The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-06-27

earehiy rlSntsaand lQndestl hopesa
have kdowh many Of them TO- refuse
the most tempting bribes for their
votes. At the same time they are
told here in the most. emphatic: terms
that all efforts on their part to secure
any triumph for the Republican party
will be in vain--that the, white .peo-
pie will'wade in blood before any
thing Of the kind shall be consumma-
ted, and that the freedmen may as
we'll submit first as last.
The colored people have great con-
iidence in those whom they have
chosen. among themselves 10, be their
leaders, and SUCH men OF leading in
huence and manly independence are
the ones on whom the heaviest blows
of political perecution have fallen.
In many PLACES these have been
"spotted" in the locality where their
influenceis felt. The result of this
"spotting"is that the victim can find
no work or place to live among the
white people. Hundreds have been
driven from some localitics in the
State by these combinations against
them. This has broken up, to con-
siderable extent, local attachments,
and set them adrift with feeling
that they would welcome an oppor-
tunity 10 leave the State. These men
have only to lead the way and multi
tudes are ready to follow. But, for
tunately, this class of men here are
too intelligent to- precipitate the rush
until the plans arc more fully matur-
ed and the means are provided TO
make it a success.
No ono thing has been more dis
heartening to the freedmen of this
State than the apparent combination
to refuse an adequate remuneration
for labor. The colorcd people are
often left without the means of se-
curing employment, even when this
is the only means they have to live.
The best wages paid the common day
laborer in this section is 40 or so
cents per day, and they are obliged
to "ilnd themselves" often at this
wages even. They are obliged to
take orders on merchants instead of
the money. These orders only pay.
for goods that are sold at high prices
and at large profits. What is given
in return for labor can afford, at
best, only q scanty subsistence, leav-
ing no margin for the means of pur-
chasing, lands and securing homes.
The bargains they feel compelled to
make in the renting of land, or in
contracts for labor, have placed them
entirely in the hands Of the land
holder or employer, and after work
ing hard for the season many find, to
their great disappointment, that they
arc without supply of food for win
ter. Often i'll their hopeful efforts to
secure land on which they have made
payments, they have had their conf
dencc abused by sharpers and have
been overtaken by other misfortrncs,
through which they have lost their
lands and all their payments upon
them. Many Of them arc finding
that, despite their greatest efforts for
improvement here, they are making
no advancement in securing homes
and the means Of future subsistence,
and'nnless some change for the bet
ter soon dawns upon them they will,
if possible, go elsew here. In case of
removal, they take with them some
advantages for succoss even in new
country. They ure used to hardship
and scanty fare. They can still live
on the peck Of corn and three pounds
of bacon per week. They arc en-
phatically laaorers, and are used to
all kinds Of work in the line Of me-
chanics and farming. The hard work
of this section has been done mainly
by them, and they are willing to work
when sure of improving their copdi-
tion by it. There is surplus of la-
Dor here over the ACTUAL demand, and
means should be employed to give to
the laborer the advantage Of better
market. Here is an opportunity for
charity 10 bestow finds where it
will foster industry, economy
and lead maltitudes to a grand sue,
cess in the great struggle of life.