Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-12

Thomas Hamilton, of Beaufort, one of the
most prominent negro politicians in South
Caroline, has written a letter TO the Charles
ton Nesos and Coui ieT roundly denouncIng
the Republican party, and insisting that the
negro has rights which must be respected.
He says:
"All that the negroes get for their feslty
to the Republican party is some minor ap-
pointments, such as boat hands, ETC., which
nobody else wants. The only good position
which is held by negro in South Carolina
is that held by Mr.. Wilder, postmaster at
Columbis, and he is kept there by Senator
Hampton, who is a Democrat. All the
other Republican ofice-holders in the State,
with The exception Of the underlings
already referred to, are white men. / hold
that the negro owes Rsdicslism nothing.
Admitting, for the sake of argument, that he
did owe it something after the war, which /
deny, he has given it twenty years of the
most active service of his life, and during
these twenty years the party has brought
such disgrace on the negro name that it will
take generations to wipe it out. When the
Republicans controlled this State all the
teachers could get for their certificates was
forty cents on the dollar. Now, when the
State is controlled by Democrats, they
are worth 100 cents on the dollar. Edu-
cation is the one great need OF the negro
race, and the party which has given the most
aid to education ia the one which the negro
should support. 1t is folly for the Republi-
cans in Congress TO give as an excuse for not
voting for the educational bill that the money
would be put in the hands OF Democratic
superintendents Of education. We must
Judge the future by the past. What has Re
publicsnism done in this State toward edu-
eating the negro youth? Every body knows
that the Republicans deliberately stole the
money intended for education and applied
it to fast horses, gold watches and diamond
pins, and venture 10 say that if the mo ney
were turned over to the same class OF men
a. ain BY the government for educational
purposes, the negro would never profit by a
| cent of il. Gov. Thompson, when superin.
| tendent of education, did lar more toward
| educating the negro youth in four years, tn an
| the negro leaders did in ten, and his Demo.
cratic successor ia following his example
| The negro ia twice as well off under Demo
cratic administration. The negroes receive
more than twice the amount Of education, and
| the teachers receive about three times Al
much for their Certificate, while jurors anc
witnesses get twice as much for their tickets
| Why, then, should a negro be ashamed o.
afraid to Join the Democratic party, or VIII,
should they be ashamed or afraid TO Gu
loose from the Republican party and stan'
as a party by themselves, holding tn
balance of power, and throw II oil
the side that will give them tn
largest measure Of substantial benefit an,
recognition. 1t is nonsense for the ne
gro to cling to the Republican party
Stalwarts and Hslf-Breeds are all tn
same. Put either of them in power an
they will give white men the choicest placer
while the negro. to whom they owe every
thing, must content himself with the leav
ings. Can the Democrats do worse? Ii
high time for the negro to have done wit
the folly of being frightened at the wor
Democrat. he has but two questions to cor
slider now: First, what is best for the negro
Second, what is best for the country? NJ
body objects to Northern white men con
ing South and Identifying themsslvs
with us, and if they happen to d,
serve Office, let them get it. But do objec
and never will lend my aid or infence in an
way, 10 any class of men leaving Washingto
with their appointments in their pockets an
coming here to rule among native Carolinian
What are the plain facts? There are sbor
$50 white Republicans in the Stale, an
about l30 of them hold government appoin
ments. Those who are not in Office are
business and invariably vote the Democrat
State ticket"