Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1885-04-24
The COlOred Citizen Under Democra :
tic Rule

IL is Salu tna' tue coioreu populatlOn OF
the South begin to show signs of evident
confidence in the security of their rights
under Democratic rue. The delegations
of that race which have thus far visited
the capita, have returned much pleased
with the kindly greetings and friendly
assurance they have received from the
President. While not attempting to de-
ceive or flatter them wi, h any false pre-
tense that the government will be run es-
pecially in their interest, or that they are
to be regarded as he particularly favored
wards of the Republic. the President has
which were falsely conferred upon them
by previous administration, will be hon
es'ly secured to them b.. this, and that
they will be left to work out their own
destinies and seek happiness in their own
way, with the full and equal protection of
the laws.
1t is understood that it will be the pol
icy of the administration to appoint col,
ored men in the South to such Federal Of
ices as they may be deemed competent to
d |, and that in most cases where govern
ment positions are now held by Repubh-
can negroes, the same places will be filled
with colored Democrats. This policy is
understood to be based upon the recon-
mendation of leading Southern D, mocrats
and it is not improbable that in the near
future there will be more black men in
government employment than at any time
under Republican rule. Southern Dsmo-
Gratis will hus be enabled to give a prac-
tical refutsrion to the false assertions Of
Repub ican demagogues as to the hostil-
ity OF the Democracy to the negro, and to
reward some of the colored ci izsns who
have proved faithful and deserving.
This benevolent policy will undousted-
ly have most salutary effect upon the
colored population of the South. The
negro has already learned 10y stern exper-
fence that he must work for his living and
hat he cannot depend upon the govern
ment and its agents to extend him pater-
nal aid to support him in a state of indo-
lence and idleness All such visions that
were put in o their ignorant minds by de-
signing rascas including the forty acres
and the mule, have long since been. ore
after another, dispelled The black m n
has learned thai he is no better han other
men and that he must take his natural
pace in the race Of life and contend with
learned that if he is protected in his life
and liberty and in the legitimate fruits of
his own honest industry. it is all he can
expect from the government, whether it
be in Republican or Dem ocratic hands.
But one of the ialse pre- enses that the
designing white sca'awags instiled into
their credulous minds made deep and
universal impression, which ii has requir
ed great deal to remov, and that is the
idea that the very essence of Democracy
ia hostility to the black msn and his
rights. Now that for the first time they
have had an opportunity to see what
treatment they are to have from the Dem
ocratie party, they are surprised to see
what sma! place they occupy in Demo-
cratic thought and Democratic policy and
how justly and benevo'ently they are
treated.
1t is probable hat in he near future
the black man will be entire'y eliminated
as political factor from the problems
which distract the country. s. soon as
he begins to study his own material in
.crests, he will realize how inseparably his
interests are connected with those of the
white people among whom he lives, and
how wrong it is for his race to band to-
gether in a political or other alliance a.
gainst them.
These lessons are ready being fully
learned, it is said, in The more Southerly
states The question is how iong il will
take the colored people of Maryland to
learn the same salutary lesson. We be-
lieve that their minds are now ripe TOR
such instruction and no pains should be
spared to reclaim them from the false de
lusion by which they have b en- deceived.
If those who conduct the political affairs
of this county are ju iicious and are sus-
tained by united pu5'ic sentimen', we
do not believe that the so called Repub
llcan leaders can again bring the colorod
vo ing popul.tion s,lid y up to the polls
10 oppose the whie people Now is an
opp0rtuae time to break the bad local
domination doyn and no effort should be
spared to do it successfully. l. is under
stood that active and united efforts TO
hat end will he made in the nei shboring
counties and Charles should be 40 :gg ,rd
in the work