The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-28
do hsye.o die now and then to carry out
the determination"

tQe ueLeEmlnhlOn.
/ co1ld point ont several Congressman
elect from Southern districts, In the black
belts Of several OF these Southern States
who hold certificates Of election as the re-
suit Of crimes most terrible and damniDg
The election north Of the Ohio river was
carried, in my opinion, on the one great
principle, which was the leading issue IN
the campaign, that every citizen OF this
republic hereafter shall be entitled to one
vote, and that that vote shall be counted
for the party or parties intended by the
voter. II this were true, and aver that
It is, will the ILvIIth Congress OF the
United States have the backbone TO refuse
to allow such men as have referred To
above, to disgrace the nation by sitting as
members Of so honorable a body2 I be.
lieve that 1t will do It's duty. and in doing
go It will no doubt send back for new
elections every one Of those bulldozing
members, and keep sending them back
until 1t is satistied that fair election has
been held. This Is the way, and the only
way, in my opinion, that we can ever have
fair, square election in the black belts OF
the Southern States.
But how are these race feuds to be al.
layed, and how are the aristocratic, bull.
headed Democrats OF the South to be
learned to deal with common fairness to.
ward the colored voters OF the South. It
Is fact, fixed fact, that the negro is a
voter, and is going to continue as such,
| hope, forever; and 1t is fact also that
the white brother down here says he (the
negro) can vote as much as be pleases,
provided he does not vote against the in.
terests OF the Democratic white brother.
But the people OF the North, as under.
stand it. have decided that this thing must
stop. Now, what is to be donep The
answer 10 my mind Is as plain as the
way to school: Let the better classes OF
the Southern people divide and become
the allies, or leaders, OF the colored citi-
zens. 1fthis course were pursued by the
Democrats down here the negroes would
very soon cease to be the sdherents and
followers OF but one political party. Such
course would separate them aud they
would divide up between the two great
parties OF the country. When this state
Of affairs comes to pass, then, and not be-.
fore, the five Southern States which have
negro majorities will cease to be threaten
ed with negro domination, which the
white aristocrat considers worse than
death. In such case the control OF the
State and local governments will fall into
the hands. in all cases, OF those who are
fitted by education and experience TO
manage them.
But you ask. how Is this division OF the
more cultured aud better classes Of the
people to accomplished? Ianswer, first,
by developing new State and local issues;
and second. by the encouragement Of the
more prominent citizens to divide on Ma.
tional questions. 1t cannot be denied
that hitherto the pressure has been to
keep all the white men In the South in the
Democratic party, which has tended TO
drive the colored people into the ranks OF
the opposing party. This pressure should
be removed, and the sooner the better. A
Democrat in the South might as well tear
the scales from his eyes now as he will
have to do further along, and learn to be-
lieve that 1t will not disgrace him to be
called Republican, or TO become Re-
publican. That Is the great draw back
now to the reconciliation OF the North and
the south-the inbred hatred OF the
Southern man to the name, and not the
principles OF the Republican party. find
q great many Of them who con-
fess that the principles OF the
Republican party as 1t now stands are
their principles, but they cannot come
over TO 1t, because OF its name, and Its
past record. They must do it sooner or
later, for II Is evident to my mind that the
issues which now divide the two great
parties will shortly undergo material
change, and that on these issues there
will be new deal, as It were, OF parties.
II the Southern people are wise they will
take advantage OF these issues, or rather
changes Of Issues, and will take the road
which will lead them to peace, prosperity
and success. VIII they do it2 They will
be required to do something, viii they
be guided by prejudice and passion. or by
common sense, and common fairness.
We shall SEQ. SQuIB.