Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-20

Gibraltar Captured-HeFP, There
and EveryVhere.
JACKSONVILLE, April ia special CORE.
spondent of the Philadelphia Times writes an
interesting article to that paper Of a recent
interview with 7. I. Fortune, coIored, editor Of
the New York Globe. Now, as Fortune is a
FlOridian and a representative man among
his people, and is known to entertain some Pc
culiar notions upon matters in general, a short
digest Of the interview may not be uninterest-
ing.
Fortune acquired his trade of printer in this
city, where his father, Emanuel Fortune. still
resides, and where he has held several offices
of trust and responsibility. A few years since
the son left Jacksonville to try his fortunes in
New York, when it will be remembered that
his employment in the composing room of the
Witness, led to strike among the employees
of that paper This affair caused considerable
talk at the time, as indicating the intensity of
prejudice entertained towards colOred people
in Northern communities.
After a while the Globe made its appearance
and the independence of its views with the
freshness and originality of its utterances, have
given considerable reputation to that journal.
Strange to say, the bulk Of its subscriptions
come from the South, where its circulation is
growing quite rapidly. Its patronage, both in
advertisements and circulation, shows q
healthy and steady increase and its proprie-
tors contemplate. numerous improvements at
an early period.
Many of Fortunes views are so bold and de-
cided, and so completely at variance with those
heretofore held by his people, that your
readers will pardon we, l hope, in making
liberal quotations from the published inter
view.
II was brought up a Republican, " he an
swered when l asked his political creed "and
1 chung to that party for long while, with the
rest of my race, because distrusted the Demo.
Gratis. But on many of the constitutional
questions which are supposed TO underlie par
ties, hold to the Democratic view, and if the
younger and more progressive element of that
party could secure control of its organization,
| should be quite content TO see it come into
power. AS it is, hold myself free to COM
mend or criticise either party as think it de.
serves.
'Ihad chance to see for myself in part how
reconstruction worked and | have studied its
history in ether parts of the South than Flori-
da. 1t was full Of grave blunders, and iG was in
evitable that it should END as it did Indeed,
when | reverse the situl lon-when / suppose
that the Mt groes had for generations ruled
those States and held the whites in slavery:
graded as most of them must be. had been
given possession of the government, and, un-
der the lead Of unscrupulous men from out
side, had treated the negroes, who possessed
nearly all the wealth and intelligence, as the
whites of the South were treated under carpet
bag rule-l say when l imagine this, think
that, unless my humanity had interfered, l
should have considered almost any means
justifable to throw off such a yoke.
'Of course there was terrible misgovernment
while the Republicans held possession of the
South. but what could you expect of race
just released from slavery and whose white
leaders, with few exceptions, were of the worst
character But the failure of carpet bag rule
does not prove that the negro is incapable of
self government; it only shows that he must
have education and intelligence before he can
rule wisely
THE most hopeful feature in the situation is
the growing disposition of cOlored men to think
for themselves. The Republican party freed
u.s. and at first, of course, gratitude allied us to
it, Then for a long while we were suspicious
Of the good faith of the Democrats when they
professed to accept the results of the war, and
seif-protect'on seemed to require that we
should still cling to the old organization. But
when Republican Senators make such speeches
as were made by Jones, of Nevada, during the
debate on the Chinese bill, l don't feel as
Republican party on the score of gratitude
On the other hand, believe that it would be
infinitely better, both for the colored race and
for the country, to have the negro vo'e divided
as the white vote is Whenever and wherever
the Democratic party is ready to take pro-
gressive stand as far as concerns our race and
to remove The lingering suspi ions of its good
faith am ready to see 1t carry the day."
In reSpoSne TO an inquiry as to the extent
with which his views were shared by his peo-
pie, he replied that the success of his paper
aHOru6Q Cn0 D6SG reply. lie was also, ne said.
acquainted with many of the most prominent
colored men in the country, who agreed with
him in private conversations upon the sub
ject, although, erhaps, prestrained by pru-
Dental motives from giving their thoughts
publicity. He declared, moreover, that the
time had gone by when the intelligent young
men of his race could be driven up to the
polls like flock Of sheep, and ordered to de-
posit such ballots as were placed in their
hands. In many parts of the South this class
was ready and anxious to align themselves
politically, with the progressive young whites
and he regarded this fact as pregnant with
promise for the future good of both races
Now a journal advocating such advanced
doctrines and acquiring daily power and in
fiuence. must soon become formidable factor
in politics, and bids fair to bring about great
alterations in the present status Of colored
vot rs.
