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

IEaliiogtul Cor. Philadelphia Times
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 10.-The
problem Of negro seHTale has not
been solved, rs the rue solution must
be the work of years OF opportunity
Tor growth in fitness for. sell; rule but
it has been fairly tried in two por-
tons of the Union since the war, and
in both instances it 'has resulted in
debauched leaders and demoralized
followers, leaving thegcneral condi-
ton se.o Of the go. s .. the
black man, who han een slave in
the South and a mel jail in the North
and whose education. was either posi-
lively i~nterdicted or neglected, should
prove himself proficient in self-rule,
without aid or even ynpathy from
the mass Of the whi:es, is to Judge
him by II STANDARD that would over
throw every principle Of popular gov
eminent; but a country that is strug-
CLING to solve the problem of univer-
sd! suffrage, with great States subject
to tie numerical majority Of ignorant
and tbrittless masses, must carefully
study every recurring phase OF the
effort. In Washington City, where
the negro was first enfranchised, the
nation exhibited to the world the
most corrupt, pyoAigate and demon
alizsd government to be found in the
Union, anu the same political power
that gave the ballot to the black men
of the capital was compelled to re-
woke the elective franchise and save
the credit and good name Of Wash
ington by making the negro voiceless
in his own government: 1t-was a sad
nacessity-and a sad confession Of the
failure Of suffrage when exercised by
race prejudice without intelligence
hut the same Republican statesmen
who gave the right of self'rule to the
black man in the capital of the No,
lion, had to rescue the capital from
destruction and shame by sweeping
Acknowledgement.
Negro Rule In south Carolina.
La no section Of the Union did the
c5lorel race have such An opportunl'
ty to'sncceed in credltable self rule
rs in South Carolina, and the failure
has simply made it impossible fol
them TO regain power in this State
for many years to come. That the
illiterate 6ondman Of yesterdayshoulc
rule a great State wisely to-day, could
not he expected: but the masses have
failed to be Just to themselves and tt
the power they were suddenly calico
upon to exercise, mainly bee luse o
the corruption and faithlessness of til
leaders Of the race. South Carolins
had a galaxy of colorsd leaders whei
reconstruction committed the coutro
OF the State to the preponderatlni
race-t}at has not h0en equaled il
abilitya and culture in any other por
ton Of the country; and if they ha'
been honest with their race and wit
power, the negro masses would hav
been elevated, instead Of demorali2
ing Them, and they would have bee
taught industry, selfreliance ndthrit
instead of appealing to the passions
preiudices and low cupidity of igne
rance. When 1 recall the long list {
able negroes who were prominent i
: the early Republican rule of Sout
Carolina, and follow them tAroug
their gradual descent into dependent
or shame, it presents q pointed con
7 mentary upon the problem Of sci
= rule by the negro. There are negl
names connected with the control
South Carolina which should hay
.,nlo Tho Stnto owl A. ,oon ,11potr