The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-03-22
THE DOCTRINE OF POLITICAL
EQUALITY FOR THE NEGRO
ACTICALLYA


The selection and confirmation of
the members of Mr.. Hayes's Cabi-
net are events of the grayest politi-
cal significance. 1t is the first time
in the history of the country that a
President, acceeding to power, after
an embittered partisan contest, has
at once deserted his supporters, and
gone squarely and boldly into the
ranks of the Opposition for one of the
heads of departments. Yet from all
sides Mr.. Hayes receives assurances
that his unexampled proceeding is
approved, and that it chimes in with
the popular sentiment of the hour.
Why? What produces such anon
alous condition of affairs?
1t all grows out of the contest of "a
ces in the South. Sixteen years ago,
when Abraham Lincoln entered upon
the duties of President, the way to
the capital was already so environed
with danger that he did not deem it
prudent to travel openly through the
city of Baltimore. Swiftly followed the
terrible war of the rebellion, though
slowly and long it dragged out its
sanguinary length. The slavehold-
ers ultimately surrendered, and nom
inal peace ensued. The blacks were
not only made free, but amendments
were added to the Constitution, and
a series of laws were enacted by
Congress, for their especial protec-
ton and benefit. With only a par,
tial and embarrassed exception under
Andrew johnson, the national Gov
eminent has since then been steadi-
ly administered, in the Southern
States, in harmony with the desires
of the emancipated race. If Mr..
Hayes is President to-day, he is
President by the use of black votes
and by The support of those whose
only political strength has arisen
from their alliance and Identification
with the colored race.
Yet, Notwithstanding all these
facts. Mr.. Hayes, at the very begin
ing of his administration, does three
things which write the word White
all over his policy, and indicate that
he intends to erase the worn Black.
forever, as a potent influence in oul
national politics.
l.. He does not appoint any black
man, or mulatto, to his Cabinet
He prefers Carl Schurz, a foreigner.
to Frederick Douglass, an ADLER and
a more eloquent man, and native
born-the only advantage of Schurz
consisting in his complexion.
II. He refuses to appoint any Re
publican from the old slaveholding
States; and for this there can be nc
other reason than that the Republi
cans of those States are all at one
with the negroes.
III. He not only coldly turns his
back on the negroes and their white
allies in the former slaveholdins
States, but he goes into one of those
States and takes to his embrace ;
man we'll known for his opposition
to the colored party.
Mr.. Hayes has plenty of soft words
about the equality of the races. II
the face of this about the formation
of his Cabinet, they all become
meaningless. To the colored PEG
pie and their allies he gives honeye(
phrases; but he gives them no repre-
sentation in his Cabinet. He may
send one colored man to Hayti, snt
employ another to black his boots
but he will not be found taking
sweet counsel together on public at
fairs with any of them, or with thei
white worshippers. Front the inaug
uration of Nj. Hayes as ,Presiden
will date the decline and fall Of al
practical equality, political or social
in this country, for the colored race
It is an epoch in our political history
the significance of which is plain t.
all who will open their eyes.-N. ]
San.