Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-09-16
THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM.

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screamed defiance to the despots of Eu-
rope, and asked their thralls and bonds
men to compare their condition with
ours. There is, however, something of a
question whether all of US appreciate
our blessings ard privileges as freemen.
As there is a diversity of opinion as to
what these blessings consist Of, it is quite
evident that some of US do not. For
clearly both parties cannot be right
though both may be wrong.
For instance, the Republicans believe
that the blessings Of Freedom should be
extended to all. When, after the war
! for the Union had been brought to a VIC
torious conclusion, the condition Of those
who had been slaves claimed the atten-
tion of the law makers, it was held by
Republicans that justice and expediency
alike required that they should be grant
ed the same political and civil rights
which we ourselves possessed. And this
was done notwithstanding Democratic
opposition. Here, then, was most rad
ical difference o. opinion upon this ques-
tion. Probably our Democratic friends
thought that blessing was of no value
if shared by everybody, or what is equal
ly probable, considered freedom only a
relative term, possessing no significance
except by way Of comparison. And it
has been very hard work for these Dem
ocrats to accept the situation which plac
ed their former slaves upon a political
equality with themselves at the ballot
box, although they have occasionally as
a stroke of expediency, declared their ac-
quiescence. But the reaction against the
Republicans which gave the Confeder-
ate Brigadiers the Lower House of Con-
gress excited some pleasing illusions in
the Southern Democratic mind, and they
are beginning to look to return OF those
| good old times of ante beliuml when to
be able to own and "larrup" a niger was
the greatest boon of American freedom.
1t is only quite recently that we are fa-
vored with some refreshing views from
| Democratic sources which illustrate this
phase Of Democratic hope. Here is
Vance, their candidate for Governor in
| North Carolina, who appears to think
! the time has come for throwing off the
mask, so he declares in one Of bis speech
es that he is sorry be laid down his arms,
and is in favor of slavery. To bring this
latter about be would prevent the colored
people from being educated ; would pay
! low wages refuse to allow them to own
or lease real estate, and deprive them of
arms, ammunition, stock and agricultur-
al instruments. Mr.. Vance's admirable
ideas are so much in accordance with
those Of his immediate constituents that
the people of his city, Charlotte, refused
to allow Judge Settle, his Republican
opponent to address them. Without
paying much stress to Mr.. Vance's gas
canade about regretting that he had sur
rendered, etc., exactly what he advocates
is being carried out in nearly every
Southern State which is under Democrat
ic rule. In Texas, the Democracy have
passed laws by which at least 600 schools
have been closed for want Of mainten-
ance, abolished the distinction between
grand and petty larceny all persons
convicted are sent to the penitentiary ;
all county jails are penitentiaries all
persons sent to Jail are disfranchised /;
white men are seldom convicted and
when they are, are restored to citizen
ship with colored men TO accuse is to
convict. In this way votes are preserved
to the Democracy but lost to the Repub-
licans, for the most venial crimes in a
black are as severely punished as grave
offences in other communities. The
same can be said Of Arkansas since
Democratic government has been estab
,lished in that State more than 5000 col
ored men have been permanently dis
franchised for offences for which fine or
light imprisonment would have been am
pie punishment. In Georgia the De-
mocracy have disfranchised 20, 900 colored
voters by an unconstitutional law relative
to payment Of taxes before voting, which
law is enforced against the colored but
not against the white voters. In Tennes-
see the Democrats remOdeled the school
system leaving it discretionary with the
counties to vote what sum each pleased
for the support Of its own schools. The
same policy is being pursued in every
one Of the RECONSTRUCTED" States which
are under Democratic rule except Vir-
ginia. In Texas the colorod convicts are
sold into servitude AS plantation laborers;
in Alabama If a fine is imposed and can
not be paid, the person can be sold to la
Dor until it is paid. These are some OF
the beauties of Democratic law in States
where there is a large proportionate color
ed population, and every vote for Tiden
and Hendricks is a vote justiiyng these
measures of tho confederates to de-
prlve the negro race of those rights OF
freedom which it was hoped the Constitu.
tonal Amendments would guarantee Ito
be held forever intact. That the South
is to-day like smoudering volcano
ready To burst into q flame of violence
and assassination, is due only to the
Northern Democrats, who persistently
claimed TO believe the reports of South.
ern outrages were only gotten up for po.
litical effect and insisted that the 'ruline
race" could do no wrong.
SPEAKING Of T'ilden's failure or rath.
er the charge that he failed to pay his in
come tax, the New York Tribune says