The banner-enterprise., 1883-05-03
PLAIN TALK.

| Already the managers OF Ootn tne
two great political paries Of this
country are planning how to catch the
Negro in their drag-net in 1884. We
have the best of reasons for saving
(and We say it for the informa ion Of
all parties concernel) that the Negro
will have considerably more 10" .
sense and be infinitely better 1,-
pared to dictate and make terms in
1884 or earlier, than he has hereto
fore shown himself. The idea which
has gained Currency in the political
world that the GREAT REPUBLICAN
party of equal rights (which has been
forced to do everything it has done so
far for the protection Of the Negro
has mortgage upon usand our votes,
has long since been exploded. we
have been paying the penalty of loy>
atty so long and have been so faith-
full to our benefactors(?) that they
have come to look upon us as so many
voting cattle, and as not being en-
titled to any particular attention OK.
cepJ when their interests were to be
enhanced. A distinguished Republic
can, now deceased, under Grant and
the fearful Mr.. Hayes, of the United
States of Ohio, told delegation of
colorel gentleman, who waited on
him at his office in Washington dur
ing the Hayes campaign, for the pur-
pose Of inducing him to use his in
tluence in securing colored canvassers
to 90 South, that "thc National Com
mittee didn'tpropose to spend a 4 n
cent in that direction that the
Southern Negroes would all vote tho
Republican ticket anyhow"
This is sad commentary indeed
upon the intelligent manhood Of the
Negro. The idea is gen
sra throughout the North among
white Republicans, who know very
little about Southern politics you're
welcome) that the Negro religiously
believes the twaddle about the war
being begun expressly to liberate him
from bondage, and that the truth Of
history will never be told. In this
connection we beg to say to these de-
luded and sapient political diplo-
matists that
"The best laid plans of men and mice
Gang aft aglee."
Now and then an exuberal.t Yankee
may be heard to exclaim with great
'gusto" and satisfaction to himself |
doubtless "we freed you,the Republi-
IAN party spent millions of money and
sacrificed thousands of lives to make
you an American citizen Shades Of
rophet protect us! The Republicans
lid no such thing the war of Re-
,ellion was not fought for any such
purpose. The Negro got into it
more by accident than design, SO far
IS manywhite Republicans were con-
erned, or our condition would never
lave received that respectful and ur>
yent consideration given it by the
ate lamented Lincoln and his ad-
'isers Everything which was done
o hasten the dawn of freedom land
lere We measure our words) Dds
'orcea out The Republican party then
u poOer By circumstances oUer Which
. had no control. Tie preservation
y the Union ,cas Of paramount i'm
'ortance-the Liberation Of four mil
ion and half of slaves was second.
'ry matter. Everybody knows the re.
ult of the compromises which we're
ought to be made at that time and
he obstiaacy Of the Southern leaders
n refusing to accede to the terms
'roposed. Everybody knows that
early 100000 black men we're en-.
sted 1.-THE Federal army 10 help put
own the rebellion, and that more
lan 10000 sacrificed their lives in
lie 252 battles in which they were !