The late election in this city is strikingly
corroborative Of Mr.. Fortunes opinions On
that occasion several of the veteran leaders of
the Republican party were summarily shelYed
behind an extraordinary majority, and that
too in despite of the free and active use of all
the ancient app iances used to enforce dis
cipline and preserve order. That a widespread
diSs sJisfactiOn exists among the masses Of
that party in this community is very apparent,
and that the breach then made will continue
to oeepen and widen is equally certain. If the
proper wisdom is exercised, and iudicious
cultivation of the new field be practIsed, the
elections during the approaching fall will
show that large crop Of Republican votes
TS.
The defeat of the stalwart Republicans In
this city, their stronghold and arsenal, where
most of their trusted captains reside and in
which their ammunition is stored, where tire
strings by which the party is opera
ted are delica.ely and deftlY fingered, and to
which de party" has long been wont to look
for light and guidance, has been disastrous in
the extreme and is blow from whose effects
1t will be long in recovering. The whole ma
chine is in bad condition, rough, rickety and
rusty, its most delicate portions are out Of
gear, aud it is hardly possible for the best en-
gineering skill that can be secured to place it
again in good working order
Fitzgerald the suave and seductive bunco
player, who has lately taken in Charles Francis
Adams to the tune of twenty thousand dollars,
under the very shadow Of the Bunker Hill
was arrested in this State last win
ter for similar piece of rascaIity, and escaped
punishment in consequence of the reluctance
of the victim TO institute prosecution. These
rogues did not have as profitable season here
last winter as they have heretofore enjoyed
The Spring Fair of the Middle Florida Asso-
citation will open at Tallahassee on the Sd Of
May. Leon made fine display at the State
Fair last February, and can get up a splendid
exhibition with little effort Those who de-
sire to see very attractive country during the
most pleasant portion OF the year should visit
the capital ne xt month.
Many of the hotels up the river and In this
city have been closed, and for the next four
months these huge structures will present a
funereal aspect. The fashionable, after short
pare their summer wardrobes, will fit, some
across the ocean and others to Sarat oga, Long
Branch and Newport To many Of this class
life appears to afford no pleasures superior to
those of travelling, eating and sleeping. Our
streets are now filled with dandy negro wait
ers, who, in the full glory of "sWell' toegery,
are strutting a brief period of leisure in the
OF gentlemen Of large incomes be-
fore starting North to fulfill their summer
engagements.
Crops of all kinds are recovering from the
occasioned by the drought. Corn is
tasSeliug in many places and the succulent
roasting ear will soon be in fashion. Now is
the season also when the burly head Of a negro
family starts his children out one day to gather
and trots himself the next day to
Jacksonville to peddle the proceeds around the
city. This is his idea of business
Itis wonderful to witness the working of the
dredging machine now employed in clearing
out the log pen Of the Florida Central Railroad,
and to see the aln"st human Intelligence
shown by the ponderous machinery, Huge
sticks of timber submerged for years, are
raised to the surface with as much ease as If
they were feathers, and hoisted from their
muddy bed and deposited upon the wharf, |
precisely where they are needed.
1t is not pleasant to contemplate the loss of |
that splendid steamer. the st. Johns, but ru-
moved from this liue after the first of next
month. fear that the ruRnor is correct and
that it will be some years before she win be |
replaced by another vessel as safe, as elegant |
an. as popular Captain Vogel, the accom- |
plshed commander, will take with him, |
wherever he goes, the hearty good wishes of |
his community, by whom he is justly and gen. |
orally esteemed. w. H. b.
A National Bank Law.
PETERSBURG, VA, April l9-The Peters
burg Chamber OF Commerce has received |
commune ttion from the New York |
Board of Trade asking the cham |
fO foly In ofc 10. 81