The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-01
VIEWS OF SOUTHERN MEN.
OF OPINION EiEGtEDl2G
TIE ADMINISTRATION.
How the Negroes izayc Been Daped by the nc
publican Poiitcians-D!scnssns me events "'
the Day Mt Famous Hescr;.
(Lester 20 the New York Starr


August Pin ante-bcllrrm days the ne
gro in the South bore the same relation
to financial questions Of the planter as
do to-day the bonds and stocks OF the
Northern man. II those days the plant
or hypothecated his slaves with the
banker or cotton factor, as the case
might be, for ready money advanced. 1t
is true that the crop returns usually paid
the loan, and the collateral was rarely
sold. Wien peace was declared, that
system was forever dead; but the uned-
ucated blacks were slow to realize the
fact, and the memories Of those old days
fingered fresh and painful for many
years. The carpet-baggers who ovcrran
the South with all the destructiyeness OF
seven-year locusts, were quick to note
the negroes fears, and equally quick to
impose upon them. Malone and his illl
did not hesitate to have the colored
preachers threaten the members OF their
respective churches with excommunlca-
ton if they dared vote the Democratic
ticket. During the last Presidential cam
paign the negroes were told, and actual
" believed, that the election Of a Demo
cratic President meant their immediate
return to bondage, the separation OF
families, confscation of their property
and deprivation and destruction Of all
that man, be he black or white, holds
dear. By this rank imposition on their
creduity the Republicans were enabled
to poll nearly the full negro vote.
President Cleveland, by his manly
course, has done much to Kill sectional
ism, engender kin1ly feelings between
the Southern Democrats and the negroes
and weaken the power Of the Republican
party. The Southern negro is q close
and shrewd observer. To quote the Ian
guage of Mr.. Valentine, the Virginia
SCULPTOR, che is constantly watching the
white man as though to learn his
thoughts"
Tonight the Star correspondent had
an interesting conversation with Walker
Lewis, the head waiter at the Springs.
He came to the Springs in June, 1899,
with Governor Floyd. He was a slave
then, owned by Judge Nicolls, OF Eir-
ginia. Since that time he has spent
every summer here, and his winters have
been passed in Washington and Balti-
more. Lewis is shrewd, keen observer
and an unusually intelligent negro. In
speaking OF President Cleveland, he said:
''AIr. Cleveland is greatly admired by
the Southern negroes, and by his
methods has done much to turn them
from the Republicans. His appoint
ment of Matthews in place Of Fred
Douglass and his refusal to withdraw the
nomination, although he has not been
confirmed, has especially pleased rs.
Then, too, be has acted iberally, and
given men offices when they had no
right to expect them, and has not disturb
ed capable men in Office simply because
they were Republicans. The appoint
ment of Postmaster Pearson, OF New
York, is an instance. It is undoubtedly
true that at the time Of his election many
OF the colored people believed they
would be returned to slavery, but they
now recognize that the statement was
simply Republican lie, and it has dis
gusted them. Nh. Cleveland is almost
universally liked, and his cou1se since
taking his seat has been such as to win
many colored voters to him. My race
does not say very much, but We have
frequent secret meetings and discuss the
political question, and | know he is pop
rllar with the colored people. With the
increase Of education we are becoming
more independent, and the time Is not
far distant when We VIII vote as we think
best, independent OF party. We are
waking up to the fact that the Demo
Gratis are not mortal enemies, but that it
is as much to their interests as ours that
we should receive education and vote In
teligently. In Richmond the Democrats
pay as much attention to our schools as
to the white schools, and equal adran-
tases are being afforded our children to
obtain education.
:'How is General Lee regarded by the
colored people,"
"He is very popular, and if he should
receive the Democratic nomination for
Vice President in 1888 he would greatly
strengthen the ticket. In TACT, Cleve-
land and Lee would sweep the South,
and I have NO doubt that Mr.. Lee wou!d
run well in the North and West. lie IS
q thorough gentleman and finished
scholar, and man of immense personal
| know the colored people
would be glad to have him nominated.
In speaking Of the feeling OF the Mis-
sissippi negro toward President Cleve-
land, State Senator J. B. Boothe, OF
Jackson, said to the Star correspondent:
'sIt is undoubtedly true that III my State
President Cleveland viii receive many
negro votes if renominated without any
persuasion thereto. He IS very popular
and the administration IS most heartily
endorsed. OF course there are some fe"
who believe in the doctrine that to the
victor belong the spoils, but they are
mostly disappointed otficc-seckcfs. Inc
Democrats approve OF his
policy as to Federal Offices, and hls re-
fusal to turn competent kepupEcan
officials out merely because they are he
publicans has been the mes rs OF winning
over many colored votes.
GLOW is the tariff question viewed Il
Nississippi?"
1.-The free trade feeling is rapidly
growing, and many OF our wealthiest
merchants favor the abolition OF tie
tariff for revenue only, and the substit;G
ton of direct taxation The view take:
is best expressed in lac language Q! ."
gentleman with whom [ was conTcrsljszyE
]. short time AGO. lie said he h:N