Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-28
Deinition Of ehe Term scaIawsg-An
Appeal to the Democrats.

To the Editor OF the Dispatch
| saw IN northern newspaper few days
ago the question propounded. "What IL q
scalawsg? :" II you will allow me to do so
through the Dispatch ! will state briefly the
midest definition Of the term that l have
heard given il in the southern states.
A scalawse is a Southern.born man with q
white skin bat a black heart; a southern
born white man who arrays himself against
bis own people and bis own section and sup
ports and sustains by his vote aud influence
the northern malispanis in their wholesale
abuse and defamation and 10 their efforts to
put the southern States uuder the de-
spoiic rule Of northern PuritsnIsm and
ianalicism: southern-born white man
who 70 all appearances at least is snxious to
wrest from has own race the control OF
his own slate government and place It IN
the hands OF grossly ignorant and inferior
race. Whs the negro himself shows far
more fidelity TO his own race ana color than
the scalswag does to his, for the negro "a do
ing his level best to get son top" while the
scaawag IA doing his level best TO irample
hts own race 10 the bottom. Was ever su h
an anomaly known in human sffairsi 7 he
history OF the world does not furnish q
parallel to an act OF such gross In
consistency and peryersitv Of the hui
man mind as this presents except
possibly in few individual instances.
Think Of It here IN the South are millions
OF the most intelligent, the most patriotic,
and the brayest white men upon the face Of
the earth, who are struggling with all OF the
spirit and determination that animated and
characterized the heroic fathers Of the Revo-
luton, and OF the grand government which
they established, TO perpetuste that govern
ment, and TO maintain the civilization and
liberties handed down 10 them-I say think
Of it while they are endeavoring by every
means in their power 10 secure these great
ends for their own benefit, as we'll As for
their posterity, we find q few thousand
scalawags In each southern State uniting
with the negroes 10 defeat their wise,
patriotic, aud benefcent purposes.
have eudeavored, MIR. Editor, TO draw
nv definition OF a scalawsg as mildly rs pos.
sible, and hence have studiously avoided
the u.e of the harsher and more offensive
terms that are dsily and commonly applied
to the class Of persons TO which have re-
fcrred.
In conclusion, let me say to the Democrats
OF Virrinia-tO the true, noble, and unwa-
yering sons and friends OF the Ola Common
wealth-vOu have a battle to fight between
now and mex. fall that will admit OF no firi-
fling, no daliying with the foe. IL Is worse
than idle 10 predicate any result upon the
divisions in the Republican ranks
Though apparently divided now, backed
and encouraged as they will be next fall by
the strong arm OF the Federal Admlnistra-
ton, they will come together as one man and
make desperate effort TO acquire the SUI
premacy la orr State government No, fel-
10 ~ Democrats, rely upon it that we have
nothing whatever 10 depend upon for sue
cess but our own talents. our own efforts,
and our ceaseless vigilance aud strict fidelity
10 the great canse and principles for which
we are coutendlng. Allow yourselves aud
your State to be placed once more under
scalawag and negro domination aud you will
wish that yoI aud yours hsd never been
born; for every oppressive and OBJ
noxious law that human ingenuity and
hellsh malignity can devise will he en-
acted for the especial benefit Of the De-
m0cracy OF the state. Ia view OF all these
things, fellow Democrats, let me impore
YOU TO arouse yourselves at once TO a strong
aud sacred sense OF yonr duty, and labor
ceaselessly until the dsv Of election 10 pre-
serve and maintain your liberties and all OF
the vast social and financial rights and priyi-
leces that you now enjoy. Remember,
" Eternal vigilance is the price OF liberty"
DEMOCRAT,