Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1882-04-22
Changing Positions.

negro suffrage and the utterances OF
some of the leading politicians and
journals of both parties indicate that
the prediction will probably soon be |
verified. Some Of the bolder spirits
of the republican party have not only
come to recognize the impossibility OF
blending into one nationality two
races so distinct as the white and
black, but they openly declare that the
experiment of enfranchisng the negro
has proven q stupendous failure. and
that be has virtually DISTINGUISHED
himself by proving that he is incapa-
bic of exercising or appreciating the
privilege conferred upon him or the
duties and obligations it oevolves
upon him as q citizen.
The republicans closed their eyes to
these facts and booted at the sugges-
tions of the dangers that might result
from the experiment so long as they
saw any prospect Of massing the ne
gro voters on their side and manipu-
lating them, like so many automatons +;
but now that few of them begin to
manifest a disposition to think and act
COR themselves, they are beginning to
open their eyes and suddenly discover
these truths, which they persistently
and obstinatciy refused to see at the
proper time. But the democrats say
The time has come when the negro
is as apt to be a democrat as repub-
lican-hc is located in a country
where a majority of white men are
democrats, whose interests are better
to be subserved by the declared policy
of the democratic party. and be is
likely to be Influenced by that majority
and those interests-therefore we DO
not want him dish anchised. And
they might further say, with equal
truth, 1--WE have learned to use him,
and We propose to do it,"
As there are very few important,
Il live issues upon which tbs two parties
> are divided, in thus shifting positions
upon the stage Of political action
neither party will carry with it its en-
tire force, but as the parties change
positions men will exchange places in
their ranks-will just simply remain
!, =, where they are and let the party come
to them-and men who are democrat:
= today will then be republicans, ant
vice versa.
The time has been when this coul'
in not be the case--when parties wer
It's divided on the questions of state
right, protective tariff, direct taxation
internal improvements, etc. but tha
time has now passed, and these issue
ore confined more to localities tina
parties, according to the interests
the diferent occupations and produ'
tions of the sections, and we find me
80 80 in both the parties united on thes
issues they cannot even be said
be completely divided on the gre'
question of Capitalization. So now
- seems impossible for a man to So
with certainty in what party be wi
= End himself q short time hence.
. As little as may be thought abo'
: it, in our opinion, this question
& what is to be done with the negro.
we are to be guided by the principle
of humanity and justice. is one of II
most difficult problems that statesm'
:. have ever been called upon to SOL
! in the history of our republic. I
C mix two races even less distinct upt
- terms of equality, under the san
laws and in the same country, is
physical impossibility, which has be-
- fully demonstrated 10 history.
Then what is to be done about i
s. If the two races remain in the ssr
country one will have u submit
the domination of the otber-w
bic have to give up the idea Of squali
ner ner and submit to the inevitable-and
,re. is very easy to soy which one th