Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-07-13
STIIDIES In THE SOUTH.

In the towns and near them, and where
ever the white people greatly outnumber the
negroes, there are some cOl0red men who are
as intelligent in regard to political matters as
the average of tie operatives in New Eng
land factory town but even in such places
most of the negro voters are entirely incapa-
BILE of forming opinions or judgments of their
OWE in regard to political principles, or activ-
tiles. l met in various places few negroes
who are probably not inferior, in any respect,
to average members of our national Legislature.
There is considerable number of c0lOred men
engaged in teaching in the Southern States,
who are excellent and thoroughly competent
workers in the important profession, and many
of the clergymen of their race are making
earnest and labOriOus efforts for Self-imprOve-
ment and the elevation of their people.
find myself dwelling lingeringly on every par
ticular feature and fact Of the favorable side
of this subject-the condition of the colored
people.
But must come to the depressing truth
of the general almost the universal, condl-
tion and character of the negroes in the black
districts They have made some improvement
in regard to industry of labor. A very few in
these regions have an increasing desire for the
acquisition of property, and are beginning to
save their earnings, or at least to eXpend them
less recklessly than formerly. But as to any
knowledge, intelligence or Judgment, such as
should equip man, even in the lowest degree,
for the exercise of the right or power of suf-
frage, cannot see. that they know anything
about it, or possess it any more than sheep
do. If by a vote we mean, according to the
definition long ago enunciated by Horace
Greeley, ''that by which the will, preference,
or opinion of a person is expressed;' if we
mean anything which is the voluntary ana
purposed act of a man, with the object OF an
nouncing a decision, choice, or Judgment
which he has formed or arrived at, then these
negroes are not able to vote, and do not vote.
They have the ''right'' to vote under the law,
but they have no real power or ability to vote.
They do not and cannot choose; they have
no knowledge of what is involved on one side
or the other They have no materials for an
opinion or judgment, nor any ability to form
a preference or decision regarding political
matters. They know nothing OF the position,
doctrines, history, traditions or aims OF eth
er party, and they have no idea or notion
whatever of their respective merits or prin-
ciples They simply vote as they are told to
vote by the local republican managers, and
that is the whole matter SO far as l can
learn it seems probable that they would vote
for anything or any man bearing the repuDll,
can name They attribute whatever is good
or desirable in their present condition to the
influence and agency of the republican party,
and hope for impossible things from the same
source in the future.-July Atlantic.
MEXICO.-One is struck by the simplicity
of the people, their houses and habits, particu-
larly i'm the rural districts, where the Old-tlme
plough of two thousand years ago is still used
in the field. Paupers are plenty and yet one
rarely hears of death by starvation. Bread
is cheap and fruit can be had for song.
The bread i'm general use is the tOtilla, made
of corn. 1t is the bread of the Aztecs and
Toltees of seven hundred years ago. 1t is the
bread MonteZuma ate in his day. And this IS
how it is made The corn is soaked III warm
lime water for a half day then worked, When
the hulls drop off then the clean grains are
placed on flat stone, and a stone rOllerpassed
over them until the corn is ground and looks
like mortar. Some red pepper is put into the
| dough, when the operator take lump in her
hands, pats it until it assumes the form OF a
| cake and then places it upon an earthen plate,
laid upon the Goals, and the famous tortilla is
ready to be eaten The cake is quite palata-
BILE and with soup is not to be desplsed. The
| lower class of people Use no spoons, knives or
! forks in eating, but take a piece OF tortllla
shape it like spoon or cup, dip 1t into the
soup, and then swallow both together. The
manufacture and sale of this cake is one of
the few fields open to women in Mexico. They
bake them and then hawk their goods upon
the streets or deliver them to families at their
houses. But they never grow rich in their
calling. Indeed, in this country, the object of
the people is not to get wealth it is rather to
obtain the comforts of life. a Mexican will
work three days in the field, and sleep the 9TH
er three days of the week away. The seventh
day is market day, and also church day. The
common people are clad in the simplest and
fewest garments in fact they are never over
dressed. 1t is sllr uprising how few clothes will