The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-08-27
An Address,.
To the Colored Voters of the County
of Orangeburg:

AS we are now approaching the eve
J of another general election. it is pro-
: per that we should address you on
the issues Of the day, in order that
you may be informed of the views we
entertain, and of the candidates whom
we propose for your support.
| 1t is unnecessary TO remind you
OF the improved and prosperous con-
dition of our County under Democrat
ic administration. -Four years ago,
the County was almost bankrupt, the
school system was breaking down
under the load Of debt that was the
result Of injudicious and dishonest use
of the school moneys, by which the
teachers of the County were being
robbed of an education. Distrust and
discord existed between white and
colored people, on account Of polili-
cal differences, the result of the evil
advice OF designing men, who gave
you false counsels, in order to gain
your votes for themselves and give
them Offices in which they could use
the public moneys for their own ad-
vantage. And when the Democrat
ic Party at that time, under the lead
ership of Gen Hampton, called upon
the good and respectable voters Of the
State, both white and colored, to rise
up and restore the State to honest
government and prosperity and peace
the Republican ofiiccholders told you
that the Democratic party intended
to deprive the colored people of their
rights before the law, and even TO
deprive them Of their freedom. But
it was in vain that the enemies of
good and honest home government
sought TO hold their i'll gotten and
i'll used power. Their administration
had grown to he stencil in the nos
trils of all honest men, both white
and colored. II was the will Of God
that such wickedness should no lon
ger prosper in onr land. BY the
votes of both white and colored peo-
pie Of our state, the cause of reform
was carried to a glorious victory.
And what has been the result The
people Of our County have been liv-
ing in harmony and peace; our indus
trious Efforts for the support of our
selves and our children have been re-
warded by kind Providence with
success and we have enjoyed the
fruits of our labors, under our own
vine and fig-tree, with none to molest
US and make us afraid our children
have had better school, and their
teachers have been better paid, and
have had more heart in their work
You, our colored fcllow-ciLizens, are
gradually seeing your way to homes
Of your own, where you can raise up
your children around you, and feel
assured Of good instruction for them,
by which they may grow up good and
intelligent citizens.
These are the results Of Democrat
ic government and it is our purpose
in the future to continue them to you
and to DO even more than has been
already done. In the last four years
the County and School funds had
heavy debts TO meet, which were con
tractcd before the Democratic marty
came into power; but large part of
these debts has been paid, and there
fore we can do more hereafter than
we have already done All this has
been accomplished with lighter taxes
than were paid before. Now, the
question which we put to you is this
DO you want return of the old times
when the men who held Office put
upon the country the burden o.
heavy taxes and then stole the mon
ey and defrauded the puJlic3 Many
of you have taxes to pay on your pro
, perty, which you have acquired by
yonr honest toll; you can feel fol
Yourselves the benefit of pood oovorn