Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-20
THE ELECTION AND EQUAL RIGHTS.
I From Uarpcr's Weekly, I

From Harper's Weekly
The situation in the southern states
| arising from the emancipation and en-
franchisement of the colored race is one
that presents difficult problem. But
undoubtedly it has long been the gem
eral conviction that little more can be
done by means of law, and that the
htrmonizing and healing influence of
time, with the steady pressure of sound
sentiment and Ofthe obvious interest of
both races, would gradually coupete
the good work which, at least. i be-
gun. 1t was this feeling which led to
the withrawal of the troops Dy re-
publican administration-an act which
was denounced by many republicans as
a surrender of helpless freedmen TO the
fury of angry ex-slave holders. But
nobody now would seriously doubt the
wisdom of the course that was pursued
i'll 1877, nor would any intelligent man
| gravely allege that the cOloreu people
Ill the southern states are in greater
danger of ill treatment because Of the
election of Mr.. Cleveland. The tes;i-
mony upon this point is very general
and significant. From Wisco. sin q
correspondent writes: 81 am young
democrat OF the most pronounced abol-
ition antecedents, and l glory i'll the
| fact that our national victory is due SO
much to the sentiment-that he who
serves his country most serves his par
ty BEST" A New Yorker writes: :. If
any such dire results follow q demo-
cratic administration as are predicted
by Mr.. Blaine, especially as to the ne-
groes, thousands Of Simon Pure DEM
ocrats like myself will hereafter vote
fI,n .ol,
chairman of the republican executive
committee of Georgia alleges that he
aud the most prominent coloved repub.
licans in the southern states made every
effort for Mr.. Blaine. Blu: he denies
any apprehension among the colored
people, and SAYS that there is no reason
that the colored vote should be soidly
republican. II the new administration
be half as conservative as he anrici-
pates. he says that it will divide Inc
colored vote. The Gazette OF Cairo,
lllinois,an organ of the colored people,
says very plainly and truly that nothing
can disturb the equal citizenship of tie
colOred Americans, and that they "are
not victimiZed by the office seeker who,
under the guise of reuublicani-m,
would make us believe that the wolves
are in our secret chambers and about 10
devOnr our vitals."
From Michigan republican says:"I
am republican, and love for that nar-
ty and dislike OF the democratic p.,rty
were so strong that could not bring
myself to break with the former and
support the candidate of the latter, al
though 1disapprOved of the nomination
of Mr.. Blame. find myself now,
however, not only acquiescing in Mr.
Cleveland's election, but Tor several
days past, as the official count progress
ed, actually hoping that it would not
change the appal ent result. begin to
realize that success under Mr.. Blame
would have been more damaging to the
fair name and to the future of the re-
publican party than failure" A voice
from Virginia says: "Now that the
people OF Virginia are rid of Malone
and his followers, we hope to bring
about the kindest feeling between the
two races" In Louisiana, Surveyor
Pinchback and other colored leaders
who voted for MIR. Blaine deny ubso.
lutely that there is any general appre-
hension among the colored citizens Of
the state, and anticipate a dissappear-
ance of the colOred political line. This
is not ali unreasonable expectation,
The southern democrats have regard.
ed republican ascendency as a standing
menace to the southern whites. This
was mistaken view, but it served to
hold them firmly united upon what
they regarded as the chief issue, and
against the colored voters who repre-.
sented republican supremacy. The
change will show the colored citizens
that president of another party is per-
fectly friendly to them, and it will
lead to the distribution of both the
white and colored vote according to
local and general interest i'll the prefer
ence.
i,ne daily papers hov" pninted, ont
some misapprehensions In regard to
the vote in the southern states In only
three states are the colOred people
majority .and in one Of them, Louisiana,
they are only small majority. In
that state the colored vote is divided,
and even ii the other two states, Mis-.
sissipi and South Carolina, had given
their electoral vote to Mr.. Blaine, he
would not have been elected. In other
ed that it could not have changed the
result. If in certain communities in
the southern states the colored vote is
suppressed by intimidation, it
is not to that intimida.i.n, which
would not affect the generai majority,
that MIR. Cleveland owes his election.
And if tho national government can in.
tervene to protect the voter be,o d
the existing laws, there is 10 reason to
fear that Mr.. Cleveland will not pro-
tect him. Congress certainly has power
to defend itself, and if it can be shown
that any member owes his seat either
to corruption in the northern states or
to actual violence or intimidation in the
southern states, he could be unseated.
10 any general attempt 10 arouse the
alarm of the colored people in the
southern states, Mr. CIeveltId's words
are the emphatic and conclusive reply.
they are the wOrtt>, moreover. Of
man who never talks iur ctf.ct aud
whom everybody believes: The
whole country can be sure that the law
.ul power and Jurisdiction of the ex c.
ltive will be 80 exercised that the
tights of all citizens, white or black,
lnder the constitution and the law,
will be preserved and protected, and
Ill the advantages to which they are
by reason OF their citizenship
will be secured to them. 1t seems to
ne that our efforts wou d be aided if
croakings and dark ilnnyir.
ngs should give place to an earnest e..
,cavOr 10 inspire confidence. and ~
make universal cheerful hope for the
uture."