The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-09
A New Departure.

]
ed for the campaign Of 1879, and we deem
! not at all amiss, that the people should begi
10 think, OF some at least, Of the issues tina
will present themselves, to thoughtful mind
: ~ this crisis Of our State and OF the Democrat
: &c party. That new departure, in an i'm
: Portant sense Of the word, is demanded, non,
o can fail to see who are not blind to the signs
and wants, Of the times. Then, to my mind
a most intelligent colored man in Hind.
county, said to the other evening .'Oul
race il helpless and powerless 10 work ou
for itself, higher destiny, either politically
or pecuniarily-'the social question will take
care Of ITSELF" We are looking TO the
higher intelligence, Of the Conservative De
mocraey to do Us all the good that can
be done us. What are you going to do?
These are startling propositions, more especial
ly il We couple them with the fact that the des-
TIMES Of the races are 20 intimately connected
that there can be no seteranee. That the pros
perity Of the whole depends upon the prosper
ity Of its units and 50 true Is this that even as
| every one has seen, the moral and social
status, OF community, Is affected by contact
These the questions What are Won going
TO DO, is one OF 30 great importance, that he who
solves it, and opens the road back to prosper
| ity and virture, viii indeed prove himself
| benefactor But so progressive Is the science
/ of government, that to reach the maximum,
| he who runs, must disencumber himself
OF all clogs; 20 that party, which would sue
coed in governing best. must throw off all
| bonds that hinder free exercise of the mind
in seeking out the errors to be corrected, and
virtues to be encouraged The absolute clog
| that has stood in the way of Democratic sue
cess in legislation and administration Is the
| question Of color, and we must lift ourselves
entirely above it before we succeed. The
| Clinton riot walked us up to a realization of
! the fact that we had been completely bull
| dozed up to that time, and now we are per
| fectly inundated by a fear of giving offence.
If We are worthy to lead we will do it coasci-
entiossly, and let policy 60 to the dogs. We
will do what patriotism requires and il our
political head falls, our self-respect will be
| left Us. If a proposition of any kind is made
| to move forward we are met at once with the
| suggestion that we will offend the colored vot-
ers, while the pandering to this sentiment Is
| gradually, but surely, alternating, if not dis
| gushing, the best elements of our party.
| Again We say we must make Re,c departure,
or else prepare for a contest with far more
| formidable element than has yet been our lot
to meet, You ask what is that departure.
| answer that we must learn to legislate and
execute just As though there was but one race
or color in our body polite and as though we
| did not care if our political head fell in two
minutes Then sir, the proposition to hold
| ~
present Constitution gradually by amendments,
would become one solely Of economy and emer-
gency. No one would fail to see that true
economy, as well as true craftsmanship, would
| demand, as soon as possible, the dispensing
with the troubles and vast expenses of our
registration laws by substituting therefor the
! presentation to the managers OF elections the
tar receipts for last years tdres test of APP
probation of the privileges, duties and re-
sponsibilities of citizenship. The demoraliza-
ton upon this subject is fearful. l speak en-
cathedro when L say that the poll tax of our
non-property holders collected in 1873 in
township three range one west, would not pay
| for the cost of assessment at a nickJe poll.
and this fact is producing its fearful seed In
| teIligent young white men say that the freed
men Will not pay even dollar per head for
the education Of their children, and that they
intend to avoid it in the future Appropos to
this one dollar tax: No thoughtful man will
take issue with the proposition that the
hood of any generation ope it to their offspring
to educate them, their hands, their hearts and
their heads. Mark you the "manhood." We
bring our children into existence without their
| .,,J how hi 70
helpless upon heartless or rather unsympa-
thising world, without training them to fight
| the battles of life. Therefore, community owes
| it to itself to see To it, that the children are
| educated to k1lou the right and then that they
do it. Hence 3 80 should be the minimum
school Tor poll tax required from an entire man
! hood (amendment) l repeat, unshackle the
| intelligence of conservatism and the only
question for the incoming Legislature to decide
| upon, in regard to changing the fundamental
| law OF our State, will be that OF economy
| and emergency" And the Democratic party
must throw off this intimidation, the coun-
try goes to the dogs. Our Constitution as
well as our pledges, guarantee the colored man
| equal rights of citizenship therefore our
| patriotism, and honesty demand alike good
| faith in this. While the imperative condition
| of things and hopes of the future demand the
| education in its broadcast sense-not the -four
| months schooling of the masses, may
/ book farming maketh a fool" True educa-
| ton hfteth up-therefore we must give our
| best thoughts, to our common schools, and
| certain it is easily seen, that system that re-
| Quires over 20 per cent. of the amount collect
| ed, together into pile and then six months in
| the aggregate, to disburse, is detective. Va
| Qrdncy begets hunger and nakedness, and
! these in their turn beget thievishness and all
| other denominations to good government and
/ prosperous community, but We stand and
/ tremble lest We offend the races, II We
| touch these vital responsibilities. The law
| it now stands makes it penal offence to dis
! pose OF a crop under certain conditions after
/ il is gathered, but at any time previously, 1t
may be abandoned, with every obligation, IN
cident thereto, and no harm Is done. What
| consistency And why have not these mat
| tiers and many others demanded the thought
| full action of our party. We answer, simply
| because we are "bull-dozed, "intimidated"l
| Suffer ourselves to be made cat-paws, scape-
/ goats of pandering to the lowest conditions
and prejudices of society, and taking upon
ourselves the responsibilities and odium, Incl
dent to this negatlue action. Let Us rid our
selves of this servile fear, quit ourselves like
men, follow the guidance of our intelligence
| and consciousness of the demands of the hour,
and if as said political head falls, self
respect will be left to us. But for one | have
not formed so poor an opinion OF the univer-
sal negro character. Many, very many of
| them, are as honest, as human nature may be,
in their wishes and hopes for the country, for
themselves and their children. All they wish
| or ask is that the burdens may fall equally
upon the races, and for me- l say every lncen-
| tive of right or interest demands that this
shall be so. l would fearlessly go before al
the more Intelligent and honest, and advocate the
reforms indicated, and others and expect their
dorsement.
The negro is entitled by every considera-
ton OF justice, and right to equal protection
and help and we give them to him, but let US
act as becomes thinking man.
You remember that eleven years ago l, in