The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-07-11

Editor FLoTididn Whilst there remains a
doubt in the minds Of some very intelligent ~
leaders of my race as to my right to advise the
colored people upon political issues, certainly
shall not attempt to advise yours. But the Fer
nandna Mirror, speaking on the subject of a con-
stitutional convention, says: We believe that if
the subject is approached with a candid exami-
nation of the points at issue, and a willing dspo-
sition to endeavOr to harmonic apparently con-
fictng interests, that such conclusion could be
reached as would conduce TO the general well
fare" This desire to do. The main question
involved is the election of county officers by the
voters of the several counties, and must event
ually be decided IN the affirmative. The only
drawback to its speedy settlement is the fancied
result of popular elections in what is known as
the black belt" say " fancied," because in
all discussions of the question the colored in
habtants of that section of the State are treated
as separate and distinct from any interest in the
material prosperity of the country or section.
would ask, Can this course be successfully pur-
sued for all time? The colored people are here,
and there is but little prospect Of their emgra-
ting permanently. and they have the elective
franchise Why then have them a continual
nightmare to disturb the calm contemplation of
the States prosperity? Why should they be
necessarily regarded as the cotton caterpillar or
army wormi when they can be made TO har-
monte with other elements of the population
for common good Sir have every reason TO
know that there is no inherent antagOnism in
the breasts of the masses of the negro race
against the whites, whether Southern or North
ern, stranger or to The manor born. In Leon
county they are thoroughly Disguised with the
streeI-corner and poi-hOuse politicians, who SO
long have led and bossed them, whom they know
to have been bought and sold by any party OF
faction who could pay the most and the longest.
The men who are now rising into confidence are
those who earn their daily bread by honest labor,
and who are as deeply interested in the prospect
ty of the country as if they descended from a
Harold, Caunte, or the ConquerOr. But these
men read newspapers and have some pride of
race-whether Unborn or borrowed from contact
with you, MIR. Editor, matters not = they know
that negroes are not all Thief" Liar" or
" Prostitute" OF this what better proof is need
ed than the treatment they and their people re-
ceive from you and all other respectable Demo
let stranger read newspaper comment on our
race and he will be more than apt to lay it down
with the impression that negroes in general, and
the negroes OF the black bel" in particular, are
q race of illiterate vagabonds, whose only object
and ambition in life lie to hold Office wherein to
work disorder corruption and ruin HSde Turn
bulls letter.
The effect on the Democratic masses of such
teaching Is to inculcate hatred, distrust and
loathing; and / ask you, sir, are these feelings
necessary to the success of your partyl The
effect on the immigrant is that he lets such
community severely alone. The effect on the
colored man Is that whilst he has every conf
dence in the present clerk, sheriff and county
judge, he could not be induced to vote for them
because they belong TO q party whose teachings
are an insult to his manhood. The colored man
may be child In politics, citizenship, intelli-
gence Or high morality; but start In the educa-
tion Of child by impressing on bis mind that
he Is hopelessly immoral and corrupt, and there
IL little doubt that you win make him that, or
worse. Fs8l
Humanity and true ststesmanship demands
change Of policy. After all, the press ID the
great educator, and should control mol, follow,
public sentiment; nor should It be the slave of
prejudice. If the Democratic press Of Florida
will assume and earnestly maintain lie true posi-
ton toward as IN cur relation 70 politics, the