The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-05
+ and establish q sound governments, based upon
| the union OF the best men OF both parties


! doubt. l am so weary OF onlcial grand and petit
| larceny that l do not mean 10 go at any length
into Mississippi finances. 1t Is enough 10 say that
| the State debt ia trining; there have been no
great railroad swindles; q constitutional provi-
sion wisely forbds the loan OF the State credit.
| But there has been gross financial corruption in
| many counties; oficers with high salaries have
1 been needlessly multiplied; there have been no.
torious jobs, such the State printing; and the
ruling powers, the Ames republicans, have un-
scrupulously used the ignorance and greed OF the
| negroes to help them in their political
| schemes. Controlling the negro vote and using
| 1t as a solid mass, they have consented TO put
into such o1ces as county supervisors and treas
urers as well as into the Legisla ture, negroes
who were often not only unable read and write,
but who were VIGOROUSLY corrupt and corrupting
demagogues. The late Treasurer OF Kinds county,
in which the State Capitol hes was a negro who
could neither read nor write and who was XIII ed
\ by another negro few weeks ago for q disgrace
full intrigue. In the last Legislature were
4 several negroes who could neither read nor
write 1t has happened that the mem
] bers OF grand jury were totally litter
| ate. A city governments was 70 be elected
last August In Vicksourg, and the republicans
\ nominated for Mayor o white man at the time
/, under indictment Tor twensy-three onences, and
I for Aldermen seven colored men, most Of them OF
low character, ana one WnlLe man, WHO Coulu
neither read nor write, the keeper OF low grog
gerry. This ticket was denounced by General
Mckee, republican member OF Congress, in pub
4 lie speech and, with the help Of the republicans,
A was beaten. or the present Supervisors Of Warren
I county tvicksburg) the President and two others
cannot read. Ii IS a notorious fact that Governor
4 Ames has appointed 10 judicial places men
ignorant OF law, and that he has used his appoint
4 ing power to shield criminals, who are his ad-
herents and corrupt the judiciary OF the State.
These are serious matters: but, on the other
hand 1t must be said that the democratic dema-
gogues have repeatedly urged the negroes to
nominate only coIored men for ONCE They say
! they "would rather have Mississippi Niger
I than 0 carpet-bagger - and, moreover, In the
! notable cases OF corruption, both In State and
counties, democrats have in almost every instance
! shared the plumber, and in some have got up the
scheme. Now, on this head the democratic
leaders are silent. They out that the State is
! ruined, which is not true; but they have them
selves helped to rob It, and 1t Is, at least doubt
full question whether, II some or those who so
/ loudly denounce corruption, had power they
would make an honest government. There Is, for
instance loud cutlery about the enormous debt of
vicksourg; but Of the money spent for street i'm
| provements democratic contractors got the most;
! and the money given TO railroads was voted by
| democrats and republicans alike, and democratic
railroad managers pocketed IL. Such men as
Barkstale, Wharton, Lamar and hundreds OF other
prominent democrats have clean HANDS ana are
men OF honor; but there Is an undoabted propensity
| 10 corruption among democratic as well as among
! republican leaders. For instance, vicksburg has
| been since August, under democratic rule but the
expenses OF the city government am told, have
| increased, ana order is not as well maintained
under democratic rule as formerly.
Nor, II the democratic leaoers were fair. would
they omit TO tell their people that the expenses OF
\ state and county governments have necessarily
increased for the colored people, being ree, give
business to the courts and the oncers ana institu
| tons OF justice; they must have schools; and in
/ other ways the COST OF government is increased.
That a large balance OF waste ana theft remains is
perfectly true, and OF that all may rghtlully COM
plain, as well OF other and graver wrongs
which nave mentioned above.
THE COLOR LINE
4 It's a complaint, also. OF the democrats that
their opponents have for corrupt purposes, main
tanned the color line in politics. 10 Is true that
4 tue Ames men cultivate the negro vote BY base
means; but IL Is also true that the democrats
help them. In Arkansas and Louisiana do not
! remember having once heard OF the negro except
as part or the body polite, ignorant, 10 be sure
i but good WORKER, and as was often said to me
\ BY democrats, "not to 10 blamed that ne went
\ wrong under bad advice.r But in Mississippi the
commonest topic OF discussion is inc damned
nigger.r dozen times, at least, prominent
\ democrats told me ne was pecu-
/ liar being not possessing the virtues
\ or the Caucasian race and not fitted
by nature 10 vote or 70 sit the jury, TO bear
wr,ness-a creature admirably calculated TO make
\ cotton and so on. have heard such discussions
( going on In the presence OF colored men, who
/ naturally listened with all the they had Now
the negro is not idiot. lie would be II no voted
i for and with men who habitually call MIN 'ng-
rern and often q damned niggern and who
openly assert his Incapaclty by nature 70 perform
/ the functions OF a citizen. When the ''most re-
\ spectacle citizen" In Vicksburg clustered
/ about the Postmaster appointing q damned
niguer', he heard by at least
twenty-five colored men and women. Yet
| ia that very town leading democrats
| groan about the impossiDlllty OF breaking the
1 color line. One would nave a contempt for such
u politicians were not their course a constant IN
4 Jury to the State In which they are so feoisnly
noisy, and IN which the quiet, sensible and orderly
! people seem to have almost entirely resigned the
power and supremacy which belong to them.
/ Tue thing which was oltenest said to me in
Mississippi py democratic politicians was this: -
''Our only hope IL IN the democratic success in the
next federal election. The democratic successes
last fail gave us our frat CLEAN or light.u But
when asked how a democratic administration
could help them. the repIyawas, because then
we can dIsorganize the colored vote. Tney viii
not vote without whits leaders 10 organize tnem.r
Ana when / asked one OF the leaders OF the white
line" movement, whose object Is to draw the
color line strictly, how ne could hope TO get all
the white people. win their strongly diverging
Vows, into his movement, his prompt reply was,
"wenl make II too damned hot for them TO stay
out.n Now, to me this does not look Ike the
or
method OF buster and bullying and force. The
honest republicans. whom asked whether the
white line movement could possibly draw In all
the white voters, ali replied in the Affirmative
II would silence opposition, any rate they said.
INTOLERANCE OF OPINION.
Al present there is vigorous opposition 20 the
"whte line" movement among the more sensible