The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-02-08
A CHANGE or RASE.


change in political tactics in the
South which has long been anticipat-
ed by close observers of public affairs.
There is a disposition shown on the
part of some of the Republican lead
ers to advocate the abolition of negro
suffrage when it becomes apparent
that the colored vote can no longer
be controlled by themselves.
In a recent number of the New
Orleans Republican the proposition
was distinctly stated, that if the Re-
publican party should, from any
cause, be brought to believe 'that
the representation of the colored peo-
pie can no longer he directed by
them in the manner that their hearts
and consciences would dictate
meaning, if they should refuse to
vote en- masse according to the Or
ders of their self-constituted leaders
then the very object of granting
that representation would be best
promoted by suppressing \ power
captured and turned against its de-
tenders. To this the Picayune re-
plies that, though the Democratic
party opposed universal suffrage ten
years ago because the emancipated
slaves were not prepared for it yet
that party has never countenanced
the Acknowledgement of citizens al
ready possessing the suffrage, and is
not likely to countenance it now.
Thus we see a leading Republican
newspaper in Louisiana suggesting
that it may be necessary to deprive
the colored citizen of his right to
vote, and a still more prominent
Conservative journal declaring that
the Democrats will not accede to
such q change.
That the extension of the right of
suffrage to the African race would
ultimately increase the political
strength of the South might have
been foreseen by every n who is
acquainted with the conditions gov
erning society in the reconstructed
States. The whites constituting the
superior class in wealth, intelligence
and education, are certain to gain
an ascendency over the negroes, soon
er or later, sufficient to influence very
largely the excercies of their voting
power. This ascendency would have
manifested itself long ago had it not
been for the falsehoods industriously
circulated among the freedmen, such
as the assertion that they would be
enslaved anew if the Democrats
should regain power. By such means,
by the efforts of ambitious negro of
fce-seekers, and by the support Civ
en- to the carpet baggers by the Fed
eral Administration, the colored vote,
until recently, has been almost unan-
imously given to Republican can
didates in national and local cleo
tions.
OF late, however, the more intelli-
gent class If citizens in the South
have learned that they were being
used as tools for the accomplishment
of the worst purposes; that the rob-
berry and misrule which have char
acterized the carpet-b bag Government
have entailed hardships on theil
white employers that react upon
themselves and that voting against
good government they are injuring
their own interests as well as those
of their white neighbors. The rob.
bers and failure of the Freedmen's
Savings Bank also had an important
effect upon the negroes who saw in
that shameful business a forcible
example of the insinccrity OF theil
protested friends; and all these caus-
es combined served to give many
thousand colored votes to the Demo
Gratis in the November elections.
In those Southern States where
the control of affairs has been regain
ed by the native whites, the condition
of the blacks, as we'll as of the whites
is far better than it has been at any
time since the war; and the same re
suit will follow in South Carolins
and Louisiana so soon as the lega
governments are firmly established
Every one acquainted with the char
acteristics of the African race in the
South will readily see that the nat
ural result of all this will be to event
ually give to the Democrats thu
great bulk of the negro votes pro
vided the Republicans are stupit
enoagh to continue claiming the votes
of ali colored citizens as rightfully
belonging to them, even if they act
ually cast their ballots for the oppc
site party. And so long as this rae
question is permitted to enter prem
inently into Southern politics, 81
long will all the wealth, intelligenc,
and responsibility of the white rae,
be found consolidated in the Demo
cratic party in the reconstructed
States; whereas if it was eliminated
from politics, the whites would nat
urally separate into distinct parties
as in the North, the negroes woul(
follow their example, and all classe
would be greatly benefited by tn