The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-14


The controversy in the Republican Con-
vention of South Carolina between Cham
berlain, the Governor, and the Whipper-
Moses gang of ruffians, suggests one or two
thoughts as to the proper mode for determin-
ing the Southern question. We fear it must
be conceded that the Southern people-those
who were in the rebellion-have not wisely
accepted the issues of the war. They have
not succeeded in winning the affection of
the old negro population with whom they
have lived, and who would be only too anx-
ious to act politically with the men with
whom they are bound by SO many ties of
sympathy and association. If the Southern
men had been patient and forbearing with
the negro there would not now be South
ern State in which the rnces would not live
in political harmony. The value of the
Chamberlain movement and Of independent
journals like the Charleston Necs and
Courier, which supports the Governor, is that
if he wins his success will 60 far toward
abolishing the color line in politics-a result
which would be the dawning of new era in
South Carolina and the other Southern
States.
We read many fervid and passionate mr.
ticles in the Southern newspapers about the
condition into which these States have
fallen. But we do not find in any of them an
answer to this question-''Why is it that the
negro has been driven into the tolls of the
thief and the carpet bagger?" 1t is
no argument to say that they were
seduced by Northern adventurers The
negro vote was in the hands of the
white men until the white men, by such
legislation as was seen in Georgia and else
where, by repeated and unjustifable out
RACES by denying the negro any Of the
ordinary functions of citizens, jury duty, or
appointments to minor offices, threw the vote
away. In the Southern States there is pecu-
liar condition Of affairs In all the States there
is large negro population. In three of
these States the negroes outnumber the
whites. Now, ordinary political prudence
would dictate wise course to the leaders of
politics in these States. They cannot kill
the negroes They cannot return them to
slavery. They cannot Danish them. They
are IN important political factor much
more so than the German or the Irish in any
of our Northern States. They should, there
fore, give them political recognition-the
recognition which wise politicians in the
North give to all classes who come here and
accept our citizenship. By this we do not
mean social recognition. That is altogether
apart from politics. The mistake of our
Southern friends is in regarding political
and social recognition as convertible terms.
This is not SO in the North. With us politi-
cal and social relations are far different
If our Southern friends were wise
they would consider the strength of
the negro vote in making their tickets.
We have yet to hear of o case where this has
been done. Has any one heard Of a white demo-
cratic mayor in Southern city, in Savannah
or Richmond or Memphis appointing
negro to the Office of policeman? Has any
one ever known of negro being appointed
to IN Office, no matter how humble, by any
Southern white democrat? Now we can well
comprehend the answer that will come up to
MS from ten thousand Southern voices
''What give niger an Office, black, de-
graded niger, to rule over white men"
That is sentiment we admit. But we are
now talking sense. "You men Of the South
want the negro vote. You complain that
this vote is taken from you that the negro
will live with you, trust you, fight for you,
rejoice in your JOY and sorrow in your grefs,
but that he will not vote with you. Well,
why should he? If he votes he wants loaves
and fishes, like his white brother, and if
his votes are worth soliciting they are
worth conciliating." How long would the
democratic or the republican party in the
North have any influence with the German
and the Irish vote If, in the distri-
button of patronage and political power,
the American element were to treat the other
as alien and unworthy of respect There is
human nature in politics, and a great deal
Of it.
Our Southern friends should accept facts.
There is no use of whining over the "lost
cause" 1t is lost, and there is the end of it.
Consider the negro rs voter and rs not
above having his voting power considered.
Remember, above all things, that having
rescued the negro from bodily slavery, we
cannot consent to see him reduced into po-
litical slavery. There is nothing but defeat
for the South on that issue. Accept the fact
that the negro has as much right in the
South rs the white man. Teach him
that his vote is a solemn responsibility
and that he should vote for honest men
to secure cheap taxation and good gov
eminent Let the white men of the
South deal with the negro rs we in the
North deal with those who come to live here
from other lands There will in time be that
feeling of confidence between the two races
without which there can be no harmonious
action for the popular welfare. But once