The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-11-02
a Word 10 Colored Mem.


a Word to Coiored Nsen.
An effort on the part of a Democratic
newspaper to offer gratuitous advice 70
colored voters may possibly go as far as
straws would against The wind; but we
desire to perform our duty honestly and
conscientiousiy, and. if they ignore the
truth and fail or refuse to discharge
their duty they win do so with an utter
disregard Of the right, with q concur
sive preference for the wrong.
We say to You, colored voter that
surrounding circumstances will justify
You to discard the Republican party;
for that party, as yous are well aware,
has, to all intents and purposes, discasd-
ed you, and if You are so blinded to
your own interests that you cannot per
ceive it, you are certainly an object Of
pity. 1t is spirit of sympathy that
prompts us to plead with you, and we
shall do so, actuated with the best of
feelings for your prosperity and happi>
ness. We have no axe to grind and
seek no political ~favors; therefore, our
motives cannot be impugned.
The carpet-baggers have been hurled
from power, and as soon as they lost
their positions they departed to parts
unknown, leaving you in the hands of
those from whom they pretended to
save you and III State government that
is Democratic. The State has been
peaceable and quiet ever since the Dem
.ocrats assumed power, and yon have
far better protection now than you did
under Radical rule.
The Radicals told you that.as SOON as
the Democrats got into power yon
would be deprived of your franchise
and your freedom. The Democrats are
in power in the Lower House of Con
grers and in every Southern State, eX-
cepting South Carolina and Louisiana,
and not a single or pretended effort has
been made by the Democrats to inter
fore with your rights in the least, thus
proving that the teachings of the car
pet-baggers have been UNANIMOUSLY false
from beginning to end, and every hon
est colored man in the land is bound to
admit it. No record of the Democratic
House Of Congress, or of u Demo
cratic Legislature, will show that the
rights of cofored men were invaded at
all; but those records will show, and
very conclusively, too, that they have
been protected; for all laws that were
enacted apply to all alike, without any
distinction whatever.
The true white men of the South
are your only and best friends, and yoH
cannot deny it if you will admit what is
really so. Their interests are identical
" yours, and their adversely is your ca
lamity; for whatever effects the white
people, for good or evil, effects the col>
ored people also.
Now We will approach the thread of
our narrative, and hope you will consid
er the subject as one of great import
n C to your race.
If you want a favor, you go to a
Southern white man for it; if you want
legal advice or protection before the
Courts, you go to a Southern lawyer; if
you want medical attention, you send
for a Southern doctor; if you want
credit or supplies to enable youto make
your crops, you go to a Southern mer-
chant. Now, if you get your fayow,
legal advice, medfcai attention and cred
from Southern men, how can you
have the ingratitule to vote against the
of those men whom you are
bound to regard as your b~enefactors,
and whose prosperity yoa VIII share,
more or less. and whose adversely will
be doubly yours. If you a trust
your life in the hands of a Southern
and your legal rights in the hands
of a Southern lawyer, we ask you, IN
the name of high heaven. why is it that
you are not willing to trust Southern
men with your political rights?
Now we want the colored men to think
of this, candidly, refectively and prop
erly, and if they possess the gratitude
are willing to give them credit for,
and will give this subject the serious
consideration it justly deserves, we be>
lieve they will have the manliness to
abandon the false and pernicious teach>
Of the Radical party, and come out
boldly for Tilden, Hendricks, Hooker
and Reform!
The old Republican ship is rotten to
the core, and she has sprung SO many
leaks, that all the power of the nation
cannot save her from sinking to the
of eternal oblivion. The faith
tul watchman on the lookout of the
good old Democratic ship has heard the
signal of distress, and she comes
20 the rescue Of those who do not want 10
90 down in the Republican disaster,
md invites them to come on board be.
ore it is too late, and she will land them
aF- !
iafely and pleasantly in a delightful
larbor of peace, prosperity and happF
less. where all men will be equal before
he law, without regard to race, color
II previous condition.
Gran Is Organ oar Tilden.
The following extracts are taken
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