The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-01-16

under the unfair reasoning of which my
section has been a constant victim
the small vote is charged to be proof
of forcible suppression. In Virginia
an average majority OF 10000 under
hopeless division of the minority, was
raised to $4,000; in Iowa in the same
election majority of $4,000 was
wiped out and an opposition majority
of 5000 was established. The change
of 1000 votes in Iowa is accepted as
political revolution-in Virginia an
increase of 10000 on a safe majority
is declared to be proof of political
fraud. l charge these facts and figures
home, to the heart and conscience of
the American people, who viii not,
assuredly, see one section condemned
for what another section is excused
If can drive them through the preju-
dice of the partisan, and have them
read and pondered at the freside of
the citizen, l will rest on the judgment
there formed and the verdict there
rendered
1t is deplorable, sir, that in both
sections larger percentage of the vote
is not regularly cast. But more mex
plicable that this should be SO in New
England, than in the South. What in
vites the negro to the ballot box? He
knows that of all men it has promised
him most and yielded him least. His
first appeal to suffrage was the promise
of "forty acres and mule" His
second, the threat that Democratic
success meant his reinstatement.
Both have proved false in his expert
ence. He looked for a home, and
he got the Freedman's Bank. He
fought under promise of the loaf, and
in victory was denied the crumbs.
Discouraged and deceived, he has real
lied at last that his best friends are his
neighbors with whom his lot is cast,
and whose prosperity is bound up in
his-and that lie has gained nothing
in politics to compensate the loss of
their confidence and sympathy that is
at last his best and his enduring hope.
And so, without leaders or organiza-
tion-and lacking the resolute heroism
of my party friends in Vermont that
make their hopeless march over the
hills high and inspiring pilgrimage
he shrewdly measures the occasional
agitator, balances his little account
with politics, touches up his mule and
jogs down the furrow, letting the mad
world wag as it will!
The negro vote can never control
in the South, and it would be we'll if
partisans at the North would under
stand this. have seen the white peo-
pie of State set about by black hosts
until their fate seemed sealed. But,
sir, some brave man, banding them to ,
gether, would rise, as Elisha rose IN
beleagured Samaria, and, touching
their eyes with faith, bid them look
abroad to see the very air "filled with
the chariots of Israel and the horsemen
thereof" If there is any human force
that cannot be withstood, it is the
power of the banded intelligence and
responsibility of a free community.
Against it, numbers and corruption
cannot prevail. 1t cannot be forbid
den in the law, or divorced in force
1t is the inalienable right of every free
communicable just and righteous
safeguard against an ignorant or cor
cupt suffrage. 1t is on this, sir, thai
| we rely in the South. Not the cowardly
menace of mask or shotgun, but the
| peaceful majesty of intelligence and
responsibility, massed and unified fol
the protection of its homes and the
preservation of its liberty. That, sir
is our reliance and our hope, and
against it all the powers of earth shall
not prevail. 1t was just as certain thai
Virginia would come back to the I'm.
challenged control of her white race
that before the mortal and materia
power of her people once more unified
opposition would crumble until its las
desperate leader was left alone, vainly
striving to rally his disordered hosts
as that night should fade in the kind
ling glory Of the sun. You may pas
force bills, but they will not avail
You may surrender your own libertie
to Federal election Jaw, you may sub
NIT, in fear of necessity that doe
not exist, that the very form OF thi
government may be changed---you MAJ
invite Federal interference with tn
New England town meeting that ha
been for a hundred years the guaran
tee of local government in America
this old State which holds in its char
ter the boast that it " is a free and in
dependent commonwealth"---it ma,
deliver its election machinery into tn
hands of the government it helped Il
create---but never, Sir, will singh
State in this Union, North or South
be delivered again to the control of al
ignorant and inferior race. We wreste,
our State government from negro su
premacy when the Federal drumbea
rolled closer to the ballot-box, an,
Federal bayonets hedged it deepe
about than will ever again be permit
ted in this free government. But, sir
though the cannon of this Republi
thundered in every voting district c
the South, We still should find in tn
mercy of God the means add the coul
age TO prevent its re-establishment.
I regret, sir, that my section, hin
dered with this problem, stands ii
seemidg estrangement to the North
If, sir, any man will point out to m
a path down which people of the Sout
divided may walk in peace and honor
l will take that path though ] took
alone---for at its end, and nowhel