The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-05

AbHh
| he Is n power between Democrat and Demo
crat, II in the late election he made ina
power felt in the result. | would have pre-
lcrrcd q much less costly tuition; but, such a
II Is, it has been paid for. and, II Mr.. Blain'
will patiently trust his own theory, he VII
find the ballot in the hands OF the negro tn
best defense and the best educator. But, q:
the South has been patient, so must he be pa
| tient. rs The South has chdJcd ineDectudU,
Uhcm that cote udS against al her tUhitc people,, 81
wiH he chale Intellectually whcn IL is no,c t"'gcf.
for them.
In his perplexity over the sudden change
in the vote of the negro, Mr.. Blaine has FOR
gotten that, at this stage OF It's progress, tn
negro vote can intelligcntly direct Itself. i
must and will follow some leader. Now, VI
TO 1876. the Republican party, armed with al
the authority of the Federal Government
supplied those leaders. They were stranger
that the compact vote upon which their pow
err rested was divided they abandoned thcil
places, and In almost every case lett the Statt
In which they had ruled. The great mass o
colored voters was left without guides. IL
many Of the largest counties, where then
majority was absolute, they were not only
moi organized, but there was not intcreSl
enough to print a Republican ticket. Tht
the negro was thrown away by his leaders, f
In their flight, and Mr.. Blaine cnn scarcely
complain if It was picked up by Democrats
In saying this l do not wish to provoke, OF
renew useless and Irritating controversies
but Mr.. Blaine's position Is, that not, only
the Negro ought not to be DISTINGUISHED, bu,
that such a question could not have suggest
cd itself but for an illegal control or the ne
gro vote by Southern Democrats.
MY VIEW IS
that, while the cnfranchisemcnt Of the nc
gro was Il political necessity, 1t could not bt
effected without suhjectlng the country u
such dangerous political alterations MS we
have experienced; that q wise man would
have foIcseen them; and that, In fact, they
have been less thnn could reasonably beer
anticipated; that the ballot In the hands OF
the negro has been a protection and an edu.
Gator; that with it he has been stronger and
safer in all his rights than the Chinese have
been in California withoutit; and that tho
danger solving themselves through the pro
cess or IDEAL sclf-governmcnt.
AN INTERESTING s~rBJECT.-NoT A NATION
AL sUBjE6r:
When Mr.. Blaine admits that disfranchisc.
ment is impossible and that the ballot has
been. in spite of all drawbacks, Il benefit To
the negro, he really proves that there is no
organic question affecting great National in
tcrests, but simply the subordinate question
How rapidly is the ballot fitting the negro for
the iuil enjoyment n. Of f. ms ste eit aZensisep land and
the supremacy Of one party or the other In
National politics? This latter may be an in
teresting, question, but not one which should
great National interests. / do not propose to
discuss it. am of opinion that to make the
negro a free citizen IL was necessary first to
take him from his muster. Then 1t Became
necessary to take him from the party which
claimed his vote as absolutely as his master
had claimed his labor. The next step Will be
allow him to differ and divide just as white
men do. The difficulty SO far has been that
he Republican party desires TO retain t nc ncf /,