The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-01-21
The Reason Why the Negro is Ruled by the
White Man

President Elect Garfelds -idron Rrply to the
Udrdaguc Of "he D-d Niger that Cost More
than lie is WORTH"
The following is the sensible and significant
reply made by Gen. Garfield on Friday last to
the hypocritcal jeremaid of X. Is. Elliott, the
spokesman oflhe gang of colorcd politicians who
called on the President elect Ut his home in
Ohio
Gen. Elliot and Gentleman. I tLank you f.r
your congratulations for the successful termina-
tion of the great campaign that recently closed,
and especially for your kind allusion to me per-
sonally for the part bore in thai campaign.
What have done, what have said concerning
your race and the great problem that your pres
cnce OH this continent has raised, / have said
rs q matter of profound conviction, and hold 10
with all the meaning of the words employed in
cxpressingit. What you have said in regard to
he ~ sitnation of your people, the troubles that
they encountereu, tho ovents from which tbev
nave suffered aud still suffer | listened IN viii
deep attention, and shall give IL n fuu ~.aasure
OF reflection. This is not the time nor the place
for me to indicate anything rs to what | shall
have to say and do by and by in IN official way.
but this may say noted as peculiarly sig
nlhcnnt one sentence in the remarks of Gen
Elliot to the effect that the majority of citizens
rs be alleges. in some portions of the South are
oppressed by the minority. If this be So why
Is II so! Lecause trained man is two or three
men IN one in comparison with an unframed
man, and outside of politics and Inside of par
ties that suggestion is full, brimful of signif-
canoe: that the way to make the maj jority ALWAYS
powerful over the minority is to make its mem
bers as trained aud intelligent rs the minority
itself That brings the equality of citizenship and
no law can confer and maintain in the long rum n
thing that is not upheld with reasonable degree
OF culture and intelligence. Legislation ought to
10 ail 1t can. 1 have made these suggestions
,Gv s~"1 70 indicate that the education of your
conna, on o1 Vi your s''.~ a. the base of the
or Nn'tonur Government "S The Z yesnment see n,n,e
ought to do all it properly can, but the native
hungering and thirsting for knowledge that the
Creator has planted in every child. must be cul-
tiVated by tho parents Of these children 10 the
last possible degree of their ability. so that the
hands of the people shall reach out and grasn
IN the darkness the hand of the Government
extended to help, and by that union of effort
the two will bring what mere legislation allen.
cannot Immediately bring.
ireoice That you have expressed so STRONGLY
anu earnestly your views in regard to the neces-
shy oi your education. | have felt for wears
hat that was the final solution. Those eifnrts
that are humble and comparatively out of sight
are IN the long-run the efforts that tell have
sometimes thought that the mon that sink a
Golfer dam into the river and work for months
IN anchoring great stones TO build the solid
aou'men,s and piers, whose work is by-and by
covered by the water and out of sight do nnt
get their share of the credit. The copiv stmc.
lure OF The bridge that rests on these piers and
across which the trains thunder is the thing
that strikes The eye Of tle great public a great
deal more. The sunkep piers and yord work
the educational growth and the building up Of
industry. the economy and nil that can help The
foundation of local prosperity ia the work tbot
In the long run tello. Some Scotch poet said.
or put H-ig the mouth of some prophet TO saw
that the time would come.
"When Bertrams right and Bertram's 8 might
Shall meet on Ellengowans height"
And it is when the might and the right Of n
people meet that majorities are never oppressed
by minoriiies
Trusting. gentlemen, that you may take part
IN Tins earnest work of building up your race,
rom 'he foundation into the solidity of intelli-
gence and industry, and upon those bases a,
last see all yonr rights recognized, is my per.
sonal wish and hope for your people,"