Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-21
Col Nichols and the Colorad Vote

Col. Nichols and the COlOTed Vote. |
In his recent letter accepting the |
Democratic nomination for Representa-
tive in Congress from this district, Hon.
John C. Nichols expressed himself as
confident of securing a large proportion
of the colored vote of the district. lie
says the negroes will largely support him
for two reasons: Because his personal
and official relations with them have
always been marked by spirit of kind
ness and fair dealing, and because they
are tired of wearing the collar or few
Federal office holders, who, in the name
of Republicanism, have heretofore used
their suffrage simply to promote Their
own selfish purposes.
That Colonel Nichols is right in this
assertion has undoubtcd proof in the
events which have recently transpired
in this State, in Republican conven.
tons. The colored element Of the Re
publican party have evidently at length
had their eyes opened to the fact that the
friendship professed for them by their
white allies is all hypocrisy and pre-
tence. With the exception of a
few, very few, colored Office holders,
the white men of the party have always
treated the negro as if they regarded him
as simply voting machine to be used
solely for keeping them in place and
position. Colored Republicans have for
years quietly and tamely submitted to
this political thraldom, but at length,
having realized the degrading position in
which their white bosses would keep
them, have rebelled. This is why, al
though in a hopeless minority in this
State, we have seen the Republican party
rent in twain and the colored element
determined to throw off the yoke Of
their white bosses and rulers. They are
tired of being required to make back
from which white seekers after spoils
and emoluments may leap into official
place and position.
But this is not all that our ccloTed
fellow citizens have found out, and are
daily finding out still more thoroughly.
The Democracy have never made them
many promises. It has never held out
to them hopes of wealth and profit for
votes, nor has it ever, while deceiying
them with high hopes. plundered them,
through the medium Of savings banks,
and such like devices, of what little they
had accumulated by hard labor aud rigid
economy. But whatever the Democratic
party has promised them it has faithfully
kept and performed. 1t has told them
that it would protect them in al theil
civil and political rights, and it has ant
will. Northern and Southern Radica
demagogues may endeavor to make them
believe otherwise, but we point them &c
any State in any community where thC
Democracy is in control, and ask them tc
say frankly if their condition is not tina
of a free and prosperous people.
Even Whitaker, the C0lored cade
who mangled himself up so pitilessly
and unskillfullY, has found out who art
his truest friends, and IN bis lecture OF
the "color line at West Point" declare,
that he no longer feels like throwing VI
his cap and shouting for the party which
claims "to have shot the manaclei
from the wrists of the slave" Wha
Whitaker has discovered his race
generally are discovering. This is why Sc
many colored Republicans are becoming
heartily disguised with their party. anC
are becoming tired Of wearing the collar
of their white bosses. This isswhy Sc
many vote the Democratic ticket, anC
why Colonel Nichols has the assurance
that he viii have the support Of a large
number of cOlored voters II his race fol
Congress.