The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-12-25
The Colored People

/ There has been since HE result OF The
| Presidential election WAS known, a vast
amount Of guS} ard nonsense coming
from Democratic writer's and speakers
abont the ncgro. They AXE as their text
the assumption that Tie colored people are
appehensiyc 81 legislation looking TO their
-euSlaYemeut under a Democratic adj
ministration. There is not one negro in d
| thousand that enteTtains sach 4 fear,
and all he protestations Of protect ion in
| this respect amount to nothing. Ior ttFeGe
/ is 10 OCCASION for them. Nh the negro
wants IS simple Justice. He wants the
rights and privileges the laws and consti-
tuition give him. and these secured in
practical recognition. there viii be 10 de-
mand for anything further either from
State orNational administration. His labor
is Just as essential to the land h0lderas his
employment is essential to his comfortable
living There can heno difficulty on this
point There is Il mutual dependence THAT
cannot be ignored by either, aud 1t is to
the interest Of the property owner and the
toiler that there should he no disturbance
Of this relation. Ii is the negro's politi-
cal rights which are the boHe ei c0nten-
ton The negroot Virginia is moi nmnmd-
ful OF the eapitation tax restriction on The
ballot, the whipping post law. nor the con-
dition Of the public schools. uhtil the Re
adiusters came into power. lnblie senti-
I. 4
and We assume that no. attempt VIII be
made to restore them. { tbb power Of
the National adlninstratioD under the
Democratic party, and fiae several State
administrations in The So,itA. shall do FOR
the colored people Ill thai the Iscpubli-
tans have tried 10 do protect his political
rights no Republican VIII object. And il
the colore,l voter Shanld in gratitude for
the protection Of his rights in this re-
spect. conclude to cooperate With the
Democratic party. no Republican will
say nay That is his right, and il in the
exercise of ii he should deem ii wise TO
change his political relations That viii he
his business. We could ask for the negro
and the Southern Democrats no hettel,
platform than that laid down by GOV.
Cleveland in a recent interview
80 far as the new aliminstra, ion is re-
lated to this subjeet the whole country
can be sure that the power and jurisdiction
of the executive win be so exercised that
the rights OF ALI citizens white or black,
under the constitutions and laws. viii be
preserved and protected. and lll the advan-
ta@eS to which they are entitled. by reason
OF their citizenship. viii be secured to
Them
This is a broad platform and covers all
the rights and privileges Of all classes Of
citizens. 1t embraces all that The Republic
cans ever contended for, and because of
which they have been called the negro
party. We trust this platform of the
Presidentelect viii lie carried out 10 the
letter. If 50. it will remove Il great dam
ger to the country and bring about a con-
dition of things that may break the solid
South. and leave no excuse for tie demand
for u Solid North. Ii will he a recognition
Of the i4teadme5t OF The Constitution IA
practical enforcement Of the fundamental
law-and remove Il serious menace to the
peace Of the Nation and the pelpetuity Of
Republican institutions. 1t is II sentiment
that oegiit to BIZ inculcated in the Cotton
States especially, for it is there Where the
grayest difficulties exist. If the Demo
cratic press and speakers of the South viii /
openly and seriously declare for what MIR.
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