The New York herald., 1879-08-05
SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH.
A ColOred Statesman Takes Up the
Gauntlet for His Race.
ENFRANCHlSEMENT NOT A FAILURE.
Congressman Raincy on the Manipulation Of
Majorities in the Southern States.


reporter at the close of the long interview printed
recently, 81 shall be pleased to talk with you on
the suffrage question: to which the recent paper of
Senator Blaine in the NORTH american Reriep, and
the comments of Senator Lamar. Governor Hamp-
ton. Representatives Garfield and Stephens Wendell
Phillips, Montgomery Blair and Ex-Governor Hen
bricks have given dignity equal to its vitality and
importance. The views of a colored man on a ques-
ton so nearly affecting the interests of his
ought to command attention, and 1 should very
much like to reach the public and touch the pub
lie conscience through the HERALD
In view of this invitation the reporter called upon
Mr.. Rainey.
'well." said the ex-Congrcssman ''is there any
particular direction which You would like
versation to takeY'
''There is very general impression in the North.
and the feeling is not confined to democrats but is
shared by many republicans, that universal suffrage
as applied to the southern States is a mistake" the
reported answered. ''The HERALD wants your views
upon it from your own standpoint"
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE NOT FAILURE.
eff should express opinion in regard to that %
Mr.. Rainey replied II should say if you allude to
the direct acknowledgements OF the colored people
that it is not failure. 1 know that many people
think that the former slaves OF the South were too
ignorant to appreciate and properly enjoy the
United States Senator from South Carolina,
General Hampton. made statement Of this kind in
the article to which referred the other day. saying
that the negro totally incompetent
even to understand tho rights conferred upon him.
Montgomery Blair goes even further ana asserts as
fact that negro suffrage existed, that it
been only an expensive process of registration and
supervision by the military to have pieces of
paper put in the hands Of the colored voters
to be deposited as the white men sent down
to combine and lead them should direct. And
SO after complmenting Hampton the type
of class to whom the negro naturally
gives fealty, he rejoices that his type had 5000
blacks uniformed with red shirts marching in pro-
cession during his canvass for Governor in 1876
But Blair incorrigibe. and the same breath he
declares that it would be reasonable expect the
negro to develop wings by training be trained
to the exercise of government. There may have
been some foundation for Hamptons assertion in
the first instance but Blairs talk is all nonsense It
would be source OF astonshment to any impair
tial observer to notice the rapid growth Of the
colored people in information bearing all
political questions and the consequent appreciation
OF the right of suffrage. They have 10 UNDER
stand that the ballot conferred safeguard to
their rights-it is matter of marked astonishment
to them when they discover it has not worked that
result. Rather it las been IN their hands like an
internal machine portending upon bodily in
jury, and III numerous instances death ITSELF
THE JAR IN THE MACHINERY.
II suppose that is tho jar referred to by Lamar in
his repiy. to Blaine the reporter said "what does
he meang
Lamar is adroit statesman" Mr. Rainey an
swered, land SO it is not surprising he has not
stated the with perfect ingcnuousness. 1t is
the policy of men his class to create the impres,
sion in the North that the political antagonisns in
the South are of little real importance While think
ing that Mr.. Blaine does not rully realize make
allowance for the jar in the social and political
transformation consequent upon Acknowledgement
on the one hand, it Is plain he UNDERWRITERS it on
the other. Doubtless i'll the opinion or Mr.. Lamar
it is but slight jar for men to be maltreated,
sinated and murdered as they have been, even in
his State. for their political opinions He seems to
have lost sight entirely or the Chisholm massacre
and Others that might be referred to- l wonder
when this jar will Ten years or more have
passed since the franchise conferred. 1t still
continues; not with the same amount of bloodshed.
am free to confess, but systematic organization
to neutraize and destroy the legitimate effect of
ballot III the hands OF the newly enfranchised is
most potent, even at the present day This Jar in
the social and political machinery exists at the pres
ent time, despite the sophistries OIL Mr. Lamar and
others. and its fruits are being seen every day
namely, that q large republican majority i'll the
Southern States is made nugatory ami OF effect"
HOW DOES THE coLoRID MAN VOTE?
"But Mr.. Lamar claims that the colored man u
voter has become democratic voter, the reporter
said This, see is also the assumption of ex-
Governor Hendricks, and tho other democratic
writer's"
'Is it not reasonable to suppose that some reason
would be assigned for such vast disaiecton of the
popular voter" Mr. Rainey demanded with much
energy. "Just there is the milk in the cocoanut.
The southern people deny that they persecute and
intimidate republicans aud prevent them from vot-
ing, and claim, you have suggested, that
publicans have become democrats The very
idea is absurd upon its face. What have the
democrats OF the South ever done to induce repub-
licans to ally themselves with that party? Their
every act has been to drive us away and keep OIL
have always thought that reasonable persuasion
and mild entreaty were the true means and appli-
ances for making prosclytes but the democrats have
blood and death. Now. will any reasonable M an sup
pose that that method will be effective in winning
allies adherents to the democratic ranks? / am
sure OF one thing-t would never work successfully
with the colored voter.
..But how is this intimidation. which is so strenu-
ously asserted ON the one side and denied on the
other, accomplished. especially when it is not
companied by bloodshedy the reporter asked.
NEW DEFINITION or THE SHOTGUN POLICY.
"The method is peculiar" Mr. Rainey wered
"On the night before election firearms blazing
all the South In every direction. i'll the fields
people. especially along the roads leading to the
polling places, is the ncessant firing of guns and
pistols to be heard all night long, Is 1t surpris-
ing that a widespread alarm should be the result?
Imagine the effect IN tins city. What would become
of Tammanys majority il the republicans of New
York allowed TO Keep up continuous fusillade
all night just previous to an election? Even the
Irish voter would be deferred from going to the
polls by considerations affecting his safety
How many wives and mothers, terrih d by the
OF the night before aud fearing for the safety of
themselves and children in of accident, would
appeal to their husbands to remain within doors and
keep away from the polling places? In the South
the whites all armed. while, a rule. the col
ored people do not possess weapons of any kind.
From all this you Will that the effective in
tmdatIon practised in the South is through shot
gun policy, different from the ordinary meaning of
The phrase as 1T is understood at the NORTH
SOUTHERN OPINION NEGRO.
"Al this Is denied by the Southern leaders, and
Mr. Lamar asserts that the change in the political
relations of the colored man, which has been tho
subject of SO much incredulous comment. is the
legitimate result OF the experience through which
he has gone, the reporter remarked.
THAT is true" said Mr.. Rainey. but with quail
hcaton. The experience of which he speaks, or
would have the North believe hc speaks, is not the
experience which has affected the Southern vote.
He would create the impression that there are many
colcred men who own property. who cultivate their
own lands, and who have taxes TO pay who vote the
democratic ticket. This is not true in Mr.
Lsmar's own State. Mr.. Lynch owns property. Sen
ator Bruce owns property, but neither of them votes
the democratic ticket. There many other cOlored
in Mississippi who property who do not vote
with MIR. Lamar but admitting tnat all the colored
property owners with him, there IL not sufficient
number OF thell in his Slate 70 bring about such