Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-20
THE COLORED PEOPLE.

From various sections in the South the
story comes that since the election of Cleve-
land to the Presidency and with the advent
of Democratic national administration,
the colored people are in state Of nervous
apprehension lest they will be returned to
slavery or some other kind of bondage. We
can well understand why their credulity is
thus worked upon, when we remember that
such has been the rallying cry of Repub-
lican speakers and writer's, North and South,
ever since the date of Lincoln's emancipa-
tion proclamation; and we we'll remember
that in 1876 the greatest bugbear in the way
of the Democratic Reform ticket in South
Carolina was the same old story repeated to
the negroes time and again: "If Hampton
is elected you will all be returned to slave
ry." Hampton's eloquence, however, in
measure dispelled this absurd idea and
surely since the State has passed under DEM
ocratic control the colored people have seen
for themselves that their rights, guaranteed
by the laws of the land, have in nowise
been impaired. The nearest approach to
slavery that has ever befallen the colored
people since their emancipation from bond
age is the blind zeal in which they have fol-
lowed the teachings of Republican leaders
who have used their votes only to advance
their own ambition. From this slavery of
mind, which is worse than physical servi-
tude, a national Democratic administration
is needed to rescue this misguided people.
Cleveland's administration will remove the
scales from their eyes, so far as the general
government is concerned, just as the Hamp-
ton government enlightened them on the
same question in South Carolina. They
will find that at the end Of four years from
the fourth of next March, not legal right
they now enjoy will be taken from them by
Democrats. But we expect to live to see
the day when Hampton's prediction in re-
gard to negro suffrage will be verified; and
that prediction, made in 1876, was that the
first attempt that would ever be made to de-
prive the colored man from voting would
be made by the Republicans of the North.
The day will come. The Republicans, find
ing that they can no longer use the negro as
voting machine, will yet attempt to de-
prive him of his franchise. Then will be
Ine OppOIluulVy lO1 tilC HCssio VI oiioHooo'ii
to learn who their real political friends are.
We do not think there is colored man
in York county foolish enough to believe
the idle teaching of designing or ignorant
persons respecting the continuation of their
rights, as guaranteed by the constitution of
the United States and Of the State Of South
Carolina; but if there is one, let him dispel
all such fear. The rights of the colored
people are in no manner menaced. On this
point, Senator Hampton- whose words we
print in another column-spoke clearly and
Enthusiastically in Columbia, last Friday
night, and if further proof is wanting for
the present purpose, we quote the following
words from Governor Thompson:
The negroes will soon learn by expert
ence that their rights are more secure and
their opportunities for improvement far
greater under Democratic than under Re
publican rule. At each recurring Federal
election our people will be free from the
anxiety and unrest which sectional and
race issues have heretofore produced.
North and South will henceforth be but
geographical terms. In other words, we
will have what we have not had since the
close of the war-that real peace which
comes from reunited country.