, 1877-04-24
THE NEGRO OUT or poI1TIcs


THE NEGRO OUT or POLITICS
For tho first timo for third Of century,
IT may be considered that the black popu1a-
ton OF the United States have ceased to be
tho overwhelming and engrossing subject Of
Amorican politics. Even from the daya Of
the Aefolution the question Of slavery had
oeen q disturbing ons' It was perple1ing
ono IN 'no convention that framed the Con-
etitot'on' II slumoered until 1890, when 1t
was aroused over the question Of admitting
missouri. That agitation WAS temporarily
quoted, 70 DO resumed At later period with
senfold intensity In 1874 the Democratic
party challenged the and-alavsry sentiment
OF tne age ahd OF the country BY setting
aesoe mf' VAN boaENas their candidate, and,
with LII. FOLK, making tho annexation of
I Ie1ae ata issue TOT tho election Of that year.
Texas was admitted a. slavo State, with
the promise that two other alavo States
might Dc carved out OF 1t. Tho Me1ican
war; and TIE "extenslon OF the area OF Free
don' by acquiring no" tor1itory to bo In
turn made INTO slnYe States, followed. Then
came tho "n'1oT ProVtso, and tho country
was torn nom one end to the other by the
quedt'on OF Slavery and iss expansion or con-
tsaonon' from the dato Of the nomination
OF POLK, IN 1874, to the present time, the
negroes, in their condition as slaves or Is
freedmen, have influenced md controlled
tho politics and all tho legislation Of the
country. Under the attempt to DO both for
and agnin't slavery, tho Whig party dissolv-
ed, and tho Democratic party, after trying
Tor while to koep up an anti.alaverJ wing
IN some Of tho Northern states, finally
became the avowed and declared champion
and defender OF the institution Of slavery.
In ls5o' under the powerful influence OF
hf. otA4' alaea ny the auccesaion Of 1lr.
tf11honx IN place OF Gen. TAz1oR, the anti
slavery sentiment OF the country Wac over
Whollncd by the paaaage OF the act giring
1e1as Sio'ooo'ooo TOT adopting her present
boundaraes' by passing the Fugitive-slave
law, anu ny tho passage OF tho acts establish
ing inc territories Of Utah and Now Mexico
without tho "11AoT Proviso. The prico
g1Sen fox theso Was the admission Of Oa1i-
fornfa as FREQ Stato- This scheme Of meas
ures was Intended to DO fina1ity Of the
slavery agitation; but, IN 1864, tho passage Of
tne hsnsas- Ncoraaka net. repealiu8 tho Mis-
Soun compromise line Of 1920, revived the
slaTery agitation, not to bo silencod again
during tile hvea OF my OF those then taking
part III the dovornmont- For tho first timo,
anti'siavery agitation assumed an extout TINT
redeemed 1t from fanaticism. AL tbs
Churches, except tho Episcopal and Roman
Catholic' Aopelessly divided. Instead Of be-
ing reproach and disgrace, The torn Abo-
ht'onast lost its terrora, mad, under tho gen.
esal namo Of Aepublicanism, tho anti-alayery
sentiment OF tho country bccame consoli-
datoa- III tho tFosadentlh election Of 1856
the Republican party mado the teat, III,
;" Solid south," Of course, voting against 1t.
lhen came tho Lecompton fraud, the divis-
Ion OF the Democratic party, the election
OF LINCOLN, ths War, the abolition Of
slavery. tho work Of reconstruction,
the onfranchisement Of the freedmen,
and tho subsequent struggle Of the colored
people to DO recognized a. citizens, and pro-
teoted In their lives, and persons,. and
AL these events follow in The
regular progression Of tho slarery question.
During thoso thirty and more years .hs col
oEed race, As slsFea aad as freedmen, have
been tho absorbing topic Of American politics.
During that timo no election has taken place
that was not influenced and controlled by
considerations bearing On that subject. It il
remarkable how strong was the national Oh
lection to any Interference with slsvory. Al
late as 1854 the Democrats had control Of
four OF the Now England States md Of
nearly Ill tho Northern States. Public senti-
ment had eveu survived tho onactm snt Of
the FugItivs-slavs law. At the time Of tho
enactment OF tho Nebraska Kansas act. In
1864, thsrs vera less than hals.a.aozsn anti
slavery mon in the Senate. That act, how.
over, seemed to be recognized By The nation
rs an act OF direct aggression on the past Of
slavery, and q bold attempt to seize ALSO
lutte control Of tho Government. Tbs Dsm-
ocratio party, as well In Maine and Vermont
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