The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-06-04
Political Slavery.

For more than hundred years hu.
man slavery was pracliccd in this
country, and the worst, that can he
said Of it is that human flesh was
property and the human will was de
prived of its natural prerosatirc. Tu
balance this: the institution may be
credited with q moral and religious
advancement of the slave that ena.
! bled him without further preparation
to take his position as citizen auo
with considerable credit 10 himself
discharge the duties Of that relation
ship. Southern slavery, as it was
contcmptu"usly ly called: proved to be
the best school yet tried in which 10
| train the savage and untulored Arri-
can For the responsibilities of citizen,
ship. Such was the verdict oil the
North and Of the Republican party
itself as announced in Mr.. Lincoln's
proclamation Of immediate emancipa.
ton and Investment Of the new freed
man with all the privileges of citi-
zen. Relieved by the results of the
war from this bondage, the negro
found himself surrounded by com
binaLion Of circumstances rs impera-
tive and as ineNorable in their re-
Qnircmcnts rs Tie servitule he had
just left. His relationship was
changed but his condition remained
the same. Servile slavery was cx-
changed for political slavery and the
plantation task-master for political
bosses, who came down in troops
from the North and the West to take
charge of the meetings and protect,
ostensibly the nations wards from
threatening dangers. His hands we're
Tree 10 labor or TO he idle, but his
will was manacied-fettcrcd with
shackles rs unyielding rs ever.
Thou ht was free but political dicta-
ton was enforced at the ballot box !;
and, if any one happen to think best
to vote differently from his orders.
the political lash was cracked and the
man whipped mcrcilcssly back into
line. TO believe in political freedom
was sufficient cause to. bling the
wretch to trial, and persistency in this
course brought down upon ones head
the nnathemas of The white bosses.
while the colored undcrstrappers
male and female, filed the air with
their foul imprecalious.
In order to keep the negro in this
plant state, every Two years terrible
fright w:s set up in the shape Of his
old servitude, and he was told to vote
other than a Radical ticket would as
certainly place him in the old position,
while an implicit obedience TO his un-
relenting leaders would bring him
emolument from office, luxury from
the possessions Of the whites and per-
manent control Of the government.
Thesc illusions had the desired effect
until 1876, when the Inauguration OF
Democratic rule broke the spell,
and the eyes Of the dcuded
negro were opened only to see the
State bosses giving Ieg-bail, the coun-
ty bosses dodging behind the Demo
cratic ranks, and the precinct under
strappers skulking like rats in the
dark corners Of the country. 1t was
indeed second emancipation, the
only genuine one the negro has vet
experienced and it is more than
probable he will never again return
to the same political bondage. With
the increaeed educational facilities af-
lorded by Democratic rule and four
years Of free thought. speech and 70.
iiiion, the negro can certainly dis
charge his public dnties more Ike a
free man and vote as he wills without
hindrance or curses from bis neigh
bors.
Gen. Fitzpatrick thinks ethe
South basn'; been whipped enough"
That is not surprising, as in the
Generals war experience, the whip
ninu was nll on the other side Rn