Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-12-23

is illiterate, of course, but . man. o.
rare natural abilities. he shou;d
have been beacon light for his race
to guide them TO advancement, indus
try and honest thrift, bat he ended
his career in State politics as con-
vict and carried his dishonor into
Congress. He was candidate again
at the late election, but his own race
although largely in the majority and
able to elect him under any rule,
have wearied of a leadership that has
degenerated into mean ambition and
plunder, and he was largely beaten.
Nash was an illiterate hotel servant
in this city before the war, but he had
much of the ability and more OF the
selfish cunning Of Smalls, and he was
an omnipotent local leader for time,
making himself Senator and Presi'
dental elector in 1876. He held the
fate of Hayes in his hands when the
result in the State was questioned,
and he made the most of it. lie pub
licly professed TO have received a
large offer from the Democrats to vote
ior Tilden, but whites and blacks un-
derstood that it was amply notice
that the Republicans must pay his
price, and it had to be done. He
confessed his guilt as o Senator and
resigned to save prosecution, and ne
is now in obscure retirement with
none so poor as to do him reverence.
Boseman made q battle1 for himself
and is still comfortably fixed as T'ost-
master in Charleston, al Delany is
q Trial Justice by the.i favor OF the
Democratic Governor. Rainey pur-
chased his own freedom and has been
active in the Republican control CT
the State without becoming noted ae
a. iobber. He was assailed as corrupt,
but it was because he tolerated rather
than participated in corruptio., and
the searching investigation that fol-
lowed the overthrow OF the carpet
baggers failed to stamp him with
guilt, but he has lost his power with
his race because he is regarded as
placeman, and lie now fills Wash
ington clerkship. Such is the sad
story of the decline or fall OF the
ablest body OF negro leaders ever felt
in any of the States.
The Result Upon the Race.
None know better than the masses
of the colored voters OF South Caro-
lima that their attempt at selt-rufs
has been terrible failure, and they
-nre now distrust,ul OF all colored
leaders, while they have nothing but
curses for the desperate white adven-
turers who impoverished both races
while assuming to elevate ard benefit
the negro. It was Shis feeling that
made the election of Hampton possi-
BILE in 1876, and the sceptre once
wrested from such a race, will not
SOON be ,egained. They feel little
hope Of aiding themselves by negro
restoration. They saw the State rob-
bed of lands ior negro homes and the
property stolen by those who claimed
TO be the friend Of tie negro. They
saw taxes wrung froo property to
educate the negro, and large por-
ton stolen outright and the schools
made merely mockery Of education.
Now they see seventy-fve thousand
colored children in free schools, and
nearly twelve hundred colored teach
ers instructing them under the benef
cence of the State. They see, also,
an amendment of the Constitution
adopted making fixed and ilrevocs-
BILE appropriations for free and equal
education, and the Governor of the
State declaring for still greater in
crease in the facilities for instructlng
both whites and blacks. They see
business and confidence revive; they
have more labor and better pay; they
are steadily increasing their friendly
relations with the whites by leases Of
lands and many Of them are becom.
ing small proprietors since they ceas.
ed to neglect industry to follow the
commands of selfish leadera, and g
large proportion of the more thrifty
class have openly taken their politi
cal stand with the whites. while thou
sands Of others, especially in minori
ty counties, refuse to take any par
in politics. They have a majority o
from twenty to thirty thousand in th'
State on strict color line division
but there will never be another solio
negro vote cast in this State. Supe
rior intelligence and will must rule
here as in all other places in tho
world, and both whites and blacks
understand it. There will be unlus
tifable methods here to repress suct
negro counties as Beaufort and Char
lesion, and thy will need the cor
recting hand Of justice; but until al
the laws of human nature and Of in
terest shall be reversed, the white
man will rule the inferior race, snc
1