Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-16
A Good Witness.

The Rev. DIR. Cuyler, Of Brooklyn, one Of
the earliest and boldest of the anti-savery
clergymen of the country, expresses his un-
qualified approval of President Hayes policy
of local self government. He says that,
aside from its inherent constitutionality and
Justice, it commends itself as the best and
kindest policy for the negro. Many of us,
who were original anti-slavery men, and have
never changed our feeling of sympathy for
our black brethren of the South, see in this
policy far better outlook for the negroes
than in that mistaken policy which has been
pursued for the last ten years. No class
have suffered from this protracted blunder
more severely than the freedmen themselves.
They have been thrown into false position
of hostility to their stronger white fellow
citizens, and the earthen pot has been badly
shattered by the conclusion with the brazen
pot. The politics of the South have been
distracted, and sharply divided upon a
"color line," which is an unmixed calamity
to both colors. The experiment of govern
ing Southern states from Washington, in
stead of within their own borders, has proved
to be melancholy failure.
The new policy is inaugurated by Presi.
dent who has been from his youth distinct
and decided anti-slavery man. Ex-senator
Wade-who has lately uttered so Incorporate
philippe against our Chief Magistrate
has no clearer anti-slavery record than Gen
eral Hayes. Mr.. Wade's denunciations carry
but little weight, because he has been ad
dicted TO throwing mud at patriotic Presi
dents in days that are past. Senator Sumner
used to say that during the civil war Sena
tor Wade's denunciatons of Mr.. Lincoh
were peculiarly violent and exasperating
Our interest in the new and pacific polio,
is based less upon partisan consideration
and more upon the higher grounds OF Chrl
tan philanthrophy. A large portion of the
colored people OF the South received the priv
ilege OF the ballot quite too soon. Coloret
suffrage ought to have been made dependen
upon education and only those Freedmen
should have been allowed to vote who coul,
read their own ballots. 1t is too late to re-
pair that grievous error; all that can b.
done now is to educate our negro fellow
citizens as rapidly as possible; and peace
fui policy will contribute many facilities fo
carrying out thorough measures for negrt
instruction. Three things the colored mai
needs above all other things; they are hon
est wages for his work, education and tn
gospel. Give him these aud he will soon b.
able TO protect himself without any aid from
federal bayonets. If in the future Their
should be any repetition of Hamburg
massacres," the state governments would b
bound to interfere promptly, and if the stat
governments failed to administer justice
there would be clear warrant for a sturd
blow from the federal capital.
The work of elevating the negroes doe
not belong to the national government. w
have had quite enough of that deusior
White Christians, both North and Soutl
must We the gospel to the poorer colore
population. Whiskey is as sore curse
the Southern blacks to-day as the overseer
lash was in past generations. A thoroug
temperance reform, aided by the voices
purses, and example OF the whites, is an il
dispensable demand of the hour. Ever
good thing will come sooner or later from
pacific policy. He is the true friend of tn
negro, and he only who strives to abolis
the "color line," and who maintains tn
right of the negro to be treated not as
nursing or pauper or serf, but as a
American citizen, and the possessor of a
immortal destiny.