The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-06
Twelve Pages.
TIE NEGRO ~ POLITICS.

Inc negro has been factor in Ansri-
can politics since the establishment Of OR
national government. In the formation
Of or wonderful constitution the states
msu, Who faced the issue o: = possible
great American nationality >, the close Of
the var Of Independence, and as thirteen
sta,ss stood forih each b. i;sslf, aud hay.
ing 80 some extent conflicting interests
sad ambitions, found 10 problem Of such
in;ricssy sai none nose d!H:1li 20
sdi1s, TO the SIshss and demands
Of the different states than :hs. slave
question. compronise vas effected snd
compromise vas the only possible
thing. A date was fred beyond which
slaves should no. be imported into
America. At that time it was hoped with
tbs discrimination would res. slave sgi-
tstion. b: a. the nation grew big with
s,ates-zs the people spread on: over the
fsir face ot This g!oriously rich and
productive country, and having banded
togstHs; in sufficient numbers knocked
az the door Of congress TO; admission to
;as uaiOn, then the onino1s question Of
free sad slave state was tossed about
from the most northern 20 the most
southern, from the Atlantic 20 the
Mississippi states. The whole nation
vas stirred to its foundation. For
nifty years the question, with varying hopes
and fsars, with wonderful ability, with
cOusuDmate skill and changing results,
Ess agitsted. Presidents we're created By
it, demands, administrations changed,
and even great party lines were altered,
until finally a nation was split in twain
and south faced north in deadly conflict.
Great fundamental principles underlay
the war, but the slave question was the
occasion tina. for half century had given
them voice, whose cry at las. was war.
Since the var the race question has
been moved to other grounds. The days
Of reconstruction created bitterness in the
so1th, and the north has, for political rsg-
sons, misiudged the sou.h. Happily,sus
cion ard distrust have nov wholly disap-
pesred, and both sections, az q united
whole, interchange mutual greetings and
opinions. Only By certain class are
Sa' memories of hate kept alive and
the bloody shirt waved. Negro
labor has been the salvation Of the
south. Broken in fortune, the people of
she south found only ruin and desolation
OF home when the terrible war was over.
rpet-baggers sought 20 use this condi-
ton to their advantage, but the negroes,
accustomed by the history OF their
race TO class of work then
at hand to be done, returned
to the fields and as paid labor created
anew wealth and prosperity for the south.
Ths planter and his hands had a common
cause. Each was dependent on the other,
and the negro slave became the respected
aud valuable free laborer. The spirit of this
same interest still maintains and is grow
Ing between these two classes, and the two
races, as they meet in the general field
Of iabor-laan's sphere of work. The
negro enjoys the same rights and priv
ileges in the south as in the north, and
is entitled TO the same pro-
lection of the laws. He is a
valuable citizen, even as all faithful and
intelligent workers are valuable men and
women. The day of race discussion
among US, and SO far as national issues
are concerned, especially as effects the
the negro race, is forever in the past; and
could northern partisans who do not affect
US, yet clamor themselves hoarse in their
section, but know the true state of affairs
in the south, they would cease their foolish
mouthings. The colored race is appre-
ciated in the south, the petty feuds that
at times arise being not whit more sig
niicant or particle worse or less to be
expected than the Kentucky outrages
among white factions in that state, and
the unbridled license of northern White
Caps. The question is settled; it should
be left untroubled.