The New York herald., 1876-09-16
THE COLOR LINE

RELATIVE POSITION OF THE nAcEs-K1NpLY
FEELING BKTwEEN THE WHITES AND BLACKS
IN vIRoINIA-oooD EFPECTs OF THE DECAY
OF THE CARPRT-DAGGER-wHy THE NEGRO
cLINGs TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-A MAXI
MUM OF GRATITUDE AzD MINIMUM OF IN
rELLIozNcE.
RICHMOND, Sept IA, 1876
The remark is quito common that the political color
line IN the South is less marked than formerly, but
this doubtful do notmcan to iner that there is
the antagonism between the whites and blacks
that existed five years ago. On the contrary, am
convinced that the feeling OF personal hostility stirred
up between the has almost entirely subsidized and
this TOO notwithstanding the recent troubles South
Carolina and other Southern States 1t was an un-
natural feeling at all times and it with difficulty
that the white adventurous who tho South for
plundcr originally aroused it, maintained it after It
was aroused
THE FEELING IN VIRGINIA.
In Virginia that feeling of personal antago-
nism very evancscent 1t did not fact ariso
here for several years after the war, and then only
when the negroes had boen inoustriously and scdu-
lousy taught entertain against the whites; and
it can be recoectcd also that it had its subsistence
with storm OF Indignation which carried with 1t both
blacks and whites against The carpet baggcrs in 1SGs
They had been power in the land for several years
before that they had swarmed into Office; had banded
and maDnuvred the coored men in every way they
thought most promotivc OF thor private gain But
the blacks discovered that the scstylcd patriot
fraud that all he accomplished by personal
mostly to the whites was the attcnng OF worthless
Northern whites and his own abasement; and 80 tho
poor carpct.b .bagger fell between white and tho
black folks, the upper and neither mill stones and was
ground into powder. Tho places knew him then
tvnvv him and d,
gotten tho peaceful territory OF the Old Dominion.
END or TIKI cARrEr-BACGKRs
II would be curious study to learn how many OF
these Northern walls who to tho South and
played the devil with the blacks and the whites have
wound up their brilliant careers IN the pentenres OF
the nation. Well. pursuing an Investigation OF this
problem OF the color no all for reconciia
,ion wnen the carpetoag matter disposed Of and
so lar as George Washington Jones and Thomas Jeier
Brown ana their former masters arc concerned
nothing could DO more cordial than their personal
latlons. They now to their old squabbles
about riding IN street gong TO the theatres
gethcr They have entirely forgotten nossy feel
ngs with which they met at breakfast In 1865 1862
each convinced that the other had been drilling
secretly all tho previous night to take the
others lie a. tho drop Of hat They
laugh now AT those days of bad blood and
worse sense, and wonder how with their smartness
they could have been duped by the c. BIS Imagn-
ing that tnere was any of personal strife between
them. So tar is The Virginan now IRON feeling tha;
he Is supplying fund to buy murder him
when he gives Caesar his monthly wages, that 1t Is a
real pleasure 10 nm to think he Is gong to do
WIN H. aud he knows that Cesars confidence fully
restored by the brilliant polish he puts his boots
dc nnds also that his man Pompey Is by no means as
ciamorous to vote for pledge OF city bonds aid
wildcat railroads since no has paid taxes a small
suburban lot tor several years The eternal fitness OF
| things, the connection between bonded municipal
| debt and high taxation, has beamed In upon Ponp
since he became butcher and town landed proprietor
In way his former master little dreamed OF q decade
ago. In word
PERFECT DOMESTIC HARMONY
non tha IN .,lc fac ho
personal conduct OF the negroes concerned hcy de-
serve INFINITE credit They have received the boon OF
freedom with meekncss forbearance from violence
and spirit OF Kindness toward their apparent enemies
unsurpassed IN history, and Is surprised TO see
what property they have accumulated IN the eleven
years since The war They display good sense In their
selections prudence In their bargains, provtdence in
living ard In all their personal matters they seek tho
best advice
| THE SINGULAR pxArURE
And this Is where the most singular aspect OF the
color line problem presents ITSELF II 10 curious