The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-04-09
n POLITICAL BUGABOO.,
One of the Republican Fictions Dissipate,
by CIeyeIand's inaugural.

One of the Republican Fictions Dissipated
by Cleveland's Inaugural.
Not the least of the unscrupulous
methods adopted by the Republican
party to hold on to power was the at
tempt to scare the negroes of the South
by predicting the most horrible misfor-
tunes for them should the Democrats
ever gain possession of The Administra-
ton. Astounding lies were promul-
gated among those people that they
would be subjected to a condition of
slavery or at least deprived of all rights
of citizenship. Republican newspapers
came out with the most audacious state
ments of the hostility of the Democrats
against the colored people and Repub-
lican orators warned them of the fate
they might expect should they falter in
their allegiance to them. For a time
those methods had the desired effect
and the Democratic bugaboo kept the
colored citizens of the South loyal to the
party in power in Washington. But
after their sad experience of carpet-bag
governments and the collapse of the
Freedmen's Bank they began to think
over the matter more seriously and to
realize that their interests were identi,
fled with those of their former masters,
and that as free citizens they should aid
the white PEOPLE of the South to estab-
lish u sound Government and to de-
velop the illimitable resources of their
section by industry and harmonious
acton. They did so and the result has
fully justified tie wisdom of their
course. They enjoy not only the bless
ings of freedom, but the rewards of
well directed labor and their relations
with their former masters are of the
mot friendly and profitable kind.
When the Democratic Administration
came into power at Washington there
was cartain feeling of fear among the
negroes, fostered by the mendacious
prociamat ons of Mes.rs. Blaine, Evarts
& Co. They were led to believe that
some of the first measures of the party
in power would BE- directed against
them and they awaited the Inauguration
with some anxiety All their fears van
ished at the ringing words of President
Cleveland
In the administration of a Government
pledged to do equal and exact justice to all
men there th should oe no p Rretest b td ror ANXIETY
| their rights, or their security in theenjoyment
| of their privileges under the Constitution and
| its amendments. All discussion as to their
| fitness for the place accorded to them as
| American citizens is idle and Improbable, ex-
cept as it suggests the necess ty for Their i'm
provement The fact that they are citizens en-
titles th EN- to all the rights due to that rela-
| tion, and charges them with all its duties, OBJ.
| legations and responsibilities.
Now, their leader, Frederick Doug
| lass. assures them that those words of
| the President removes any cause for fear
that they may have felt, and leave moth
| ing for the colored people to criticise.
The citizen will be guarded in al his
rights, and the constitutional amend
ments are irr evocable. Thus a bugaboo
has been laid to rest and the bloody
shirt consigned to the rag-bag. Not all
/ the eloquence of Blaine. Evarts or Sher-
man can alter the opinion of the col
ored people of the South, that their in-
! terests are perfectly safe in the hands
/ of 'Massa Cleveland" There is moth
ing like truth in the long run. Before
its bright light all the elaborate struct-
ure of Republican lies and misrepre-
! sentatao on is vanishing as an ice palace
in the rays of the sun. The union of
the white and colore1 people will be
made closer and more enduring through
the influence of the Democratic Admin
istration.--M. y World