Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-26
The Negroes Rights not to be Disturbed.
Cleveland and Hendricks.

The Negroes Rights not to be Disturbed.
Cleveland and Hendricks.
Owing to the wicked falsehoods told to
the negroes by the Republicans, that they
might be massed in solid column against
the Democratic party, and vote to keep
Republican ofice-holders in office, the ne
groes have been impressed with the notion
that, if the Democrats got into power,
their rights would be violated. They were
told different things, as they were more or
less intelligent, or more or less gullible.
The more ignorant were told that, as the
negroes expressed it, they would be "put
back into slavery" Some were told that
they would be deprived of the right to
vote; and some that they would be required
to pay a capitation tax of S., as apre-requi-
site to the right to vote; and some that the
public schools would, as they expressed It,
s'be brokenup." These were wicked false
hoods, and calculated to do great harm to
the negroes and whites both, as they tend
ed to create distrust and hostility between
the races whose interests are indissolubly
bound together, and who should maintain
towards each other the most amicable re-
lations. The negroes have been taught to
consider as enemies those who are really
their best friends, as they will soon have
an opportunity to learn. The change of
administration wi not affect the legal
rights and privileges Of the negroes in any
respect; but it will be of great benefit to
them, as it will enable them to learn that
the Democrats are their best friends, and,
if they are wise, they will, in the future,
| recognize them as such, and will not suffer
themselves to be imposed upon, as they
have been in the past, by selfish and I'M
scrupulous demagogues who have made
cat's-paws of them to subserye their own
selfish purposes, not caringa baubee for
them farther than to secure their votes
for the party that would keep them in Of
| flee. The attention of Cleveland and Hen
bricks having been called to the fact that
| the negroes feared their rights would be
restricted under Democratic administra-
tion, both have given the negroes the most
positive assurances that such would not be
the case. This should quiet their unbound
ed fears. base upon the false statements
of Republican demagogu and rascals.
: In his speech at Brooklyn, N. Y, on
Thursday last, Vice-P resident-elect Thos.
A. Hendricks referred to this matter, and
said that it was a great wrong to infuse
into the minds of the colored people the idea
that the success of the Democratic party
meant the destruction of their rights and
privileges.
On the same day, an Associate Press re-
porter had an interview upon that subject
! with President-elect Cleveland which we
give as reported as follows
ALBANY, N. Y, November 20.-Gov-
ernor Cleveland was asked by an Associated
Press reporter to-day if he vas aware OF
the delusion existing among the colored
people of the South that a change in Adj
ministration would unfavorably affect their
condition, to which he replied:
"Yes, I have been astonished at the
statement that there was an apprehension
existing among the colored people that in
some way their rights now ST cured to them
under the laws and Constitution Of the
| United States were in danger from the
election of Democratic President. | am
even told that some Of them are led to sup
pose that the result of the recent elections
means that they may again be made slaves.
| All of this has appeared to me to be so ab-
surd, and | have been SO sure that the
slightest intelligent reflection would dis
lodge such foolish fears that l can hardly
deem any notice Of them necessary. But
there is not the slightest objection to call
| ing the attention of all who are in the least
uneasy or uncertain upon this subject to
the fact that the title of the coiored people
to freedom and all the rights OF citizenship
cannot be disturbed except by change in
the Constitution which it would be aDso-
lutely impossible to make. Besides, the
present condition of status Of these people
has been SO fully accepted by the entire
country, that no one should have the slight
est idea that any attempt will be made to
change it if there was any possibility OF
accomplishing such thing. So far as the
new administration is related to this SUBJ
| iect the whole country can be sure the law
| full power and Jurisdiction of the Executive
will be so exercised that the rights of all
citizens, white or black, under the consti-
tuition and laws will be preserved and pro-
tected, and all the advantages to which they
are entitled BY reason of their citizenship
will be secured to them There need be no
| fear that either the Democratic party or its
newly-e lected administrative propose to
oppose or ensiave any part OF our popula-
| ton, nor to destroy the business interests
of the country. We hope, on the other
| hand, to do something to benefit the people.
| 1t seems to me that our efforts in that dl-
rection would be aided if mischievous croak-
| ings and dark imaginDgs should give place
| to an earnest endeavOr to inspire confidence
and to make universal cheerful hope for
| the future.
| In response to request OF some colored
| men of this city asking for his views, Hon.
A. II. H. Stuart has written an able letter,
which was published in the last Vindicator,
showing how wicked and absurd are the
| falsehoods which have been poured into
the credulous ears of the colored people,
and showing them clearly that they will
not be injured, but that they, in common
with the whole people, will be ienefitted
by the change of administration. That
they have been deceived heretofore was
the fault of the Republicans; but if they
allow themselves to be similarly deceived
again. it will be their own fault.
In speaking of those who told the ne
groes that they would be re-enslaved, in
the event of the election of Cleveland and
Hendricks, the Shenandoah Valley thus
alphabetically expresses itse f.
THE low, contemplate parties who
slsulked around to delude the colored peo-
pie in that way, knowing at the same time
that there was no truth in such statements,
0uoht to be ashamed to face colored man,
and the colored people ought never. to put
any confidence in any one, in the future,
who attempted to deceive and mislead
them. by makinga false impression, ruin
Gus to them and the best interests # the
country. Such Conduct is outrageous,
mean, low, and contemplate. Such par
ties would stir up instruction, riot and
bloodshed. Selfishness, falsehood, and |
mischief are their political stock. They
h.va No resnect for God nor man, and no |