Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-27

|
periority shall be to the Southern white
man in the government of the Union. If
that be quietly conceded in this generation
it will harden into custom until the badge
of inferiority will attach to the Northern
white man as OdiOusly as ever Norman
noble stamped it upon a Saxon churl. This
subject is of deep interest to the labOring
men of the North. With the Southern De-
mocracy triumphant in their State and in
the Nation, the negro will be compelled to
work for just such wages as the whites may
decree, wages which will amount, las did the
supplies to the slaves, to bare subsistence,
equal in cash, perhaps, to 35 cents per day,
if averaged over the entire South. The
white laborer in the North will soon feel
the destructive effect of this upon his own
wages.
Republicans have clearly seen from the
earliest days of reconstruction chat wages
| in the South must be raised to the just rec
Ompense of the labOrer, or the wages in the
North ruinOusly lowered, and the party
have steadily worked for the former re-
suit. Reverse influences will now be set in
motion and that condition of affairs pro-
duced, Of which years ago Mr.. Lincoln
warned the free laboring men of the North,
will prove hostile to their independence,
and will inevitably lead to a ruinOus reduc-
tion of wages. The mere difference in color
of skin will not suffice to maintain an en-
tirely different standard of wages in con-
tiguous and adjacent States, and vOunta-
ry will be compelled to yield to the invol-
untary. So completely have colored men
in the South been already deprived by the
Democratic party Of their constitutional
and legal rights as citizens Of the United
States that they regard the advent of that
party to National power as signal of their
reinstatement and are affrighted because
they think all legal protection for them is
gone. Few persons in the North realize
how completely the chiefs of rebellion WELD
the political power which has triumphed in
the late election. 1t is portentous fact
| from the States of the late COnfederacy, all,
and 1 mean all without single exception,
personally participated in the rebellion
against the National Government. 1t is a
significant fact that in those States, no man
| who was loyal to the Union, no matter how
strong a Democrat he may be to-day, has
the slightest chance of political promotion.
| The one great ar.nue to honor in that Sec
| tion is the record of jealous service in the
war against the Government. 1t is certain
ly an astounding fact that the section in
which friendship for the Union on the day
of trial and agony is still disqualification,
and should now be called to rule over the
Union. All this takes place during the
| life of the generation that fought the war,
and elevates into practical command OF the
American government the identical men
who organized for its destruction and plung-
ed us in the bloodiest contest Of modern
times. I have spoken Of the South as
placed by the late election in the place OF
| the Government, and l mean all that my
words imply. The South furnished nearly
three quarters Of the electoral votes that
defeated the Republican party, and they
will step to the command of the Democrats
as unchallenged and unrestrained as they
held the same position for thirty years be-
fore the civil war. Gentlemen, there cam
not be political inequality, among the citi-
zens of a free Republic; there cannot be a
minority of white men in the South ruling
majority of white men in the North.
Patriotism, self respect, pride, protection
for person and safety for country, all cry
out against it. The very thought of it stirs
| thdHblood of men who inherit equality from
the Pilgrims who first stood on Plymouth
Rock, and from the liberty loving patriot
who came to Delaware with William Penn.
1t becomes the primal question of Ameri-
can manhood. 1t demands hearing and
settlement, and that settlement will vindl-
cate the equality of American citizens in all
personal ana CIVIL rlSntS. IL Will aI least
establish the equality of white men under
the National Government, and will give to
the Northern man, who fought to preserve
the Union, as large voice in its govern
ment as may be exercised by the Southern
man, who fought to destroy the Union. The
contest just closed utterly dwarfs the fort
unes and fate of candidates, whether sue
cessful or unsuccessful. Purposely, | may
say instinctively, have discussed the issue
and the consequences OF the contest with
out reference to my own defeat, without
the remotest reference to the gentleman
| who is elevated to the Presidency. Towards
him personally | have no cause for the
Slightest ill will, and it is with cordiality
| that express the wish that his official ca
reer may prove beneficial to the country,
and that his administration may overcome
the embarrassment which the peculiar
source of his power imposes upon him from
the hour of its birth.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Blaine's speech
he invited the large crowd into his house,
and for nearly an hour an informal recep-
tion was held, as hundreds after hundreds
passed through the rooms. The greetings
were especially friendly and cordial.