The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-15

sAyE--wBY THEY HAVE FALLEN WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE YoR The RACE.
Editorial Correspondence OF the Ph'ade'pn''
Times.1
CoruNRrA. &. c.. December 10.-The pro-
b,em OF negro seIf-rule has not been solved,
as the true solution must be the work oil
wears OF opportunity for growth In fitness Tor
self.ruIe, but II has been fairly tried In TWO
portions Of the Union since the war, and In
both instances II has resulted In debauched
| leaders and demorslIzed followers, leaving
the general condition OF the race worse
because OF the experiment. TO as
sumo that the black man, who has
been slave in the South and a
mental In the North, and whose education
was either positively interdicted or neglect
ed. should prove himself proficient In SELF
rule, without aid or even sympathy from
| the mass OF the whites, Is TO Judge him by q
standard that would overthrow every prn-
ciple OF popular government; but coun-
try that Is struggling to solve the problem
OF universal suffrage, with great States sub
| ject TO the numerical majority OF ignorant
aud thrftiess masses, must carefully study
every recurring phase OF the effort. 10
WASHINGTON city, where the negro was
| first enfrancbised, the nation exhibited
| 10 the world the most corrupt, pro-
flgate, and demoralized government TO
| be found In the Union, and the same
political power that gave the ballot TO the
black men OF the capital was compelled to
revoke the elective franchise and save the
credit and good name OF Washington by
making the negro yoiceless in his own gov
eminent. II was a sad necessity, aud q
SD confession OF the failure OF suffrage
when exercised by race prejudice without
inteIligence; but the same Republican
statesmen who gave the right OF self-rule to
the black man in the capital OF the nation
had 10 rescue the capital from destruction
and shame by sweeping disfranchisement.
NEGRO RULE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
In no section OF the Union did the color
ed race bave such an opportunity to succeed
In credtabIe seifruIe as in South Carolina.
and the failure has simply made it impossi-
bic for them 10 regain power in this State
for many years to come. That the illiterate
bondman of yesterday should rule great
State wisely to-day could not be expected
but the masses have failed TO be just TO
themselves and to the power they were sud-
denly called upon to exercise, mainly be-
cause OF the corruption and faithlessness OF
the leaders OF the race. South Carolina bad
a galaxy OF coIored leaders when recon-
slructiOn committed the control OF the
State to the preponderating race that has
not been equaled in ability and culture in
any other portion OF the country; and II they
had been honest with their race and with
power, the negro masses would have been
elevated instead Of demoralizing them, and
they would have been taughi industry, self
reliance, and thrift, instead OF appealing TO
the passions, prejudices, aGd low cupidiiy
OF ignorance. When l recall the long list
OF able negroes who were prominent in the
early Republican rule OF South Carolina,
and follow them through their gradual de-
scent into dependence or shame, 1t presents
pointed commentary upon the problem
of self-rule by the negro. There are
negro names connected with the control
of South Carolina which should have made
the State and the race ilustriOus in the
elevation of the freedmen and in the just
government OF the Commonwealth. And
many of them were natives of the State.
Cardoza, Rainey. Smalls, and Nash were all
born in slavery. Cardoza was made free by
his iather-master; Raiuey purchased his
own freedom before the war, and Smalls !
and Nash were made free by emancipation.
These men, endowed with uncommon in
teligence and knowing the bondman's |
cruel life, should have been each Moses to |
lead bis people into The promised land |
Of sef-rue; but Cardoza and Smalls |
are convicts to-day, and Nash escaped |
The criminal dock by confession and |
resignation OF his seat in the Sen.
ate. Raney alone escaped career of
crime, and he ceased to be potential with
bis race. OF the other distinguished negro
leaders | re call the untutOred but eloquent
WhiDper, who came from Michigah; the
;hrewd and INSCRIPTIONS Puryis, who dis
lonored an bonOred name in Philadelphia;
he brilliant Elliott, who fitted himself in
he free schools OF Massachusetts, to answer
he Confederate ex-Vice President Stephens
n triumph on the floor Of Congrt SIS; the
awyer, Wright, who was the first ne
FRO admitted TO the bar in Penn
;plvania, and who rose TO the SUI
Dreme Bench OF the State; the cul-
ured Delany, who won college Donors
n Ohio aud once made bold stand for me-
gro reform by running as the reform candi-
late for Lieutenant. Governor, and the saga
,ious Bosemap, who served his race by nest
ing down as the Charleston postmaster.
There were others OF more or less ability,
)ut the bslf-score have named should have
made South Carolina a most prosperous
Commonwealth and her numerical majority
II freedmen a happy and wisely self-ruled
people.
HOW THE NEGRO LEADERS FELL.
The man who should have been the fore.
most OF his race in honor and usefulness IS
Cardoza. He had everything to make him
faithful and eminent. He possesses supe-
rior natural abilities, was thoroughly educa-
ted in Scotland when n0minaliy slave, en-
tered the ministry, and was the respected
pastor OF New England congregation when
and TeconStruction brought
him back 10 aid his people IN the escape
rom darkness. He came here With the
purest and Hottest aims, and was the
first Secretary of State under the car
Det.bag reign. He was purposeIy as.
signed to that position by the ruling white
md black adventures because he was
lonest, as his official duties gave him no
power OF restraint upon bis thieying ASSOC
.iates; but the luxury Of crime was around
lin on every, side; be learned to tolerate
/, and soon his good purposes were lost in
he flood-tide OF corruption that surgcd
gainst him. He was deemed sufficiently
lemoraiZed 10 be made State Treasurer .
Inder the later and more violent reign OF
ebauchery, and he ended convict. He {
vas saved from sentence by the general 1
realy of peace between the cOntending {
Drces Of tue State that saved Patler- |
on. Smalls, and Nash, with Cardoza, {
rom tue penitentiary; gave Butler |
lis seat in the United States SEN
re, aud ended various Federal prose. a
utions for violation of the national elec- I
ion laws. CardoZa is now a clerk under !
be Hayes Administration. Whipper was | 7
M 90 tho oarlioot Of The Ion;eIat;vn 81 I,