Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-10-25
Political BONDAGE or THE
NEGRO

forms. The whites haze here and
there kept the negroes away from the
polls. The means used are threats to
discharge laborcrs who vote against
,.SxpF'tiea! views Of ,hsierSIss 'oysyS
asiT ~ SK ~ssn1tus asNSgssSr
during the few weeks Immediately
proceeding an election. The extent to
which either of these policies has been
adoptsd has we bs!jsye; boon grossly
exaggerated. The first is practiced
quite as much by Northern Republicans
us by Southern Democrats. Witness
tho scenes in our navy yards, custom
houses aud government workshops,
and notably, also, in the department
Offices at the National Capitol. Wit
ness, also, many OF the large manufac-
turing establishments in New England,
where employers openly contract for
the delivery Of the votes of their opcr-
atives to Butler or an..Ayer. There
is this difference, too, between this
form Of intimidation at the North and
at the South. Here the threat made
before election is almost invariably ex-
ecutcd there, rarely or never. The
voting takes place at critical season
for the crops the cotton is to be baled
or the cane to be ground labor is
scarce and Republican muscle is as SER
viceable as Democratic muscle 50 the
anti-election threat is forgotten and
continues at bis task. But for places
under the government the supply OF
applicants never fail to exceed the de-
mand, and skill and merit are sccon-
Diary considerations The clerk, letter
carrieror laborer who votes against the
administration pays for his indepen-
dence with his place. Lucky is he il
his head fall not in the basket even
before the result OF the election is de-
clared. Intimidation by armed men
may have occurred in certain States OF
the South, but with Federal troops IN
every doubtful State it is not easy to
believe that the cases are more than
sporadic. We believe it to be thing
of the past
But with Southern blacks intolerance
exists in most intolerable form, and it
was never so rife as in this campaign,
for the simple reason that tho negroes
are now taking their first steps in po-
litical independence. In no State south
of Virginia can club OF colored DEM
ocrats meet without calling upon
white men for protection. The negro
who leaves the Republican party is re
garded as the betrayer Of his race, and
becomes social leper. He is Stunned
by every old associate; he is excom-
municated from the Church; he is ex-
PEELED from the dearly loved secret
societies of which he might have been
a bright and shining light; the men,
bers OF his family are subjected to in
dignities most calling; the path to
his cabin is never trodden by friendly
feet. If he persists in apostecy he is
formally given over 10 the devil. All
this has happened again and again in
the rural districts OF South Carolina,
Mississippi and Louisiana Even in
Virginia colorcd clergyman has been
made to suffer for the crime Of prefer
ring TIlden TO Hayes. 1t has been re-
ported in the Times that the Rev. Mr..
Dungee, the pastor of a prosperous
church took the fatal step and speedily
found himself without salary, Sunday
school or congregation, and is so open
ly threatend that insurance companies
decline to take risks on his life or
property. All honor to the brave ne.
gro, who, in the face Of such intimida-
ton, maintains his freedom Of thought
and speech. But we cannot wonder,
in view of the facts stated, that in
stances of perseverance of these saints
are few and far between. The negro
needs new emancipation--an emanci-
patton from political bondage. There
is no terrorism like that beneath which |
he goes 10 the polls to vote the Repub-
lican ticket. Whatever may tend to
relieve him from this tyranny COM
mands our hearty sympathy and en-
The negro is the most
enemy of the political rights
of the negro. Let the learned and
jealous Taft give this subject some at
tcntion. - Times.