New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-29
AN OPPRESSED RACE.


Mr.. Rainey has boon for several days at the st.
Denis Hotel. TRIBUNE reporter desiring to OBJ
tain his views upon the question Of colored emf
grafton from the South. its causes ETC., yesterday
CALLED at the st. Denis Mr. Rainey was asked
''What arc the prospects materially and polti-
caiy of the eOlored people Of the South :" Il de-
sire" replied Mr. Rainey, Ito impress upon the
minds of the readers Of The TRIBUNE. hrst OF all
that Il is an erroneous idea that the aborng classes
of the South. a large majority Of whom are colored
people are indolent or lOthful. This ought to DO
very obvious from the products OF the Southern
States, as shown by carefully prepared statistics
which we procured and used at the Nash
vile convention. 1t was clearly proven
by these that the value of the products OF
the Southern States last year l1S6Sl reached
valuation of $3.50. 900 COO If that be so, claim
for the ooored people the credit of producing that
much actual value toward the wealth OF the eOun-
try in twelve months. Thus you see that they are
not drones and mere consumers, but producers and
consequently valuable acquisition to the Southern
States. But astonishing It may appear, although
they have produced this enormous amount, as
class they have realized very little benefit there
from. ThesfaTm hand of the South does not get, as
a nile more than so a month for his labor. 1t is
partly furnished hmoy contracted for but he never
sees it in actual money. His labor in most instances
is ostensiby paid for by the of what is called
plantation scrip, that has no purchasing power or
value outside Of the premises of the planter himself
The consequence is that the abOrers are compelled
to purchase atexorbtant prices whatever they need
This will account largely for the impoverished con-
dition Of the people. They get actual money for
labor and consequently have no opportunity to en-
10Y the benefits Of @ competitive market. This has
been source Of great disbursement TO that class
of persons. 1t has made them dissatisfied and dis
COntented because they labor year ID and year out
and in the end see no actual gain benefit TO them
selves or Their families.
"They have no money! continued Mr.. RaIney,
"with which to buy land consequently they are
dependent on the landowners for homes, and thus
are under obligations to them IN every particular.
In other words the method now being pursued in
the Southern States is the re9nactment this con-
tiBent of the old English feudal system. Those
who occupy the land must be subjected 20 the land
owners The coIored people are chafed and
chagrined under this condition of things. They
feel that their manhood Is being crushed out, their
liberties anuihilated, and their rights trampled
upon, and look upon the boosted name of freedom
as mere name and sham. They have endured this
condition Of things for fourteen long years, and
have now reached the conclusion that 1t is about
time for them TO make change. They are
prompted to prompt action in this regard by the
domineering political attitude assumed by the
Southern Democrats in the several States. They
see DO hope for their material, intellectual and
political ad gancement In the South"
DBOADHHCB OF THB PUBLIC SCHOOLS
"In the first place the Common School system in
the South as established by the Republican party
was doing good work and afforded much encour-
aeement to those DESTROYS Of learning. Since the
Democrats came into power they have by one means
and another struck deadly blow at the public
schools. thereby annihiLating all hope of the col
ored people ever improving their condition intel
lectualIy. The methods used are various. In some
instances no appropriations have been made for
schools in Others the scholastic year has been cut
down from nine months TO tbreej in other instances
Intelligent teachers from the North who were able
to teach the pupils as they should be Taught have
been prosecuted TO such extent that they were
compelled to lo2ve that section Of the country. SO
the schools which have been kept open at all are In
Variably in the hands Of inexperienced and poorly
educated teachers Now you have some OF the rea-
sons for the Dissatisfaction Of the colored people
But there are only few"
GLOOMY POLITICAL PROSPECTS.
"what is the political condition and she political
future of the colored peOplefS was asked
"In NY Judgment" was the answer, g the pOliti-
cal prospect OF the coored people Of the South Is
very gloomy simply because they are not permitted
to exercise their franchise according 10 their own
political convictions. So strong is the intolerance
which exists especially in South Carolina, that a
man must vote the Democratic ticket or not vote at
all Admitting that he does vote, his vote is not
recognized except il be for Democrat am con-
fdent, and assert it without fear Of successful
contradiction, that majority OF the colored people
of the South uuwaYerlng In their political
convictions. The Democrats claim that many vote
their ticket. This is not true Few do. The cOlOred
people are Republicans from principle. The Repub-
Ican party has done more for them than any other
party II has shown more friendship for them; has
done more for their elevation and the firm establish
Inent of their manhood than the other party. On
the other hand ali the Ostracism, persecution. as
sassinatiOn. pTlYatlon and what not, TO which tho
oOlored people have been subjected had its origin
and continuance in the Democratic party. is IT nat
ura 20 suppose that they would vote the Democratic
ticket when that party is depTiyIng them OF every
right; when it has not fully acknowledged the
amendments 70 the Constitution, and Is endeavor-
ing to repeal the laws enacted pursuance thereof
Surely they are not such fools as thatP
POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS.
Taking from his satchel a large bundle of letters
Mr. kainey read few extracts, showing that poll
teal prosecutions had already begun in South Caro-
lima Some of the letters were from colOred men,
asking whether they should 20 to Kansas not.
They represented the condition of the colored
people Ia certain sections of South Carolina as
pitiable.
Il have in my hand" said Mr. Rainey. Letters
which indicate that the whites are now beginning
to whip coored children in their service as they did
I'm the days of slavery. and my correspondents say
they have no redress IN the courts. The trial justi-
o4s being Democrats, take no cOgnlZance of these
things am fearful that fOrbearance VIII cease. /
feel as though the coored people cannot stand this
much longer without beng goaded on to some des-
nerate deed for their manhood will one day assert
Itself See here Is one Of their lnrimldaiing circu-
lar / received il from Marlborough County,
The circular IS a small slip Of coarse yellow paper
on whic is printed:
Are you Republican Yes.
Whom do you get your meat from Demo
srat.
Who furnishes you home A Democrat.
DO you know how 10 keep these No.