American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-26
APPEAL TO REASON.
Communicated.l

A3 0Ao = ~ 1N0ASSAN.
Commu nicated.]
The negro race is the disturbing
element in Mississippi politics-to
solve the problem is the duty of the
hour. For its calculation we need |
no Winchester rifles or "negro kill.
ings," but an appeal to reason and
the chivalric honor of Southern
gentlemen who have ever held
too high to oppress the
weak, or stain their fair escutcheons
with crime. That politics had reach
ed a climax insufferable is too tue,
and if ends ever justify means this
mag be claimed for the rifles and
the canvass lastfal But "the power
of the Mameluke Beys is-, broker"
and the time for all such dsmonstra-
lions Is over, if evil results the end
Of which cannot be seen OF imagined
arc not desired and We here call
upon men Of mind and position, the
present power behind the throne, to
exert their influence for the common
good. The man who inflames By
word, deed or color of action the
minds of white or black, the one
against the other, is no. only an
enemy to his country. bat q common
enemy Of mankind. Extremes have
existed in our State politically since
the surrender: first the mistakes of
the Legislature Of 1865, then the
omnians gatherum of the past ten
years, and now the color line. The
merest dullard in political economy
can see how prejudicial all this is to
good and lasting government, and
We here enunciate as an axiomatical
truth, that we will never have any
security or settled policies until
there il . political amalgamation Of
the races. The negro il . citizen,
and must forever remain 10; he is .
taxpayer. Cor should be), and must
continue to do 90; he has tho right
Of franchise and must retain it for
all time to como or subvert the fun.
damentsl principles Of free govern
men, "taxation without represents
tion." Here We will say. NO man of
any color should vote unless he haa
paid all his tax-his tax reoeip,
should be his registration paper.
No one should aid in making laws
for governing . country he does
not help to support. The negro race
must and will be elevated. We as
sert to meet objection, that there is
no type Of mankind nor any order
Of mind but what is susceptible Of
betterment, the erratic croppingo out
OF geniusin races and families proves
this, whilst the stolidity Of . large
portion of different types hold them
all amenabIe to the same psycholo-
gical laws. The careful eye cannot
fail to observe that this advance is
being begun-both In point Of intel
lect and material prosperity. When
they fulfill the full conditions of
citizenship their interests are CO.
existant with the rest of our people
and will insure q community of in-
terests and feeling.
The negro is a citizen Of the
United States as we'll as q citizen
of the State of Mississippi, and the
Federal Constitution guarantees to
all its citizens the liberty Of speech,
press, and the unmolested right of
and any injudicious pro-
or even seeming hinder.
ance to political freedom can only
result in = conflict with the Federal
power, and that will be productive
Of no good, besides. Will, in either
controlled by force is ever
FESTIVE and ready to break out in
new directions. thereby engendering
, perpetual feeling of insecurity |
which will forever impede our finan-
sial prosperity. The negroes dis
rust the Democratic party, partly |
because of tho ideas incoctrinated |
INTO their minds by interested lead.
RS to this effect, but principally be.
.ause thew regard tha Ronnhlican