The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-09-12
The Independent FIxxle.

Never, perhaps, in the political history of the
country, have the inpudence and cOnceit of a
lot of place-snatching, would-be leaders of "A
headed measure met with such unmitigated
snubbing as the life long Republicans gave
McKnnon and his Lieutenants at Quincy on
Tuesday last. 1t must be source of consider
able modification, we should think, to mind of
even ordinary sensitiveness 10 discover, on so
conspicuous an occasion, its utter incapacity to
cope with men and measures that others of so
much less pretentiousness apparently control
without effort and if the unfortunate victims of
their own vanity and cupidity in this instance
deserved the sympathy of one single loyal heart,
we should certainly be moved TO compassion and
extend them kindly feeling and hearty wish
that the very severe lesson might serve 10 make
them wiser and better men in the future
The action Of The Convention serves as only
another illustration of The now generally recog-
nzed fact that the recenIly-emancpated colored
people of the South. whatever better treatment
they may deserve. do in reality serve only as
pretert fur the accomplishment of The purposes
of white men with better capacities than them
selves. Unfortunate race lhli they are. fate. ar
what il quite resistless, Cuucasion cup:diiy.
has placed them in IL land possessing civ,liza-
tion with which their moral and in,ellrclu Il err
dowmenis utterly incapaclate them successfully,
to contend and they, in their unnatural l",siii"n
and unequal contest with superior force. must
ever he the legitimate prey Of The designing ones
among the race who control The deslnies of this
western world.
II is, perhaps. true that had the white people
of the South more fully appreciated. Immediately
after the late war, the true relations then being
first established between themselves and The
newly-cmancipated race, and had they then ex-
ercised generous tolerance of the newly-ac
quired privileges of these unfortunate people,
and assumed towards them hearty readiness TO
help and instruct them in their really helpless
and benighted moral, intellectual and poiicnl
attitude, there is reason 10 believe that the con-
dition of the negroes in the South to-day would
have been infinitely more desirable.
II was nj this juncture of their eventful history
that those loyal" souls who followed in the
rear of the Northern army for the sake of plum
der" conceived tho profound idea of reconsiruc-
ton, and marked The mass Of newy-liberated
colnred people, full Of supcrsttious ignorance, as
fit and ready instrument for their purposes
From that hour, we fear. the future of the African
element in western civilization was determined
with no very very encouraging prospects Rec
ognizing the utter incapacity Of this great body
of uneducated people to Judge and act for them
selves 10 the bewldering revolution of their con-
dition. and their ready susceptibility to the les
sons Of any teachers. those followers for plum
der" shrewdly assumed the leadership, with
what regard for the real interest of the colnred
people we are all familiar Appealing to the
ver5 worst passions and impulses of their natures.
these designing and reckless white leaders en-.
gendered In the impossible bosoms of their col.
ored dupes bitterness and dis.rnst towards their
white fellow citizens Of the South that has given
rise to an almost incurable antagonism OF the
two races. and built up In front Of the coloced
man an almost insumeuntable obstacle 10 his