The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1881-12-17
A STATESMAN WANTED.
jackson Comet.l

have come to us through the news
papers and in other ways, that too
much is expected of the next Leg.
islature. 1t has been said, sub
stantially, that the Legislature
must so act as to create a strong
and unchangeable opinion in favor
Of the continuance in power of the
Democratic Conservative party.
The logic of this is that the Legis-
lature can by wise action preserve
the integrity of the Democratic
Conservative party, and that it
will be responsible for not pursu-
ing q course that will produce such
happy results.
We agree that il is in the power
Of the Legislature to create such
| wholesome laws for the advance
ment of the material interest of
the State, as will satisfy the un-
selfish and patriotic citizen, and
believe that such will be the out
come of its labors; but we do not
believe that the present, or any
other Legislature can do anything
that will satisfy that large body Of
malcontents who may be aptly in
cluded within the term Of "office-
seekers" Nor do we believe that
the present, or any other Legisla-
ture can do anything that will in
duce the mass of ignorant colored
voters Of the State, to rally around
the standard of the white man, in
the common interest of both the
white and the black race. 1t has
been, we think, successfully dem
onstrated that no amount of good
laws will have any effect on the
negro as a race, and that nothing
short Of a transfer to him of the
reins of government, will satisfy
his present demands.
The idea that wise legislation by
the party in power merits and will
receive the approval Of the voter,
and that the authors of it merit
and will receive the confidence and
the support of the voter, is based
on the supposition that the voter
is a reasoning and unprejudiced
person and that the most import
ant object to him is good govern.
ment. With the negro no such
supposition can be indulged. He
does not reason, and is so full Of
prejudice that so far from the
light of truth ever reaching his
brain, he will seldom permit its
voice to reach his ears. He is q
creature of sentiment, and senti
ment more than legislation will
always control his conduct. This
is the negro vote of to-day, will
rare exceptions. The trouble will
Mississippi and other Southern
States, is that the almost univer
sal sentiment of the negro In poll
tics, is opposition to the politica
party which embraces the white
people. We admit that this senti
ment is, to some extent, overcom,
during the campaigns through
which we have had to pass ever.
year, so that when election da,
comes many of them are fount
voting with us. But, will any on,
who has watched the progress of
! canvass in Mississippi say tha
good laws or bad laws have ha,
any effect on the negro vote' w
think not.
If the ratio Of negro voters de
termined in wrestling the contro
of the State from the Democrat
party, were not greater than tha
of the white voters intent on tn
r same object, or if the negro voter
could be reached by the voice 0
reason as readily as their whit
fellow-c citizens, political trouble
in Mississippi would be at an enc
The condition of the voting powe
Of the State is such, however, tha
a mere handful Of disappointe
white men, may at any day, o
!. short notice, organize politica
party, without reference to politi
cal principles of any kind, and b,
inscribing on their banner: "OI
:. position to Democracy" comman
the sympathy of the bulk of tn
negro vote. When ii is known tbs
the democracy" referred to
}. the white people of the State, tn
gravity of the situation become
: apparent.
Our fellow citizens of the Mort
and East and West, of the Repul
lican faith, have had no such COZ
dition of affairs as this, and Will
they have been free to criticize on
manner of dealing with the DANCE
which like horrid nightmare col
stantly surrounds us, they hay
failed to suggest any course of a.
ton short of an unqualified su