The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-11-04
Race Relations in the South.

( dit IHttrINiSniS WHICH, arc 1Uuuu ~
exist I';"crn the two races in tho
South 10 Gay, the question naturally
presents itself as TO what just grounds
thrr" actually arc affairs, or, in fact,
for the existence of such a diversity
Of intcr, st at aIl 1t is a fact within
the knowledge Of all that tho COM
plications which constantly grow ont
vi the hostile rr)atlnn Of the two races
! in al! questions Of the most yricvous
! ills which have tctallcn their COM
mon country.
Living together III close and fanni-
liar association that would seem to
render u>.animity OF sentiment and
action na,nlal and necessary, their
attitude is. effectively, that Of tho an
tipodc3, their opinions III autithcsis.
The hand Of the black mau is turned
against tie white man his vote is
recorded, .:ot in support of his con-
victions, l'ut in opposition to those
OF the white man what one will do
the other will not, and the result is
permanent c>tranycment, and some
times anarchy and b|ood,hcd. Is it,
then, impossible that these ditfrren,-
cvs should ever be finally H'Gnatcdl
and the efforts and energies Of the
races uniIc,! and directed to common
aims for their mutual yood' In the
Dry it would seem not, aud yet tho
history Of the past ten years teaches
that every effort ihat way has proved
worse ,han useless. What is tho
nature o! tins deep seated antipathy,
and where are the hea,lwatr,s of this
tide that flows broadly and unbridyrd
between these races Is the neyro's
aversion instructive, and does it arise
from the SORENESS produced by tho
memory Of the OLD relationship of
master and slAvc1 No, for then,
whatever Inlay be said, tie negro and
the white man as a RUE :lwclt toyoth-
cr in perfect unity, and now the OK:
slave habitual] y refers to that period
with satisfaction as i time OF peace
and plenty. Whatever antagonism
exists has grown up since. Or is it,
perhaps, that the white man still
smarts under tho violcut aud extra.
ordinary means made use of to wrcst
from him what he considered his ab-
solutc property, and proudly refuses
TO affiliate with an inferior race and
Share their views and sAcsiCn ? This
car scarcely be true, for it is familiar
knowledge that the whites have
steadily sought to contilia'c the black
population, and prevail! upon It to 80
with them hand in hand in the con-
struction and carrying out of measures
in fulthcrAnvr of tho interests Of both.
1t is unfair and illogical to cite in this
connrc'jo" individual OF. local! instan-
crs at yariancr with this statement.
1T is the policy of tho white RAGE, asa
continuous whole, with reference to
tho blacks that must bo looked to,
and we claim that a just estimate Of
it will establish the truth Of OR pro-
position. y, public or private riSl:
clniI,r1by the negro under the Con-
stitution and laws Of the country has
been denied him, or, if denied, with
held by the courts Of law. All leg
isIation hy Nrnocra!ic Houses has
been fairly vi;hin tn" constitutional
amendments, and THEN intention has
been ac9uicSvcd in and carried out.
1t has been conceded that the nrSro's
present legal status in such as to en-
title him to Share in the representa-
ton and government 81 his State,
subject, however, :" the same test of
qualification as \ white man.
Standing, then, upon a fair and
equal fuu>in. with the white nsat,
living together, luhol'ng together, it
l., surely to be honestly dcp|ored tha5
these anita ut,i$n*>, whrr" calse there
is none, cannot Il" at le;r:'t IN some
measure rrroncirh. The true secret
of the whole maI'rr is, Chat the ne
yroc, if left to his own instincts,
would speedily Ilarm"nizc with tho
white man. BY those familiar with
the characteristics and habits Of tho
blacks, and with the true sentiment
of the Southern f'coplc, towards thcm,.
the disco!l brtNrrn the races ci'e be-
attributed 70 'ut one cause, aud that
is the tMlctuI inf renee of tho rcvl
less and 'Eu,niuc;p|cd element which
has a,3Uncd The leadership of tho
negro population. 1t is susceptible
OF the slrir>rSt proof, that whatever
race Disturbance has occurred any
where in tir >nnth has Inrn dl-
rcc>Iy trarrah'c to TIE malicn prompt
in.s of these mcn, tanning tho isno-
taut and easily aroused passions Of
the uNIru>oning nrylo. And until II
longer a;'l hiNtrlrr experience of tho
criminal foil o! such connselS shaft
have opened the eyes of his race, wo
may well fear that much trouble is
stored up fox the hlacll ,.lan in his
pclitlcal r;lurr NuL1,. ItYislcf.
If il is Il A,tl;,AlS distinction to hr
the most l'rIN iIy taxed people in til"
world, uu,lcr tho most corrupt GOV
ernmcnt in tho world, Hayes and
WLtcltr are the men whose election
will pcrpetuatc that distinction Ior
four years longer
The connn,lrnm of the day is: How
lo Government officials become mil
li",n,i,cs while the people bccon!v