The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-14
The Last of His Race.

time when he should retire from the
Senate said, somewhat pathetically :
81 believe that l am the last of my
race that will ever occupy u seat in
this branch Of the Federal govern
ment."
Most likely the words of The colored
Senator will prove to be correct. The
Republican party, although still anx-
lous for the negro vote and always
ready to make the most glowing
promises to the coored voters, has
ceased to nominate them for any i'm
portant office. Once in while, it is
true, sop is thrown to them in the
shape Of some little position, with a
few hundred dollars in it, but the day
for making them members OF Con-
gross and United States Senators has
gone by. Never was race of peo-
pie more cruelty disappointed. Their
brief dream of glory and power in
this country has passed away, and
all that is left TO them is the bitter
realization of their actual condition,
rs hcwcrs of wood and drawers of
water for the white race. 1t is true
they arc no longer slaves. On the
contrary they arc citizens and voters,
but alter all how much better is their
social condition now than it was dur
ing the long night OF slavery? When
the administration Of President LIN
coin, as war necessity and in order
10 conquer the South, declared that
slavery should no longer exist, the
Republican leaders saw their oppor-
tunlty and at once embraced it. They
promised the negroes not only citizen.
sup, but social and political equality,
and even passed laws to bring about
such a condition Of affairs. But the
result has proved that the Republi-
can party has promised more than it
was able to perform. For what good
result has grown out Of all their pro.
iusion OF promises? The social con-
u'tlon OF the negro is no better now
tnan 1t was thirty years ago. They
cannot associate with tho whites on
The same level, not even with the very
leaders who promised them so much.
Il
Die, excellent and able man, wealthy
and refined, and with cultivated and
beautiful wife, does not have the run
Of the best society at the capital of
the nation, nor in his own State of
Mississippi. Simply because he be-
longs to an inferior race Of people,
who are barred without the pale of
white association because Of an i'm
mutable law of God himself. 1t is
true everybody, respects Senator
Bruce, because he has raised himself
above the level of his race, bnt where
is the Intelligent white man who
would want to intcrmarry his chill
drcn with The children of the colored
Senator? Providence Himself has
preserved the distinction between the
races by giving white skin to one
and black one TO the other, and no
law passed by any human authority
can ever break down that barrier. 1t
is the badge Of master and servant,
and will be TO the end of time.
Thus, as we have said above, the
words Of Senator Bruce, that he will
he the last OF his race who will ever
occupy seat in the United States
Senate will in ali probability prove
true. The fanaticism and folly that
led to the elevation of few colorcd
men to high Offices have in great
degree passed away, and now even
the party under whose management
slavery was abolished, aud which
promised the colored people Of the
Union social and political equality,
no longer has the heart TO put them
u for offices Of public trust and
emolumcnt. That party has broken
its faith with the voters who made its
success possible, and without whose
support it would long ago have been
crushed out Of existence by the De-
mocracv. Let our colored citizens
remember this fact. They made and
sustained the Republican par,v, in
duced to do so by its lying promises
to them. They were to be in all res
poets the white mans social and po-
litical equal. They were to be Scna-
tors, members Of Congress, judges,
&c. How much Of all this has been
realized! Let the sad words OF Sera-
tor Bruce, the best representative of
the colored race who has ever sat in
the Senate answer: 81 believe that
| am the last Of my race that will
ever occupy seat in this branch of
the Federal government"
The words are prophetic and
monrnful commentary upoa the bro,
ken promises of the Republican party.
Let the colorcd voters of that party
trust it no longer, because it has be-
sulled them into direct opposition to
the will Of God, in leading them to
believe that the time could ever come
when they might take their places in
the councils Of the nation as the
equals Of the ruling race. Far better
cast their lot with a party that does
not promise impossible things, but
which never refuses TO do the best it