Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-24

and cannot but lay the foundation of pros
porous future that will not be surpassed by
any section of the United States; whilst the
maintenance of a separate and distinct organ
ization, based upon color and opposition to
the former shareholders, must eventually lead
to complete wreck of whatever prosperity
you have attained-for time certainly has de-
veoped the fact that you cannot depend upon
the influence of Northern politicians to sus-
tain you in any conflict that may arise from
your "race, color or previous condition Of SER
gitude." l have frequently heard your peo-
pie demand political recognition and repre-
sentation, 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 Irish and
Germans are Americans, and have no peculiar
American citizens. But your race have been
here for more than 250 years, and still they
are Africans; and, should you remain l 900
years more, you will still be Africans, al
though you will be American citizens. You
must remember that you are a 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 reconstructed State
governments, passed through the South, and,
returning to the North with the most terrible
statements of the opposition Of the Southern
people to the National Government and their
i IL, oo1
the most radical grounds in and out of Con-
gress for political purposes. And yet, after the
lapse of few years, the same parties have re-
visited the South, and have returned to the
North presenting another phase of the picture
completely vindicating the white men of the
South and condemning 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 politi-
cal 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 a few years ago, were the most violent in
favor Of the negro, are now practically his
most uncompromising opponents. This shows
a want Of knowledge Of human nature. They
should have known at the time that it was
not possible to take a man out of the cotton
field and make him a statesman, 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
presented them before you, what is the duty
of the colored people of the South in the fu-
ture? would say, in answer, that whatever
is to your interest is nquestionably your duty.
The question, therefore, is: What is your in
terest? l hold that your true interest is to
stand aloof from all political parties. You
have little to hope or expect from union
with any political party, any 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 poiti-
cal ambition without your aid, and that he
can make more by opposing than by support
ing you, my advice to you is to maintain an
independent position. If you quietly stand
by and see those combinations 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 to become party to the sale your
selves. You can make better terms with your
masters than can the old time Aboltionists !;
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 hope to secure some share of
political power and influence for yourselves
and your posterity. DO not tie yourselves to
any party which will be certain to sacrifice
you whenever it has accomplished its own pur-
pose; but say to all parties in the future that
you will support men instead of parties-tbat
you will support the men in whose honor you
can trust, and who will guarantee the largest
representation for your people, and in whose
guarantee you can put the greatest trust for
the protection of your rights as American
citizens. This course will cause men Of all
parties to seek your support and influence.
They will meet your people with feeling of
lberality, and will concede to you such rep
resentation as will be compatible with good
government. 1 advise this policy because |
believe it is for your best interest," and also for
the best interests of the country. If you
pursue 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
concede 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 admins
tration of many of the State Governments,
but in the administration Of the National
Government itself.
JUDGE WRIGHT REPLIES TO THE ABOVE
Since the publication of x-Governor SCOTS
letter, j. j. Wright, the colored Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court, has answered
it in the Union Herald. The reply is more
conspicous for thrusts at the ex.Governor's
administrations and his official conduct gen.
orally than for argument controverting the
points taken. Judge Wright compares the
action of Governor Scott, the trusted friend Of
the freedmen, and who stepped from the
freedman's bureau to the gubernatorial chair,
to the conduct of Brutus, who betrayed Cesar
in the hour of his extremity; but he says it is
mistake to suppose the African Caesars of
South Carolina are going to cover their heads
and give up the ghost, as did the Roman
Cesar of old. He asks why Ex-Governor
Scott did not speak at the time, and counsel
the unfortunate and ignorant negroes if he
looked upon the enfranchisement of the COL
ored people as serious mistake, and says the
ex xGovernor displays consummate ignorance
in believing the true policy of the government
would have been to organize governments in
the Southern States with an executive ap-
pointed by the President.
On the point which it is claimed originated
the war; if it did not grow out of the slavery