The national leader., 1888-12-22
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
EMPIRE WOMANs REPUBLICAN CLUB
A DEMOCRATIC CONFESSION
THE YICKSBURG HERALD,
ETC. ETC.

A DEMOCRATIC CONFESSION
THE vICKsBURG HERALD,
ETC, ETC.
Special Correspondence Of the NATIONAL LEADER.
The Empire Woman's Republican
Club, met one evening last week to dis
cuss the advisability of perpetuating
the organization for the purpose of
studying civil government, and the
political questions of the day. Their
president Mrs. J. E. Garner, in her
argument for perpetuation, urged the
members to look back and consider
how little they knew of such questions
as the tariff, before the recent cam
palgn. Generally speaking too little
interest is exhibited by our women,
hence the men should not be to severe
ly blamed for lack of interest. How
many Of US know anything, literally
speaking OF the civil Government of
our own city. We rarely trouble our
selves about the questions as issued in
the political world. This / believe to
be unwlse, believe this to be sufficient
cause for the perpetuation of our club"
The majority of the members favored
and endorsed her views, committee
was chosen to devise form of study,
embracing civil Government, current
issues, and biography. Thus far the
| club has made most excellent show
ing. The ladies are determined upon
actual study. That being a fact, there
is no doubt but that they will be
''power" in the future.
An editorial denouncing election
frauds, and discussing the proposed dis
franchisement of the negro, contained
in the Columbia Register" the most
prominent Democratic paper in South
Carolina, has aroused the most general
interest and unlimited discussion. Some
are disposed to accept the apparent
spirit Of the article as given in spirit
of friendlineSS, others miStrust the edt-
tors sincerity, and think him Shrewd
man, seeing in his bold words. a bridge,
so to speak, over which he may travel
in support of the party of power, Others
in reading the following words, are
differently impressed.
1--WE have carried this sort of thing,
as far as it can possibly 60, and the re-
suit is, that we are fast getting to be a
set of rascals, if we have not got there
already. The "Regtster" means every
word it says, and what it wants is
plain recognition of the facts OF the
case and an honest desire to meet them
In a way which will have done with
the sharpers tricks and political swind-
lings which are running the men Of our
own race, and lowering every standard
of proper manhood. We are convinced
some wholesome understanding can be
reached with the more respectable in
fluences of colored people, by which, the
colored people consenting, we can
put ourselves beyond the corrupting in
fuences of political chicanery, and by
acting fairly and squarely with our
colored neighbOrs, We can pour oil on
the water, settle our political troubles
for ourselves, without the interference
of outside legislation, which will put us
all by the ears to the downfall of our
social order and the prostration Of our
business interests"
Some OF our people think that this Is
sentiment, and very shrewd kind or
sentiment, they attribute it, either to
the fear that "outside legislation" Will
force an investigation, and this is the
most effectual method of closing the
negro's mouth, who would otherwise
give startling evidence against the ''set
Of rascals." The mild, mere itul tend
ency of the negro disposition is mat
ter of fact, known to the most indiffer-
ent.
Still another idea advanced is that
'sthe register" in acknowledging the in
famous nature of the Southern out
RACES, has given vent to the above, as
a diplomatic tactic, to guard against
certain exposures in that State. The
Register can appear convicted, so as to
receive gentle handling from Repub-
licans generally, who in the spirit of
the scriptures, may rejoice more over
one sinner converted, than ninty.nine
that needed no conversion. The South
Carolinian Democratic organs could
not face one iota of the charges that
could be made by Northern Republican
papers, such as The Register, know it,
therefore they realize, that now that the
die is cast, they must surrender all to
gain little.
A short while before the remorseful
editor of The Columbia Register, made
his confession, the VicEsburg Herald,
III dill tulCOl ldl odlu VI GuO ACSIOs duO
the G.. o. P. The negroes listened to
the Republicans and saved them New
York and Indiana, and thus decided
the Presidential election in their favor,
and possibly gave them the legislative
branch of the government also. 1t is a
fact that the negroes held the balance
of power, and turned what would have
been crushing defeat of the Republi-
cans into a victory. Without their aid
Benjamin Harrison would never have
entered the White House as President,
and it is very probable the Republican
party would have remained out of power
for years, or been destroyed. The
negroes listened to the Republican
promises and did all that for the Re-
publican party. Every Republican who
will hold Federal Office after the 4th
of March next, will owe it to the negro
**** In the South the negroes in
many instances voted against their
material interests. to get to vote the Re-
publican ticket. Benjamin Harrison as
plainly owes his election to the trusty
negroes, as Cleveland owes his defeat
to the treacherous New York City