The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-08-13


the dem ocrats, in many cor mites
IN the election, is due to the fact
that large numbers of colorCd
voters, who were disguised with
Republican boss rule, went to the
polls and, for the first time, voted
the straight democratic ticket. This
was notably so in Shelby County
where there is a very heavy negro
vote. The Memphis Waterman,
which is edited by three intelligent
colored men, and is the organ of the
colored race in Tenness ee, comments
ing upon the election of last Thurs
day says:
"The election held last Thursday
was one of great importance and a
little interest was shown ON the part
of the colored people, and especial
ly the white Republicans as far as
the Republican ticket was concerned
and the result was an overwhelming
majority for the Democrats. This
election was an unprecedented one,
as the colored men walked and rode
In hack loads to the polls, voted
and worked like beavers for the
success of the Democratic ticket
with an alarming vim. The action
on the part of the colored men can
easily be accounted for. The white
Republicans have no good reason to
present for the lukewarmness at the
polls. The colored men are not go
ing to be handicapped by "bOsses''
and political leaders. The Watch
man, although it made a strong fight
for the Republican ticket up to the
election, has meyer failed to show to
the colored man at dryers time that
he must vote for the best men for his
own best interest regardless of par
tY. The election was a very quiet
one, and everything passed off with
out injury to bodily person. The
Democrats are jubilant and over
rejOiced over their victory. The
Democrats were we'll organized and
prepared for work, while the Re
publicans We're divided, unconcerned
and luke warm. Such a thing will
ever exist as long as the bosses and
old woTnOut leaders stand at the
head of the ranks and give com
mands, at the time they are needed
they fall to the rear and leave the
bag for the negro to hold. Somebody
will learn something after awhile.
1t will be observed ths no charge
oil fraud, or intimidation is brought
against the Democrats of Shelby
but the reason why the celored voters
went with their white friends, ar e
truthfully given.
There is, and can be no conAict
in interest between the races in this
country. Whatever is for the IN
terest ofthe great body of the white
people, is likewise, for the interest
of the great body ofthe colored peo-
pie. So, whatever is detrimental
TO the interests of the one. is injurious
t. the interests of the other. We
live here together, are all governed
by the same laws, and the interests
OF both races are so intimate, that
what ever hurts, enc must hurt the
other. The democrats can carry
Tennessee without the aid Of the
cUlolel voters, and the fact that the
colored voters are breaking down
the color line in politics, is pleasing
to the democrats because it is al
evidence that the prejudice which
the carpet-bag Republicans engen
dered in the minds of the coloreC
people, towards their Democrat,
friends, is dying out. Whenever
there prejudices are entirely obliterat
ed, the large bulk of the negroes
will vote with the white people O.
| South, and one of the most prolifi,
sources of discord will have beer
removed. Many Republicans clam
that whenever the negroes begin t,
go over TO the democrats, and thu
Republican party Of the South cease
to be the NEGRO party" that theil
places in the Republican ranks will
be filled with white men who ar,
democrats simply because the negrce
are Republicans. That a few white
men are kept in the Democratic
ranks on that account, we are will
ing to admit, but they constitute {
very small portion of the demccra-
tic vote Whenever the me-
gro abandOns the Republican party
its doom is sealed, as the coloreC
republicans hold the balance of pow,
er in every Republican state in the
| North,