The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-02
VIEWS OF SOUTHERN MEN.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION REG iRDING
TIE ADMINISTN ALTON.
How the Negroes Have Been Dupcd by the Re
publican Politicians Discussing ihr Events of
the Day at Famous Resort.

Lettcr TO the New York Star.)
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w. VA,
August 27.-In anto-bcllum days the ne
gro in the South bore the same relation
to financial questions Of the planter as
do day the bonds and stocks Of the
Northern man. In those days the plant
er hypothccatcd 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
sold. When peace was declared, that
system was forever dead; but the uncd-
ucatcd blacks werc slow to realize the
fact, and the memories of those old days
fingered fresh and painful for many
years. The carpct-bagScrs who ovcrr0n
tho South with all the Gcstlmctircncss of
scvcn-ycar locusts, were quick to note
the negroes fears, and equally quick to
impose upon them. Nlahonc and his illi
did not hesitate to have the cOlorcd
preachers threaten the members Of their
respective churches with cXcOmmunica-
ton if they dared vote the Democratic
ticket. During the last Presidential cam
paign the negroes were told, and actual
ly believed, that the election of a Demo-
cratic President meant their immediate
return to bondage, the separation of
families, cOnfiScntiOn Of their property
| and deprivation and destruction OF Ill
that a man, be he black or white, holds
dear. BY this rank imposition on their
crCdulity the Republicans were enabled
to poll nearly the full negro vote.
President Cleveland, by his manly
course, has done much to kill sectional
ism, cngcndcr kinnly feelings between
the Southern Democrats and the negroes
and weaken the power Of the Republican
party. The Southern negro is Il close
and shrcwd observer. 70 quote the Ian
guage of Mr.. Valentine, the Virginia
sculptor, che is constantly Watching the
white man rs though to learn his
thoughts" "
Tonight the Star correspondent had
an interesting conversation with Walker
L""is, the head waiter 1T the Springs.
He came to the Springs in june, 1882,
with Governor Floyd. lie was slave
thcu, owned by judge Nicolls, Of Nir-
ginia. Since that time ne has spent
every summer here, and hi, winters have
been passed i'll Washington and Bolu-
more. Lewis is Il Shrcwd, keen observer
and an unusually intelligent negro. I'm
speaking of President Cleveland, lie said:
"Mr. Cleveland is greatly admired by
tho Southern negroes, and hy his
methods has done much to turn them
from the Republicans. His appoint
mcnt of Matthews i'll place OF Fred
Douglass md his refusal to withdraw the
nomination, although he has not been
f confirmed, has especially pleased us.
, Then, too, he has acted literally, and
given men offices when they had no
,, right to expect them, and has not disturb
cd capable men i'll Office simply because
they were Republicans The uppuiml-
mcnt Of Postmaster Pearson, Of New
York, is an instance. 1t is undoubtedly
of the colorcd people believed they
would be returned to slavery, but they
+ now recognize that the statement W,ta
! simply Republican lie, and it has dis
I gustcd them. Mr.. Cleveland is almost
/ universally liked, and his cOrn&c since
I taking his seat has been such rs to win
many cOlOrnd voters to him. My race
$ does not 81 very much, bat We have
+ frequent sec meetings and discuss the
t political question, and know he IS pop
ular with the colorcd people. With the
, increase of education we arc becoming
moro independent, and the time is not
, far distant when we will vote uS we think
? best, independent OF party. We are
waking up to the fact that the Demo-
Gratis arc not mortal enemies, bUt that it
is rs much to their interests as ours that
we should receive education and vote i'll
telligcntly. In Richmond the Democrats
pay as much attention to Our schools us
, to the white schools, and equal udvam-
tagcs are being afforded Our children to
obtain Cducat!On.
GLOW is General Lee regarded by the
cOlOred pcOplC?'
'I[c is very popular, and if he Shout"
receive the Democratic nomination for
NicePrcsidcnt in lSSS he WOuld greatly
strengthen the ticket. In fact, ClCNc-
land and Lee would sweep the South,
and | have no doubt that Mr.. Ice would
run well in the North and West. lie is
thorough gentleman and finished
scholar and Il man of immense personal
magnetism. know the colOrcd people
would be glad to have him nominated.
In speaking Of the feeling Of tine Mis-
sissippi negro toward President Clcyc-
land, State Senator j. b. Boothc, OF
jackson, said to the Star correspondent;
cit is undoubtedly true that III my State
President Cleveland will receive many
negro votes if rcnominatcd without any
persuasion thereto. He i" very popular
and the administration is most heartily
endorsed OF course there are some few
who believe in the doctrine that to the
victor belong the spoilS, but they are
mostly disappointed OllicC-ScCkCrS. Ihc
intelligent Democrats approve OF his
policy as to Federal Offices, and ms re-
fusnl to turn competent RcpubIlcan
officials out merely because they arc Re
publican8 has been the mes rs Of winning
over many cOlorcd votes.
"How IS the tariff question viewed i'll
Alississibpi?"
'"Thc free trade feeling is rapidly
growing and many Of our wcalthicat
merchants favor the abolition Of the
tariff for revenue only, and the aubstitu-
ton Of direct taxation. The view taken
is best expressed in the language Of II
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