Middletown transcript., 1876-12-09
THE ooLoRED VOTE.

AS II ln 'autlcipatiou VI some move
ment in Congress, the New York Tri-
bune has long article on the colored
vote. In which, among other things.
it says that increased power was given
to the Southern States in consideration
Of the supposed freedom of colored 70
ters." If the Tribune had said in con
sideration Of the supposed enslavement
of the colored vote to the radical party
leaders it would have come good deal
nearer the mark. The trouble is that
the very means adopted by the radical
leaders to perpetuate their own politi
cal power has become the instrument Of
their overthrow The engineer has
been "hoisted by his own petard =
Without the thirteen additional elec-
toral votes which have been given
through negro suffrage Mr.. Tilden
could not be elected The Tribune
quotes the old saw. curses come home
to roost," and truly adds, 80 do
political SINS" In its penitent mood.
engendered like the repentance Of many
other sinners. by the fear of punish
ment. it says if the republican party
had dealt honesty or decently in the
Southern States if its leaders in some
States had not been vile and its rule
infamous if its methods had not COM
prised the acts Of the thimble-rigger and
the brigand if it had not forfeited
public respect and confidence by being
knaues IN po,oer and By defending an
famous crimes-ws use the Tribune's
own language-it would not have found
the intellect and conscience of those
States failing it which put into power.
Yet it is doing all these things to-day,
and the Tribune is supporting the party
therein. The Tribune says:
..Rsturning boards clothed with un-
limited power and Legislatures organ
lied by soldiers are not agreeable to
Northern ideas Of self-govsrnment-
But wherever colored suffrage has not
been intrenched behind such defences
it has completely failed, either for self
protection or for defence Of national
welfare
If this is not an admission that there
has not been under radical rule, any free
suffrage for the negroes Of the South.
we do not know what is But supposing
it has really been free, it has certainly
been exercised in the past to its own de-
triment, like child playing with fire.
As the negro gained experience and
became informed as to the use Of the
ballot its value in protecting himself
and serving his own interests, be has
begun to throw his ballot in the re-
quired direction for the benefit instead
Of the destruction Of the State and COM
munity in which he lives. and hence
for his own benefit He thus learns.
though at his own previous cost, how
to use the privilege of suffrage in
manner which will not make it an in
Jury to himself instead Of benefit.
Thus it happens that his suffrage can
no longer be made available by radical
adventurers to rob the negro and the
communities in which his lot is cast
Therefore radicalism begins to think
that the conferment Of suffrage upon the
negro was a mistake The Tribune
says that 1.-THE vital question is whether
the share Of power granted to the col
orcd voters shall be seized and used by
those formally in rebellion to over
power those who preserved the Union ?
Parties and the sins of parties are in
significant here" And yet there never
has been a State in the South, from
first to- last. carried by radicalism, that
it was not done by practical destruction
Of the freedom Of the negro vote. federal
official and agents being always at hand
to take possession Of it and influence,
direct, and. if necessary. command it,
The very display Of power over the
whites by the exhibition Of the military
and other active, self-seeking federal
agencies, has over and over again effec-
tually accomplished that end and left
no opportunity for the white men, ma
tives Of the soil, whose destiny for veal
or woe was united with that Of the col
ored men, to give them counsel and
warn them against the evil which they
we're uuconsciouly bringing upon them
selves. But fortunately. the day of
relief is at hand. and the engine which
has been worked for evil in the past