Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-12-21
A Prediction Verified.

a a ~~AAN~t~NA - ---~~-
The Republican leaders propose to dis
franchise the negro because unable to coatrol
his vote It seldom happens that a j,urnal-
ist anticipates by two years the drift Of politi-
cal Affairs, On. the FaEE Pass predicted this
as far back as the FAN Of 1876, and we regret
we have not the space to reprm, from our is
sue Of O.tober Is, 1876. al article upon this
subrct;- following extracts must suffice
.tTheLalers of the Republican party are aux-
ious O. create an impressions aud are adrot 20 im-
press unon che northern mind that the democracy
seeks Co undo the results OF the war that the
South IS solid tl accomplish by the ballot what
she attempted With hesvOrd. The War
decided ODE Jnion must not be broken. and that
Slavery should not exist The decision
i1 respect CD sltver- opened rcvcral collateral L.
sues which have been determined by the people
since tle surrender. The popular voice has given
Oh che negro the right of suffrage. Per
hlps the Sd stem which gives o. Ii.den aud % the
streetswcyp che same voice in public Affairs Is
wrong, bus sti,I. DO Is, aud was IN 1850, the de-
clarcd policy of tac several States Hence IL WAS
not didIcu.t Co confer suffrage upon the negroes
although 90 was conceded that not one IN ten
thousand had the iaiutest conception of a single
political principle. The bIyO1ct decided he
should be- Tree aud mg'rity declared that be
saoud vote.
These $50 results o.. the war, one direct and
the other consequential are recognized every
where as liked facts, and itis tptible ct de-
monstratiau tlat ,he south would not % she could
deprive de negro oi his recently acquired political
equality. ltis true, whea the Republican leaders
asst proposed OBJ cnirluchise people entirely
disqualified oy ihtiv previous habits oi hie tor The
Intelligent exercise 90 political power those VINO
had the good of their country at heart protested
q. IA hon
they 0r proposed % place under the control OF
element iu society, that was absolutely ignorant
ot tlc t.st principles OBJ government, whole states
bleeding rom an the countless wounds OF recent
/ war; States which M tueir then exhausted condi-
tJu needed tie most s6il.iui nursing and the most
7 prudent eyislaton, the American mind was
shocked 10 was uSe sending au idiot 90 physc a
/ diving king.
I 90 But when the proposition suidsn'y 90 en-
franchise the negro, first came Oh the south, there
were many Experienced. s1,aci'us calculating
. men iu tr1t section more than ready o. accept 10.
I Iley saw What ,le Empirjc5 40 Washington did
u1t gcaiEa -st the tut tre influence % tue cotton
States with tlei- representation thus augmented;
u second, tlat tle black vote would inevitably be
guided by tle superior intelligence OF the white
race. They wen knew that 70 would 0e directed,
not bv violence, nor by iutmdut zion, but by that
moral influence which education and wealth
/ always cXeits over ignorance and poverty bT
tlatsicr uuuDtrUsivc, vet none the less effective
Yields over Che operatives DO his factory Hence
I these u.a Cd. Ga. SaatL. not ouly looked Onward
I t1 al early GaY when tht negro vote would De
thIs managed by the most Intelligent and patriotic
. element ut southern soc.. tv, but they compre-
beaded What che pseudo statesmen of th, 53jh
. Congress. intent crlvu upon temporary party sue
cess, failed Go recognize, that ths o.uuder though
/ .1. "a time Dc uiglt fctlrd The growth 0i the
country. see would eventually obtain Tor the
cotton State, Jh1t jus. Share ui power IN the
. coluc at Washing ron 0t which tLey were de-
privet when excluded from the territories
'IhC expectations of the Republican leaders in
I 1865 uav Dee thus formulated; The negroes viii
I Join our plrty they constitute m1l'rity m
several States, therefore we viii give them poli-
deal supremacy they will ruin the South but
offset our losses In the North and perpetuate our
I PERSONAL power. Iuat is o. saw, helpless minor
/ itr iu tlc North supplemented Uy the black vote
90 ta- South would d1mineer over the whole
. country. Such was tae programme pi 1850. but
there wls this error 10 the calculation: ignorance
jusuuCuycly seek, counsel %. Intelligence as
. child takes advice from his parent; che street
i sweep distressing bis own Judgment follows tae
I occupant ui tlc 1roWu-stDuc front; human nature
IS tbt same jh- world over and the negro obtains
wisdom from bis white neigho1r who's, ppltcl
Interests are necessarily identical with his own
I Thus tbe ~outh, increased two.h.ths is about 90
I rrtscatG solid front against the Vaccinations %
thos. political iutdcis WHO expect 90 So" n all
/ tae people %, tlis great nation.
I d" TI- T-iiase and Tie TiHcr delight 90 speak
. of what they cali ,hs So4'trra Problem IA vague
phrase they dare not juterpretl, bat those eXps-
rieuc.d BOZ public adlirs well understand that che
real problem now taxing the brain Of Coukiiug,
/ Morton aGl Blaine Is. how 90 save themselves
from tl1 negro vote ,-ithas turned against hem.
And there was world ut pathos iu tAe llmcut-
zion Ol the Tones that those counties 40 Georgia,
/ where the negro most predomiuat.i, had given
] increased mHj1ritics against tle schemes ui the
. Republican l.eders.' 80 b.codshct was ch,0ui-
/ c,eJ nU intimidation was Charged and veg the
negro had followed bis White neghb1r precisely
as the mill operative follows the superior iuteili-
gsuceof his employer such viii be the case in
. south Carolina, presently perhaps not this Fall,
. but eventually Wade Hampton Is CERTAIN to vote
his iootuau. because ignorance is bound O. follow
. education.
Ambitious men Gk, C,akiag. Morton and
Blaine, who love the plmD and circumstance Of
. o. le.5l rank. recognize the desperate strait Of
their present situation. bat are alta loss how Co
retrieve. Political Glasse viii not serve their
purpose; even b. thcy carry ilis election th.v are
doomed o. defeat unless tiev cro,s %, iu5'con
and boldly adopt oae or the other OF the three
following alternatives: l. Distrar chs, the
blacks. But che South wiz be solid against thi-.
3. lut Oh. cotton States u1lsr military RUE. But
,his win ce.. the nation half bullion annually
sine. tla. section would prove UIproduct ve.--
Political exc tarant Is hostile o. business aud our
merchants want Oh. South OBJ r-curer8ts 500 they
ts. cover t.tt m1rGlttl- their K DDS. 3. Alter
. QUO system SD tlls'lr charge 90. tI' gJy'ru.lt TENT
. nav oIcttt. tIe votes 90 c.t.E ms, VIZ: make the
5aIutb.x mere farce. This last scheme IS the
. most practicable aud likely q succeed aud we
/ commend its efficacy aud simplicity OBJ th kcpub
l.lu d-t-. IrI., twill cdgctuaNy cNtrPate
. chat -re...I IT,. called civil liberty, butit will
rcratult- the rsgs nal p1w.ruf tl's. gentle" 1u,
at Washington. who have managed affairs since
. tls war.
o.