The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-09


ored people. They provoked and organized
the strife of the races
The control of the vote BY these influences
could not last. It soon came to an end. The
colored people could not be kept in ignor-
ance of their real and true Interests. They
learned that the increase of public indebted
ness and the profligate expenditure of pub
lie money would place burdens upon their
own shoulders, and impair the value of the
product of their labor. Influenced by these
and other proper considerations. they united
iniarge numbers with the Democrats. The
result was, as have said the restoration to
the Southern States of the right Of local self
government, and purer and better admin
istratlon of public affairs. Mr.. Blaine is not
willing to concede to the colored voter .
change of party relations upon intelligent
conviction. He attributes such change to
fraud and violence; for he says that, by
fraud, intimidation, violence, and murder.
free suffrage on the part OF the negro IN the
South is fatally impaired" For statement
SO broad Mr.. Blame must rely upon evidence
s'of baser Sort" much of which has long
since been rejected.
How is it that Mr.. Blaine may claim much
credit for his early and continued support
of negro suffrage, and yet deny the negro
the capacity of free and uncontrolled actionY
1t may not De questioned that, In the days
of his political vassalage, the negro was I'M
der the control of what Mr. Blaine describes
as tue pSIsQdslou Va lug IlCcohAau ~
reau," and of the men who controlled his
vote ''in the interest of the Republican
party; but his capacity of intelligent
election is not to be questioned merely b5
cause he may become Democrat Mr..
Blaine makes the argument Cor rather the
claim) that for emancipation, for citizen
ship for civil rights, and for political privi-
leges, the negro Is indebted to the Repabli-
can party; and that SO long as he is
allowed the freedom of choice he can and will
vote with no other party. He declares
it the ''recklessness of assumption" the
very bravado of argument" to Claim that,
upon his own choice, be would vote with
tie Democrats. That is the strongest state
ment ever made against negro suffrage.
The vote is nearly one million. The claim
is that il is not free-is never TO be free. but
belongs to a party; that, because OF past
obligations, it can not change. In Its mem
bership and in its aggregate it can not
change. 1t can not consider questions OF
principle or questions of policy. 1t may not
listen to the demands of patriotism, nor the
appeals of self interest, as opposed to the re-
quirements of the party. Its obligation to
party can never be discharged. Whether
questions relate to the honor of the country
or the welfare of the people, it can exercise
no free and Independent judgment. 1t
would be matter of serious concern, could
party claim q vassalagc so numerous and
SO abject. But that claim is being repu-
dated by the colored vote ITSELF In the de-
monstralons preceding the elections, and
at the polls, its Independent action in many
of the States mas stamped the claim of
ownership as false and arrogant.
But Mr.. Blaine asks the question, "Why
should the negro have been disposed TO vote
with the Democratic party?' Is that ques-
ton asked by one who sincerely believes in
the capacity of the negro to vote intelli-
gently upon questions affecting the public
welfare, and that his action will be governed
by an enlightened judgment and patriotic
purpose? Then | answer that the same con-
siderations should govern the negro that
ought TO govern any other voter. He should
vote upon his convictions of right and duty.
If Democratic policy is more likely to pro-
mote the public good then it should be
supported by the white and colored voter
alike. He who tells me how the white man
should vote tells me as we'll how the colored
man should vote. When once in the box
ponds upon the fitness of the candidate it
may help to elect, aus upon the views he
may carry into legislation, or the measures
he may adopt in the administrative service.
A full answer to the question would require
a statement of the reasons why any CITIZEN
should give that party his support. Such
reasons might be found in its devotion to
constitutional obligations; in its adherence
to the supremacy of the civil over the mil
itary"; in its maintenance of the separation
and mutual independence of church and
State s.for the sake alike of civil and re-
hgious freedom; il its hostility to "cor-
rupt centralism," which threatens the de-
struction of the right OF local sslf-govern-
ment; and in Its devotion to economy in
public expenditures.
1t may be said by many, both white and
black. we do not adopt all the dogmas of ths
Democratic party, nor approve its entire
record, but we will declare our c3ndemna-
ton of the centralism, the extravagancs,
and the corruption of its powerful opponent.
Our record shall not be IN approval Of the
frightful crimes that characterized a late
administration. The taxes were not reduced,
but the revenues were impaired. Remorse-
less severity was the rule OF collection; off.
cial favoritism the standard of accountabiii-
ty. We will not help to establish such pre-
cedents. Is this not language which the
citizen ought to use Please tell me why IT
is not as becoming and proper Tor the
colored az for the white voter 2 Wha.
obligation does he owe to party that takes
from him the right to use this, the language
of patriotism
Is the question repeated Then l say
that the colored voter, if intelligent TO un
derstand his duty, and honest to discharge
corrupted and destroyed the State Gov
ernments of the South. l will
| bs pardoned for appropristins
| an reproducing what Mr.. Lamar has so wei
SAID on this subject: reference mas pseii
made to the great change which the election
returns show IN the negro vote throughout
the South. The phenomenon is easily ex-
planned. Let any intelligent Northern man
review the history of the State Governments
| of the South for the last. 10 years under he
| publican rule-their gross and shameless
dishonesty, their exorbitant taxation, theiI
reckless expenditure. their oppression OF all
native interests, the social agonies through
! which they have forced all that was good
and pure to pass as through fiery furnace
the character of the man-many of them
they have placed in power. and then say i
such state of things in Northern or West
ern State would have been sure and nat
ural precursor of a Republican defeat, 81
absolute aud complete that the very name o.
the party would have become In that STATE
name of scorn and reproach. Then why
should not that result have occurred in ths
South? Ara we to assume that the BLACK
: race have neither instlct nor reason-havt
no sense, no intelligence, no conscience, M
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