The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-03
The South for Tilden. Hendricks, and
Reform.

Reform.
During the last three or four years there
has been rapid revolution going on in the
political power Of the South. That revolu-
ton, we have every reason to believe, snow
nearly complete, and with efficient organi- |
cation, an active, earnest, and thorough cam |
yass, and plain, clear statement OF the
merits of the one ticket and the dement's OF
the other to the more intelligent leaders Of
the colored race, we shall sweep the south |
ern States, not excepting South Carolina,
for TILpEN, HENDRICKS, and Reform.
just after the war, the negro, in his igno-
rance, was naturally an easy dupe for the
looking to power and plumber, in utter dis
regard Of the interests OF either race, in
supreme contempt for civil liberty and civil
law, and in cruel carelessness whether the
result Of their policy should bring the South
and the whole country to ruin and disgrace,
or not. But the negro, inferior in intellect
to the white man as he is, and denied all
opportunity for improvement under the in
stitution OF slavery us he was, is neycrthe-
less capable Of learning something not only
from books, but from personal observation
and experience among men as well. The ne
gro acS learned something since the war. He
was at first most confdingly credulous when
the oily-tongucd white man, like the toad in
the ear Of EVE, whispered sweet sentiments
and words Of pleasing promise, that made
his tympanum Jingle with new sensation
q delight. The ''Loyal League" was the
theme OF his thoughts by day and OF his
dreams by night. He revellcd in its
mysteries. He enjoyed exceedingly the
license OF his liberty under its protect
ing Isis. He regarded it as a sanctuary.
He little imagined that he was himself the
victim OF the very arts of the white man he
was there warned to watch and despise. He
laughed at all ovcrturcs from his old master
looking to friendship between the two races.
He was deaf to all honest appeals to his SELF
respect, to his reason, and to his interests,
from the white men whom he knew, and
who had known him, under different state
OF affairs. He looked upon every northerncr
as his firm, fast friend, who loved him for
hunlanity's sake, who had stricken off his
shackles in the name Of God and freedom,
and who had put the ballot in his hand be-
cause he thought as a free citizen he ought
to have it to do with it as he pleased. But
time wore on; year after year glided
away; the colorcd man continued to
vote, and to vote as he was directed;
the white brothers o. the League were
growing great and greasy in the Fat
Offices which the negroes Suilragcs had Sc
cured Tor them, and the colored man, with
only now and then the barest bone to COM
fort and to quiet him, was left TO the luxury
OF his dirty shirt, his ragged jacket, and the
contemplation OF the fact that he was Il free
man, with all the rights of freeman about
him, 1t last the whites OF the black mans
eyes began TO be even Il little more obvious
than usual; hi, doubts were aroused, his
suspicious were excited, he scratched his
head occasionally, and reflected on the
situation and the circumstances Il little.
From that day to this the light OF the truth
has been breaking more and more clearly
upon the colored mans mind. And there
are thousands OF his race in every southern
State to-day who have The sagacity to see
that their best interests arc involved in the
best interests OF the best white citizens
around them; that the political adventures
who have been dcccving and bctraying
them arc the worst enemies they have ever
had; that their own prosperity, rs indivi-
duals and ms Il people is dependent upon the
prosperity OF the South and Of the whole
country: that their best friends are the
whites who have promised them nothing
but their rights under the laws, Justice and
fair dealing. and that their best allies in
politics are the Democrats, who will hon
eStly uphold them in all that is guaranteed
to them in the amendments to the Constitu-
ton, who will aid them in education, en-
courage them in industry, applaud them in
the acquisition Of property, but now and
forever refuse to them what God in the or
ganism OF nature dened-the social equality
OF the black man with the white.
The colorcd man has eyes to see, and ears
to hear, and mind to understand what he
sees and hears like other men. lie has his
own interests at heart, too, like other men.
And that he should now be beginning to
lose faith in his false friends and to With
draw his confidence from the Radical party
is evidence only that he is human in his Or
ganization, and that lie is only acting as
other human beings with similar surround
inss would be acting for their own good,
through the good OF their own communities
and the country.
The South for TILDEN, HENDRICKS, and
Reform, may be confidently counted upon
in calculating the conclusion OF this con-
test between the two parties. But there is
work-earnest, arduous work-to be done.
The people, both black and white, must be
awakened, aroused, and informed. And
then all we ask is no interference from the
Federal Government, that we may have a
fair and free election.
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