The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-28
The Sonth Carolina Negro.

COLUMBIA, :. c., August lS.--IEe
speakers at the recent Blaine ratification
meeting in this city attempted, as usual,
10 impress the negroes with tac i;iea 'hat
they wcre an oppressed and down-trodden
race. whose rights we're utterly denied
and disregarled by TIC Democratic party.
They were told that they were virtually
diafrauchiscd, and 50 fer as political all
legal rights are concerned were 10 better
than slaves. OF course they were in
formed that the election laws in this
State were enacted purposcly tn dcfraud
the illiterate voter, and that they were
dcpri:ed Of educational facilities. 50 that
they had no opportunity TO become in
telligcnl voters. If any Of their hearers
were made to believe these statements \
few facts may undecrive them. do not
propose TO argue any of these charges
against the Democratic party, but simpl
to state few things in connection with
them AZ | think that will be sufficient
answer to the accusations.
First, as to their political rights. 1t is
true that there are several boxes into
which ballots must b. placed, and if de
posted in the wrong BOX they are thrown
out and not counted. To illustrate
There is box iur all votes given for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and
another for the other State officers
vote deposited in the Governors box
with the names Of the other State officers
on ii would be void and so with n vote
for Governor put in the State officers
box. Bu. in order that the voter may
not be inisicd there is painted or posted,
in large Roman letters, on each box, the
Offices to be filled, anu any one who can
read can certainly PIT his vote in the
right box. This would amount to an
educational test but for another provis'
ion in the law which requires managers
Of elections, when so requested, to read
to the voter the names OF the officers on
the different boxes, so that the most il.
norant voter is fully protected. In the
last election Jrcenbacker, in a public
speech, said that his people could hardly
read English, and that the Democrats
had ordered Roman letters put on the
boxes SO that they could not read them.
Ills charge against the party in power
WAS loudly applaudcd. SO much for the
political tights Of the negro.
Every lawyer in the STATE knows that
when negro is on trial he will always
secure white jury and invariably dis.
cards all jurors OF his own color. This
shows in whom they trus. when their
.e.:.a! rights are in danger, or their lives
or liberty in jeopardy.
The most unjust charge and i! is out
ragcous -tha. the Republicans make
against the Democrats in this State, is
that the State does not furnish the ne
groes educational advantages. This
statement is known to be so infamously |
false that il is hardly necessary 10 con-
tradict it, and will oaly say this much,
that all appropriation is every year voted |
for Clailin University 20 give The negroes !
the benefits Of higher education, and |
there are many more nagroas than whites
II haven't the figures before me- edu-
Gated by the two.mill school iax and pol |
tax, and the white men and Democrats |.
Of the State pay nearly the entire two
mil TAX. This ough. to he sufficient To |
make even 4 Seutll Carolina Radical
sicn. OH this point.
Coming down to otL,r matters bearing
upon the condition OF Tie negroes in this
State. speak to the negroes, because
:hey are supposed 10 constitute the Re-
publican party in South Carolina. In
this city they have every consideration
shown them that the whites have. The
merchants treat them with just as much
courtesy, they ride in the tir>t,class hacks,
and sometimes they occupy the best seats
in The opera house. mention these
things to show that there is no discrimi'
ton against them on account of their
color, and a cnlorcd man who would
leave Columbia to 90 10 any other place
in the world, expecting to enjoy any
more political, legal or business privi-
lcgcs than he does here, would bc dest-
tutc of common sense. There is no pref
udice whatever against negro in South
Carolina because he is negro, but when
he undertakes to revive the old Radical
party in the State there is a slight OBJ
lection to him. and probably Away: will
be.-(nr. lngnstu (hyoair|e.