Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-02
THE NEGROES AS VOTERS.
TFrom the New York Herald I


1t is commonly assumed by prominent repub-
lican leaders ana journals that states like South
Carolina or Louisiana must necessarily be
publican because the blacks there are In the ma
jority; that is to say, they assume that the col
ored voter is unmoved by reason and necessarI
ly supports the republican ticket. Now, If this
were irue, IL Would De Pubilc caiamltY, ann
would show that the colored man WAS unht TO be
voter; for he has now had nearly ten years
training in political duties, and ought TO be a
more or less reasonable being; ought ut least TO
be affected by appeals to his own interests.
But the iacts are all against the republican as
sumption; many Causes have consplrci 10
ALLEVIATE the respectable and intelligent coloreH
men IN the south rom their usually corrupt and
selfish white republican leaders. We will rnn-
merate only u lew. The failure of the Freed
mans Bank, infiictng distressing losses Il
great m my industrious blacks, has led many 10
leave the republican party. The nigh taxes I'M
posed by republican rule IN such states :
Louisiana and South Carolina have induced
great many coloIed property owners to go over
to the democratic ranks. The constant iurbu-
lence OF these states, comp ,r,d with the orderly
condition Of Arkansas and Alabama, has led
many colored men to seek similar que, by giving
the local governments TO the democrats. Tney
have discovered that negroes have all their rights
III democratic .tate, and are more pros porous han
IN .'', p-arrs Agstru5 tIi-ryrrrrrrTrr
at not receiving from General Grant, after III my
years OF aiting. the celebrated forty acrr>
| and mule,'' which republican ponticiana III
| the south SO freely promised, has einb!tt. rel
republican party. The fact that employers oi
labor, Impoverished by public robbery. could
not auOru wages 10 lhDDf, mas nau It's just III
| huence; for in some parts oil /. 'uisiuna dozens
| OF costly sugar plantations are not worked be-
cause their owners cannot afford 10 run the risks
| OF q crop with the prevailing high taxes.
1t must be remembered that all these pleas
| against the republican party We're lncessantly !
| aud properly urged upon the colorrd voters dur
| ing the past canvass not only by the whites hui
by men of their own race. Thirty col"tcu
| speakers, prominent and influential men, can
| vas, ed Louisiana on the democratic side, Will.
| on the republican side such influential colore.
leaders as PInchh2ck were silent anu aDsen
from the state. Nor ~ this all. We not tC
forget that IN the course OF years the relations
| be wcen the races have becnme more kindly an,
confidential, and thus the natural snd just Ia
| fuence of intelligence and property WAS brouSh
To bear upon the cOlored Voter.
| Whether the three disputed states have cas-
majorities for TIldcn or Hayes remains 10 be as
certalned But IT they or uiy # them have gon
democratic il would be absurd and mschicvou
TO Claim that this would be prinia Jncie evi
dcncr OF fraud or intimidation. On the contrary
| II ought TO he expected as the result oil natura
and proper CAUSES, Causes so numerous an'
strong that except Tor the federal lnteri"rcnc
during the canvass We should have conlidenll
expected such change, and even now the pre-
sumption lies, II seems TO U.s. IN lavOr OI tn
democrats rather than the republicans.