Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-23
Men of the North, Read
Northern Men In the South Speak.

ADDRESS TO THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT
VOTERS or THE NORTH PROM NORTH
ERs SETTLERS IN THE SOUTH.
The northern settlers whose interests
have become identified with the endur.
ing peace and future prosperity OF the
good people Of the States of the South
are not idle or indifferent spectators Of
the spirit of party rancor and sectional
fury which agitates the people Of our
native States OF the North with all sorts
of exaggerated statements from the
stump and the press concerning "ku.
| klux outrages," Improper treatment
of the poor negro" "bulldozing white
settlers" "disloyalty at the South, etc.
Neither are we unmindful of the duty
which devolves upon us as citizens TO
place before our northern friends a
frank, candid. and truthful statement of
the real condition of civil and political
affairs in this our adopted State of the
South. We hold there is nothing that
can contribute more towards obstruct.
ing the way that leads 10 reconciliation
and enduring peace between the two
great sections Of our beloved country
| than TO perpetuate sectional anuaostcs by
| labored efforts of subtle politicians in
search OF place and power to disguise
| the TRUTH. We hold that after Il long
residence among the good people OF the
| South, which has afforded US the utmost
| facility for frank, free, and social busi.
ness intercourse, we have acquired
more perfect knowledge OF their char.
acteristics, habits, sentiments, feelings,
and designs than persons living remote
| from us. As we view the people Of the
/ South from a strictly northern stand.
| point, when we have been able to garner
| up from an abundance of facts and
/ incidents which have come under our
| personal observation, there is no toun-
dation whatever to support the charge
of attempting 10 abrogate the iunda.
mental powers OF the Government, or 10
entertain the remotest idea OF nulliiy.
/ ing the just and remotest laws relating
| 10 the elective franchise, for every elect
or, white or black. is accorded every
| privilege guaranteed by the election
| lass TO vote freely and ,ctfho,a intimidation
/ to cast his lawful ballot and have il
/ counted. We cannot reasonably ex.
pect to extinguish all bitterness of feel
/ ing eneendered hy the follies Of the
/ late conflict so long os petty triiies are
/ magniiied into gross enormties, and
/ our southern JyGhreH are charged with
/ british attributes of inhumanity To.
wards the negro. Never is human ma.
/ ture so quickly debased a. when men
/ charge "A ju=. aHi generous people of
/ prohibiting the negro to think. 10 act,
and To enjoy the privilege Of rational
! creatures. The truth Is at all election
| precincts the two races meet and de.
posit their votes in one ballet J0r, pre-.
I sided over by sworn officers chosen from
among the most capable of 10th races
and oi the several political parties; the
votes OF white and black elector. fairly
counted in the presence of white and
colored spectators Of the counting pro
cess. The same spirit OF impartilliiy Is
manifested in all the judicial depart
ments, where every Jury empauelled
! for trial of civil and criminal cases is
/ strongly tinctured with colored jurors,
while IN very many magisterial districts
we have colored magistrates TO admins.
/ ter the law. So, too. in the distribution
of the public school fund, and in the
/ organization Of the free schools the same
Underwriting impartialty is strictly al.
hered TO. In short, the lives fortunes,
and liberties OF the colored race are as
safe in the hands of the chivalrous sons
of the South as they would be in the
/ hands and care of the most civilized
and humane on earth. Now, what has
induced severe political moralists to
declaim so hnrshly against the generous
/ people of the South 2 Chiefly this. that
the primary cause which engender ed
the conflict has long since ceased TO
exist, the rights of all races are conced.
ed to be free and equal before the law.
There is nothing to quarrel about ex.
cept the spoils OF office. Hence recourse
must be had TO faction. to imaginary
wrongs inflicted upon the frccdB,en of
the South. Nothing will appease the
conquerors but TO hold the sword of
conquest over the heads. not of the
inferior race, but over their white
brethren. who must be represented as
the bane of liberty and public spirit
For what purpose Let our northern
friends answer the mighty question for
themselves. But must 1t be said OF us
that the passion for place and power is
so strong as TO absorb every other prin-
ciple; that the sense of justice, honor.
truth, and decency is overborne in the
great struggle for political supremacy ?
We reckon no such base aspersions will
attach themselves to northern settlers,
whose chief end and aim in life is to
'GR The soil" love God and our common
country. OF the social relations which
now exist between the permanent set.
tiers and our southern brethren, we are
pleased to say they are OF the most
happy nature. Whether we meet for
mutual improvement in knowledee.
business. and morals, at the social en-
tertainments, or sit together at the
house of worship. or join with the
children in the union Sabbath schools
which everywhere abound, a reciprocal
feeling of the utmost kindness and
goodwill prevails. and the most salutary