The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
The COlOred Voters of the South
Why They are Leaving the Kepub.
lican Party Harsh Political
Ed

kU
MoNTGoMl RY. ALA. Sept. 20, 1880.
DEAR Six: L am a colored man,
and Tor four long years Thsve been
the editor and publisher of the Ad-
vance, weekly paper published in
this city, and devoted 10 the moral,
material, and political advancement of
the cOlored race of the country. 1t
occurred to me. that it would be tit
and proper for me TO address you This
letter, in order that you might be full
ly prepared 10 disabuse the minds of
the people of the North concerning
the true condition of affairs here in
Alabama. The Republican partisan
press is now. teeming with abuse
against the people OF the .South-al-
leging that eO'Ored men are ''bull-
dOzed,' their votes not fairly counted,
and their rights and privileges openly
denied. Such, sir, Is not the fact. Col
Ored men are disgustcd with Repub-
licanism for the following good and
substantial reasons, and hence are
voting with the Democratic party:
- /. When the right to vote was first
conferred upon colOred men, they
wero necessarily ignorant and easily
duped and imposed upon by that
horde of Office hunters who came
South Immediately after the war.
They were told that to,vote for Dem
ocrats was to dig the grave Of that
freedom which had just been given
them that their right of suffrage, the
right to sit ON juries, the right OF
free thought and free speech, the right
to make contracts for themselves and
work for whom and upon such terms
as they saw proper, would be taken
away, and they would Immediately be
put back into. that slavery from which
they had just escaped, whenever the
white men of the South regained pow
er. On the other hand, these adven-
turers promised to protect all these
rights which seemed SO dear to the
negro, and further, even alleged that
their continued adherence to Repub
licanism would be rewarded by di
viding among them the lands of their
former masters. The negro gradually
gained knowledge, became more en-
lightened, and began to think for him
self Year after year passed and he
was firm and faithful, but his fidelity
was uure " ardsd. The land was not
divided !; the adventurers filled all the
offices, save possibly a few seats in
the General Assembly, and the color
ed men had received nothing. One
by one they saw all the fair promises
of these men come to nothing and re-
main unfulfilied. They became dis
gusted and left the party; a5a -.,.- g.
2. The colored people were induc-
ed by these same men TO deposit their
hard-earned savings in the Freedman's
Bank. This they did until millions OF
dollars, the fruit of negro toll and nc
gro industry, were accumulated in
that institution. The money is gone,
the bank is ruined, and the .colored
people are left to wonder what has
become of their money. 4@
3. The colored men saw the white
men who controlled their votes and
filed the offices. grow wealthy, and
one by one return to their Northern
homes. They demanded representa-
tions in the offices, and were answered
with fair promises or the sending OF
one or two OF their number TO the
State Legislature. In community
where they polled 1000 votes there
would be one negro holding the mean
est office in the country. The white
Republicans became rich, and then
either LETT the State or quit politics,
and deserted their friends. This de-
monstrated clearly enough that the
negro was courted solely for his vote,
and not from any interest in his wei.
fare. ,.I
4. In 1874 the Democrats came into
power. The negro was frightened out
of his boots, and expected every right
that he had 10 be taken from him. For
six years the Government has been in
~ -, g., 81 OF
casts his vote unmOlested he still sits
in the jury box he still exercises ev-
cry political right he ever had, and
without interference or hinderance !;
his children have good schools to at
tend free, he still makes his contracts,
and is master of himself.
s.. Under Republican rule the negro
saw the State and County overwhelm-
ed with debts, honestly and dishonest
ly contracted; taxes so high as to im-
the country, dishonesty and
in high places, warrants
upon the treasury Of Stale and Coun-
ty selling for One-half OF their face
value. jury certificates worth abso~
lutely nothing and all things in most
miserable condition. Since Democrats
have been in power the public debts
haye been greatly reduced, the taxes
decreasing year by year, State
and County. warrants paid dollar for.
dollar, prosperity in every branch of
business, and honesty and fidelity in
the execution of public trusts. .".'
6. Under Republican rule vast Gums
were annually appropriated for the
public schools, but the schools were
only opened for two or three months
sho he, 1oI hvl
utterly incapable of impart-
they have seen the tax
alton for this purpose reduced, but
schools for colOred as well. as white
are open during six or eight
months in the year, aud competent
the sons and daughters of colored men
are receiving an education. sii'
7. Under Republican rule the col
ored men saw crime unpunished and
rampant all over the State--murder,
larceny, riots-all crimes were every
lay occurrence in our midst. Now
hey see crime, when committed, de-
ected and punished, stringent laws
made for the protection of the life and
property of all men alike, prompt re-
iress of all grievances by the courts,
md the criminal business of our courts
'educed, and crime diminished fifty
Der cont. 'i' .l -.. --'..-. ... ,
s. Formerly colored men saw the
aces arrayed against each other, bitter
ace prejudices existing-nothing but
.ntagonism and strife! Now all our &
people live peaceably and quietly to- !
.ether. There is no strife, no conten- .
ION, no bitterness, and all men are
lappy, prosperous and contented.
9. COlOred men, after calmly and I
nietly reviewing the events. of the +
ast ten years, have very naturally
sked themselves, What have we
aimed by our blind adhesion to the
republican party2' We have held q
one of the offices, but, on the contra. !,
y, men have induced us to place them
a power, and have grown rich and T
oft us to our fate; we have received u