The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-11-26

During the era of reconstruction the
negroes were used to help the scala
ways and carpet baggers to accumulate
fortunes, the scraps of the feast being
thrown to the least respectable and
representative of the colored men.
Nothing was done to educate the negro
to qualify him for the discharge OF the
duties suddenly thrust upon him, TO
enable him to hold his own in the COM
petition with his white neighbors. and
to conquer their esteem and friend
ship. To teach him the advantages OF
thrift and forethought the Republicans
gave him the Freedman's Bank. When
the era OF reconstruction closed, and
the South was lost as source OF posi-
tive strength, the Republicans, instead
of allowing the negro to settle into his.
place in the new order of things ana
cultivate amicable aud natural rela-
tions with the white man, encouraged.
race hatreds. preached incendiary and
agrarian doctrine to the blacks. ma
ligned the white population, and-in
such cases as the "Vicksburg mas
sacre" race riots in which
the Africans must suffer severely-au
this to help the party at the North.
Even when economical self-gov-
eminent had been blished at
the South and that section was rejoic-
ing in an immense cotton crop. which
meant for the laborer employment
and prosperity, the Republicans had to
start an "exodus". which meant for
thousands of credulous negroes the
sacrifice of their little property, the
breaking up OF their homes and ultimate
idlcness and decentralization, If nothing
worse. 1t is sad and shameful page
in the history of the Republican party.
The colored men lent the Republican
party their votes and gave it all its cap
ital-and what was their rewardP One
negro Senator and two or three negro
COngressmen who were never admitted
to social equality; appointments for
such men as Fred Douglas and :. Milt I"
Turner. who could render service on
the stump and never were recognized
as equals; few clerkships or minor Of
fees, usually bestowed on the least
reputable Of the party workers-that
was all. When the Republican party
had for years cracked the high vault OF
Heaven with its bellowings that it was
the Goblin of the colored man. and
would wade in blood rather than see his
rights to absolute equality and full par
ticipation in political life questioned in
theory or in practice, it was only
natural that the colored man should
look to that party for that share of the
responsibilities and emoluments of pub
lie administration to which he was fully
entitled. Failing to obtain such share.
his natural course is to seek for better
treatment in new associations.
AS Democrats and we'll wishers of the
Nation, we shall view such q move
meut with more than equanimity. The
same impulse which throws the ignorant
and dishonest into the arms of
demagogues and repudiators will tend
to array the intelligent, peace-loving
and industrious of the colored men on
the side of good, economical and stable
government. The negro who finds
that by attending to his business and
regarding his white neighbora as .
human being like himself. with the
same interests, living under the same
conditions, he can accumulate property
in the enjoyment of which he will
be protected, will have no sympathy
with incendiarism or Reputation or the
perpetuation of race-hatreds. The ex-
Hceptionally intelligent and industrious
coiored men of Georgia would not to-
day favor robber regime such as that
which once cursed South Carolina
under Moses, any more than their
white neighbors would. Good Demo
Gratis can stand - break in the solid
South" for it win break right across
both races. ftNk
But can the Republicansi What do
the Northern Republicans who have
encouraged and excused the surrender
to Malone on the ground that it would
benefit the party think of the declara-
ton that the negroes have gone over to
Malone to destroy the partyr This
official declaration gives additional
pointto The World query the other day
What will he the outcome in 1884,
whether the Malone experiment sue
ceeds or failsp" And the whole subject
revives the eternal and pregnant qnes-
tion-Why does the Republican party
at the South make no progress? There
were Wings there before the war;
where are the Wings and their descend.
ants and successorsP Why is the white
population of the South solidly Demo-
cratic? Why is the negro population no
longer to be solidly Republican, There
must be something in the principles or
practices of the dominant political par
~ to account for such q state Of
things. What Is i'm Y. World.
The Buli-nght In France.