Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-14
A .COLORED EDITOR.
Believing that the Whole American Peo-
pie Were Responsible for Slavery
and for its Abolition, is Con-
WINGED, Therefore,
That 1t is Their Duty TO Assume the
Burden OF Taxation for the Edu-
cation Of the Negroes OF the
Southern States.
To the Editors of the Appeal:

e To the Editors of the Appeal:
do not wish 10 be understood in this CON
municaton as interfering in the politics c
= Tennessee or OF any other State and onl
i write in furthersnce of that object which
K believe 10 be the solution OF the race Question
h in the South, namely: A fuller discussion
in calm aud friendly manner, of the poll
tics OF tae South. Where large numbers o
people occupy the same territory they mus
] of necessity sustain friendly or unfriendly
, relations. If they sustain unfriendly rela
lions their prosperity cannot but be seriously
: interfered with, and this is always a matter
of regret; while, on the contrary, when they
thoroughly understand esch other, mutually
+ agree and honestly differ, the happy result
opersak to the common good.
4 not ignorant Of those bitter political
animo$ties which have stirred up the South
since the war, nor am 1 unmindful of their
causes. They all well understeod by
the wide circle Of readers OF the APPEAL.
Whether they justified the intense partisan
heat, discussion, and violence which grew
out of them, it ia not pertinent now 10 in
quire. A nobler and more fruitful inyesti-
gallon should challenge the thought of pub
lie men ana actuate the masses of the peo-
pie, namely: How best, in the light of the
past, 10 better the condition of the people in
future2 This question is one of paramount
importance to the South as we'll as to the
| Nerth-for the condition OF the masses is
about the same in each section. Here in the
| North sfew millionaires dictate the policies of
parties, and naturally enough, shape legisla-
ton, as far as they can, in their own interest.
| like condition exists in the South, out of
which grow laws of an oppressive and odious
nature. In neither section is the common
| good sought by Legislators and administra-
tors. A few men intrench themselves
= in power, and sustain themselves in
l it by shrewd manipulation of political
forces. The time when the officers of the
] law were the servants of the people has al
most been suppianted BY the time when the
people are the servants of the officers of the
law. This condition of things, it is needless
to say. Is prejudicial TO that comprehensive
freedom of the individual so earnestly and
successfully labored for by the trainers of
our fundamental framework of government.
ton of the common right of even one individ-
ual imperils the liberty of the whole people.
When this is thoroughly understood and
maintained there is little chance for the am
billions of tyrants or oligsrchs. AS one test
case usually settles the validity of a ques-
tionabe law, SO the acceptance of verdict
that one man in community of equals ia
not entitled TO the benefits common and con-
ferred jeopardizes the right of all the people
of the community, and clears the way for
hsgrant and defiant violation of common
rights. Wheh once civil compact is en-
tered into its Observance is binding upon
each and all. If this be true the general lawL
Of the land and the laws OF the State are bind
ing upon each and all, and should have an
impartial bearing. If laws are found to be
odious and oppressive it is the right of the
people TO alter or amend them, but in the
way defined by the constitution. No man
has more right than another to defy the law.
Now II rs universally conceded that the |
colered man is an equal citizen of the gen. |
eral government and of the States. How he |
came 10 be such has ceased to be subject |
of legislation. His condit is now the |
only proper subject of legislat ion. If it is |
found that he is in any way untitled TO exer- |
else the full measure of the benefits con-
ferred upon him, the remedy should be /
sought and applied in the same manner the
benefits were conferred. By this means you
preserve the majesty of the law and insure
the observance of it by the masses, who have
always been, who are, and who must always
be led by the strong aud loyal intellects |
among them. Violence and strategy may |
subdue, but never conquer people who
have tasted of the mellow fruits of freedom.
The fierce warrior of Zululand is as uncon- |
querable as the Indian of our own land. BY
isolating few people from their natural
land, IS in the case of the Africans expatri-
ated TO this country, it is possible to break
their spirits and inure them TO servitude, but
it is never possible wholly TO make them
happy and contented.
The Bible teaches us that "soft answer
turns away wrath" and ii is demonstrable
that mild and humane policy can accom-
plish more with the colored people than
violent and austere one. 1t has always been
a conundrum TO me why the whites of the
South, who know the colored people so well, |
should have sought to force them when they
knew gentleness was the most effective
weapon. There is no dlsputiug the fact, as
l have frequently stated, that the white and
colored people of the South understand each
other better than anyone else does, and
should, consequently, be competent to arrive
at an undersl anding whereby the laws would ,
operate alike upon all. The great mistake
which the South has m ade in the past is that ,
they have allowed others 10 come among
them and control portion of their people ,
whom it was obviously their duty to guide
and direct. / am pleased that the APPEAL :
aud other influential Southern papers are !
waking up to this fact. There should be ,
general waking up all along the line. II
If the colored people are once given 10 !
understand that the Democratic party is dis i
posed to leave them in the full enjoyment of
their citizenship, and to reward them where
party will not want for black votes. If a :
,olored man desired, for any reason, TO be- /
come an active Democrat, there should not
exist any reason to deter him, any more
han would deter white man from joining
he Republican party. The safety of the I
State requires the existence of such option
IN the part of the citizen. The whites OF
he South have more 10 lose by repelling the L
support of the colored man than anybody {
Else, and the history Of the past is verif- fl
;ation OF this statement. Looking at ii S
rom this standpoint, wisdom would dictate v
more polite course in the future. The war n
las been ended very long time, and the Il
ssues growing oct oil it have been incor- Il
,orated in the fundamental law of the land.
indeed the eolored man has been a subject of
egislation so long that he thinks it very high A
ime he was the recipient of some Justice,
argely tinctured with humanity. Instead
f being treated as distinct element, as II
o the past, he thinks it about tine that he !,
vas considered as belonging to the whole
,eople possessing not distinctive but COM
non rights, and amenable not to special but T
General laws. The colored people who think
his way are Of the younger generation
hose VINO nave come pPon the scene since n
he war, and who have enjoyed liberal Sd Il
-antages of education. They sincerely de- Of
lore the policy which dooms them to herd B
ogether, and think and act alike In all z
hings political. In the North they are tc
aking advantage Of the factional fights of a
,arties, and following the course most like d
v to insure pure administration of the gov a
rnment, without regard to past claims OF il
and gratitude I % not say / {,
hat this has become general, but it is very A
PREVALENT indeed. It is common thing to te
meet colored men who speak out in condem- c.
Iation OF corruption Of men and parties. a.
uoic;;c,,a colored journalism has done much, Of
nd will do more in this direction. While | p
Northern Democrats no longer deem IT out b
I the question TO secure all the colored 81
otes possible, l know full well that the
uestion is more complex in the South than
q the North, but the rules of its solution are
he same in both sections. But the South F
,ust ultimately come to 1t, and the sooner Il
be better. Il
Education in the South will do more than q
ny one other thing 10 better the condition
{ all classes, and since the South is mani
estly unable to maintain q comprehensive
nd efficient system of public schools, it ap- NJ
ears TO me that the South should commit r.
IseIf and It's representatives in Congress to G,
ational appropriation for public school c.
purposes for a term Of yems. know the OPP =,
IL. L
n constitutional grounds; but if it is con- I
litutional TO vote monster appropriations g,
Or the defense and improvement Of rivers d
nd harborr "for the common defensen and s