern
mcnt tnd their way into the pockets
OF the poor but laboring peoplc.
White ana black. The colorcd man
who has no property bcars q double
portion ia the way Of per cent ON
his supplies, for which be Is NJ the
merry Of the merchant aud iobber.
C"ioryd men, you are ireemen and
American cltzcns, and let me AL.
monish You to- act Ike frecmgn.
Keep out ot these leagues and md
night cagcusrs; think and act tor
yoursckvsi 80 60 the polls and vote
like an American freeman and don't
permit yourselves TO be marched up
under the party lash like 50 many
dumb bruteS 10 the slaughter nj the
dictation of selfish party leaders.
Free actions and independent
thought J. the fr>t grand attribute
Of free American citizen, while sub
mission 10 the dictates Of selfish ru.
lcr is only iil lor the despot and hi,
SUBJECTS. Ii - impossible 20 pass dis
eliminating laws without their re
bounding back upon the heads OF
those who pass them. Then, say,
lct Justice be done to all though the
heavens fall. But this can never be
done by midnight eaucusses or by
adhering 10 few self interested lead
ers. And can only be done by
hearty cooperation with Southern
white men who till the soil side by
side with us, and whose interests are
our interests.
Among other things, I advise you
10 adopt the old maxim OF Franklin,
the groat Philadelphian, TO "Let
good enough alone aud vote for
Vol Pearson and you win be sure 20
have a good Sheriff.
X. W. REED.
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