Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-19

\ IL VI u In IL III n IL
Foolish STORIES MADE FOR POLITICAL
EFFECT. the war ended and the
colored people were invested with liberty
and the right of suffrage, many became
| impressed with the idea that they were
also to be endowed with the goods and
chattels of their former masters, and that
each freedman was to be presented with
"forty acres and mule" They soon
found that they had been endowed only
with the portion that belongs to every
freeman-the equality of opportunity and
the privilege of individual effort. AS years
have passed by, what they were at first in
clined to regard as disappointment Of
their hopes has proved itself to be bless
| ing, at once an incentive to ambition and
means of individual and general elevation
and improvement to the race, which has
grown in both mental and moral stature
under the conditions that have made il self
| dependent and selfreliant. There is 10
reason why this progress should not con-
time, and if it does not, it will not be for
lack of helpful encouragement on the part
Of the whole people of the country, with
out regard to section or party 1t is alb
surd to suppose that any section or party
could undo the accomplished results Of his
tory if they would, or would do so if they
could. The fears Of danger to their rights
or persons from Democratic success, which
have strangely obtained lodgment in the
minds of some colored persons in this city
and elsewhere. are even more groundless
than the brilliant anticipations of sudden
wealth which filled the mind of the freed
man at the time of his emancipation.
Those who impose upon supplemented
men and women with these baseless inven-
tons are enemies of the public peace and
order. OF character with the disturbing
| stories circulated among the colored people
were the wIetched falsehoods unblushingly
circulated among the working people to
the effect that Democratic success meant a
reduction of wages. This form of intimi-
dation was vigorously but fruitlessly en-
ployed in the Buchanan campaign of 1885,
and has been in use for some years in Ger
tain manufacturing districts of New Eng
land, but it has been So frequently exposed
| that even there some Of it's promoters have
become ashamed of it. 1t is now a badly
| worn article of political old clothes done
| up into scare crow, and as it did not ac
complish the results expected of it in Ma
ryland, it is not likely to be of use any
ihOlO III thAo pau VA VIZ SOuuUlJ .-i|Otot-
more San.
| THE NEGRoEs.-Let the hour of victory
be the hour of magnanimity. Let every
man, says the Richmond Dispatch, make it
his business to dispossess some negro of
the fear that the Democrats propose harm
ing him in any way, or depriving him of
any of his rights. We expressed our views
on this subject last week, and are glad to
see that the Leesburg Washingtonian has
expressed similar in the following para
graph:
'sWe have been told that some Of our
colored citizens are very much troubled by
the apprehension that their freedom will be
taken from them by the election Of Cleve-
lard. This is the result of the falsehoods
of some of their speakers who have made
them believe so to scare them into vot ng
for the Republicans. Our people ought to
show them the falsity of such fears They
should explain to them that their freedom
is as secure as the liberty of the white race
the Constitution, which guarantees their
| freedom, is the same under which we all
live-the same laws and the same privileges
are alike to all races and classes in this
country, and no one has the desire to inter
fere with them, and would not have the
power to Go SO if they did. No one wants
81 very in this country, and no one could
have it if lie did. The freedom of the eiti-
zsns of all classes Is as secure as the Gov
eminent under which we live. Our color
ed citizens will find that the Democrats
are their friends, and will protect them in
ali their rights under the laws of the coun-
try
i Let Us have moderation with our enthu-
siasm. Avoid personal thrusts at defeated
political opponents Their feelings are
already hart, and "a wounded (politicaD
spirit Wis" can bear?' We have right to
cheer TIE great fraud of 1876 has been
attempted again and defeated, and that
wrong has been righted, or will be on the
45h OF Il, It March. Malone, the Virginia
moccaSin. ilas been crushed, and we are
done wi,h lin and his miserable crew.
His officials will, like Arabs, fold their
tents aud silently steal away, and the
growing o their press will no more be
heard in tie land. A lot of white men
banked on Tie negro and they have lost.
Let them 60 TO the negro. Better settle III
negro counties and run for the Legislature
and county Offices these are out of Fed
eral politics Let us have our professions,
and our bonfres, and our cannon, and let
the masses who have been ignorantly car
ried away, come back. They knew no
better. They have been deceived. Let
them come back. Let the negro know
that he has sinned against grace and
knowledge; he has been warned and he will
not heed Let him look for his help to the
Republicans for credit and endorsation.
We must take care of ourselves. If labor
is scarce, white Democrats must have the
work. The oolored man has made his bed
and he must lie on it, and our cities must
look to this matter. Virginia and the
South must take care of their interests at
the polls by using their power before the
elections. -Lynchbrg Advance.