The New York herald., 1877-02-05
Sinister Tendency Of the Ne
gro Politicians.
THE TORCH AND THE POISON CUP
Threatened Re-enactment of Odious
Labor Laws.
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.

Florida has just safely emerged from the anarchica
crisis which has contemporaneously endangered tho
existence Us Commonwealths OF South Carolina aud
Louisiana The interests involved those States arc
undoubtedly much greater, but tho passions which
might be aroused here be dreaded il they
once obtained unlicensed sway Tho tourist In Florida
if he is like tho majority Of Northern visitors Is IN
most instances exempt from contact with the elements
which compose her most characteristic population
The regions which are most haunted by them have
been somo extent rescued from what might be
termod the barbarism Of tho ante -bellum period
They have been mctamorphosed as wero the outlying
provinces Of the Roman Empire which had been long
est under her sway. The asperities of prejudice
mistaken patriotism aud sectional resentment
have been somewhat soltoncd, and tho
contact with social power, tho wealth OF the
North, has RELOCATED the negro to his natural
and proper position, that OF subordnation. But
In the interior and western portion OF Florida oldcn
ideas still strongly prevail In the superior race while
cxuberance OF pretension epgendered in the infe
ror by its sudden manumission and elevation very
rank These moral conditions. SO strkngIy opposite
tend to hostility, which, at any unfortunate moment
mny become active. They would be- perhaps less
dangerous moro OF mutual abuse INDUCED IN by
the adverse parties. That species OF candor would not
only give vent 10 the inner thought and Impulse but
would adord admonItion, which might render the
avoidance of real conflict moro simple.
INTENSITY OF ANTAGONIST
The anmosity which have noted III Florida is of a
more sulcn and taclturn kind. Tho negroes and tho
whites ooservo a reserve toward oach other which
shows that they mutually recognize the strength OF
feeling which subssts on both Sides The recent eec
ton IN Florida was preceded by the most ominous In
dcations Deeply seated malice discovered itself in
both parties The current talk in this portion OF the
State was OF sanguinary possibilities and on
The eve before the opening OF tho polls thero
was open preparation Tor conflict The intense
apprehension felt by the whites Of tho purposes
Of tho negroes is shown by the fact that for weeks
before the 7h Of November the merchants refused to
sell them oil ammunition. To tho planters and
''corn cruckers," however, they supplied these art
cles freely, and there busy distribution OF shot
and powder before the decisive day arrived The DEM
pcrats declare that they apprehcnded general reign
Of arson just prior TO the election.
SINISTER TENDENCY THE NgGRoEs
Circumstances have induced me to givo credence to
tho prevalence Of this apprehension arrived in Flor.
ida just prior TO the settlement Of tho question tho
gubernatoria succession The aspect OF society was
calm, but the embers of fierce excitement glow
ing under the ashes of the previous oulburss My
rival was Immediately tho topic of curl
osity and inquiry, and characters and mis-.
sions were trsely conjectured and applied to
me. Florida society, In this section at least, has
much Of the peculiaries to be looked for the will
derness. [Tho correspondent Of the HERALD said
to be leading agent of the republican party whose
unccan work has made him especially notorious and
0dous to all decent peope1 The chivarous Fioridians
gazcd upon me with choking emotions OF dsdain and
disgust, but moved unconscious OF the enmty which
watched lynx-like my every footstep. The colorcd
citizens were drawn toward mo by sympathy, OF the
Impulse Of which am ignorant | projected jour-
s1.~
guide employed an inky African of powerful phys.
lque and emphatic features. | had not gone hall
mile, with him seated in tho vehicle with me, before
learned from his willing lips that no brilliant
political light with his dusky fellow citizens lie was
stump orator, dreaded and hated by tho democrats.
No one OF his own race had been prom
inent in the struggle for power and tho reputation
which his opponents bestowed upon him unenvI-
ublc. He evidently viewed me with loyal respect aud
during ride OF fifty miles, abominablc roads, his
confidence naturally flowed freely without my socita-
tIou. Unknowng OF the strength which my compan-
onshp with this radical ard my innocent search after
carpet-baGger in relation TO business foreign to
politics would lend to the mistaken conception OF my
character, listened with interest born OF novelty.
THEIR
learned from him that the negroes place no conf
dence In the professions made by The whites OF moro
honest disposition to bercnd than that displayed
by the carpet bagecrs. Tho wb ich he gavo
support oil his opinions were founded upon observa,.
ton. He said that the whites here could not DO
trusted with the destiny OF the colorcd OF
their deeply rooted anlipathy 10 labor. Hc cxpa-
tatcd long on their Incidence, and with illus
which had much OF force ano originality This
quality Of tho whole Southern people Will not think,
be denied 1t is the curse pcqueathed by the "twin
relic OF barbarsm' and the disease which paralyxes
mother OF a falso prido, quality which Will never
spontaneously accept tho political equality OF tho
children of toll 'sro support the habits OF laziness
In which tho whito pcopic indulge" ho declared.
"thcy must able command labor for loss than It's
real value This will bc the aim OF all their political
str uggIcs, not only until they have learned through
necessity to adopt nobcr standard OF pride Than
basca upon interest, but until they are convinced OF
It's iutility."
THE POOR wnITEs
or course my ebony acquaintance did not utter tho
language which have employed, but was astonshed |
az The Intelligence force OF his expressions,
and listened further IN the hope OF greatly bcttcrng
my conception OF the situation OF the representatives.
pt sovereignty tho south. We entered |
The gloomy coonuades OF an extensive |
pncy forest, which covers many square
The topic upon which tho negro had ht was uncxpcct
edIy illustrated by an apparItion, which engaged my
attention front vi the humblcst KIND oi log hut
II Ia the midst OF the prmcval wood, and around
II there OF tho evidences OF industry that
would have cbecrcd the eye by their suggestion Of
hrit. The mcrest patch oil garden was The only land
hich had rescued from The sombre ruic OF ma
lure and IT the very picture Of Gcarth and neglect
"a that u had the eye such attraction as The
virgin wilderness around. We were pashing throu-h
pool oi mirc, when, CHANGING to glance up, esplcd
most sing lar figure Imagine to Yourself u woman
devoid OF suggestion OF The gentle womanly charms
Her hair was OF that unromantc hue which vuigarity
Expresses In tho compound word "tow head !" II was
nnkcmpt and long. 1t hung in tangled strands over
Taco and shoulders, while the wind trined with
Il and gave II all the varying and hidcous
aspects OF tho famous chsueu1 worn by Mcdusa IL |
)nc lost this "forest primevai'' and came
lpon q creature like this, after his mind bad
ong been IN "a state Of alteration from inccs-
iauL wandering he could hardly be dcluded into the
dca that shc was Calypso Circc. His only conclu-
On must have been that he had stumbled into tho
and OF the Amazons where u Is always leap year
nd terror sezclh hIs soul" But this daughter
II Eve and have no hesltancy opin, ,ng that her 4
,ats are moro allied those the FIRST mistress OF
he world than those OF most Of won'anknd. This !