The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-09-01
VIEWS OF SOUTHERN MEN.
EXPRESSIONS or OPINION REG tRDiNt:
TitE hDN'iSIsTHiTI0N.
publican Pol,icInns-Di Discussing the Events Of
the Day at n Famous Resort

Oettcr 10 the New York S;ar)
WHITE SULPHUR SpRIHGs, w. VA,
August Pin antc-bcllum days the ne
gro i'll the South bore the same relation
to financial questions OF the planter as
do to-day the bonds and stocks OF the
Northern man. In those days the plant
or 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
the loan, and the collateral was rarely
sold. When peace was declared, that
system was forever dead; but the umcd-
ucatcd blacks were slow to realize the
fact, and tho memories OF those old days
fingered fresh and painful for many
years. Tho carpct-bag9cr2 who ovcrran
the South with all the dcstmlctivCncss OF
scvcn-ycar locusts, were quick to note
the negroes fears, and equally quick to
impose upon them. Malone and his illi
did not hesitate to have the coIorcd
preachers threaten the mcmbcrS OF their
l'olCStlNc SlIlIClltS NIll CNtOlnlllllllto-
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 Demo
cratic President meant Their immCdiatc|
return to bondage, the separation of
families, coniiscaton OF their property
and deprivation and destruction of all
that man, be he black or white, holds
1por i,v tbiu ,n,,ly i,,,,,,.ili.,,, Il, -.
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 kin ~ feelings between
the Southern Democrats and the negroes
and weaken the power of the Republican,
party. The Southern negro is close
and shrcwd observer. 10 quote the lam
guagc of Mr.. Nalcntinc the Virginia
sculptor, "hc 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 tho SPRINGS.
He came to the Springs in juno, 1889,
with Governor Floyd. He was slave
then, owned by Judge Nicols, oi Viz
ginia. Since that time hc has spent
every summer here, and his winters have
been passed in Washington and "niti-
more. Lewis is shrcwd, locn observer
and an unusually Intelligent negro. In
speaking of President ClcN ci;nd, he said:
"Mr. Cleveland is greatly admired by
the Southern negroes, and by his
methods las done mn to turn them
from the Republicans His appoint
mcnt of Matthews in place of Fred
Douglass and his refusal to withdraw the
nomination, although he has not been
confirmed, has especially pleased us
Then, too, hc has acted literally, and
given men Offices when they had no
right to expect them, and has not disturb
eel capable men III Office simply because
they were Republicans. The appoint
ment of Postmaster Pearson, Of New
York, is an instance. 1t is undoubtedly
true that at the time of his election many
of the colorcd people believed they
would be returned to slavery, but they
now recognize that the statement w,ts
simply Republican lie, and it has dis
gusted them. Mr.. Cleveland is almost
liked, and his comsc since
taking his seat has been such rs to win
many colOrcd voters to INN. My race
does not say very much, but We have
frequent secret meetings and discuss the |
political question, and know he is pop
ular with the colOrcd people. With the |
increase OF education we are becoming
moro independent, and the time is not
lar distant when we will vote as we think
best, independent of party. We are
waking up to the fact that the Dcmo-
Gratis arc not mortal enemies, but that it
Is rs much to their interests as ours that
we should receive cduca' ON and vote in
telhgenty. In Richmond the Democrats
pay rs much attention to our schools as
to the white schools, and equal adyan-
taSes arc being afforded our children to
obtain education.
GLOW IS General Lee regarded by the
colored people,
lie Is very popular, and if he should |
receive the Democratic nomination for
Vice President in 1888 he would greatly |
strengthen thc ticket. In fact, Clcvc- |
land and Lee would sweep the South, |
and l have no doubt that Mr.. Leo would
run well in the North and West. He is |
II thorough gentleman and finished !
scholar, and man of immense personal |
magnetism. | know the colorcd people !
would be glad to have him nominated.
In speaking Of the feeling of the Mis- |
sissippi negro toward President Clcvo-
land, State Senator J. Is. 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 is very popular |
and the administration is most heartily |
OF course there arc some few |
who believe in the doctrine that to the
victor belong the spois, but they are
mostly disappointed oilcc-seckors. The !
intelligent Democrats approve of his
policy as to Federal onlccs, and his re-
fusai to turn competent Republican
out merely because they are Re
has been the mes rs OF winning |
over many colored votes,
GLOW ~ the tariff question viewed in
Mississippi?'
"Ihc free trade feeling is rapidly
growing, and many OF our wcalthicst |
merchants favor the abolition of the
tariff for revenue only, and the substitu.
ton of direct iovotinp Tho ,.;n,,, I,l..., !