The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-03
Political Professions.


Notwithstanding PRESIDENT Harrison's ap-
parently cordial professions of friendliness
toward the ex-confederate soldier, the New
/ York EUening Post shows that FIVE years
/ ago, as L nited States senator. he voted to
fasten upon the survivors Of that untortu-
nate cause the unreasonable law which posi-
lively prohibits them from manifesting
their loyalty to the union by joining the
| United States army.
With that unqualified inhibition before
them. republican politicians still persist in
referring TO the alleged disloyalty of those
men upon whom they have placed that
stigma which prevents any sort OF volun-
tary manifestation of patriotism they might
feel disposed to make. With this before
them, and many other plainly fragrant acts
of the most indiSputable hostility toward
them, simply because, ovor a quarter of a
century ago, they fought to sustain their
opinions and their rights as they understood
them, the republicans still have the audacity
to complain aud the stupidity to wonder
that these unjustly ostracised citizens, who
pay their fair quota of taxes to sustain this
union, should refuse to indorse and Join and
vote with the party that has always done its
utmost to prescribe and prosecute apd
humiliate them in every possible way.
So long as the narrow and vindictive
policy that has for twenty-five years domi-
mated the Republican party holds sway just
so long will every man who has either d.
rectly or indirectly been injured by that
policy hold aloof from the party that insti-
tuted and sustains it. To- withstand OPP
preston with patience and fortitude rather
than resort TO violent resentment requires a
degree of manly courage that Is creditable
to any people. But to join hands and aid
the oppressors is asking little too much.
Ranting about equal rights before the
law" and "a free ballot and fair COUNT
might be all very we'll if there was anything
in the Republican party record to justify
such pretonsions. But there is not. Quite
the contrary.
Whether the black man gets his rights at
the polls will always be disputed by the re-
publicans if he happens to vote against the
interests OF their party. They can never
bring themselves to understand why the
mortgage they claim upon his vote does not
in every instance hold good. If he votes
the republican ticket they are ready to ad-
NIT that ne has had his rights. If he votes
the democratic ticket, then they are ready
to swear that he has been DISTINGUISHED.
In their disinterested enthusiasm to secure
to him his constitutional rights they want
to force him to vote the republican ticket
whether he wishes to or not.
For the nonce let us suppose that he
"a h e. 81 -
but little worse OFF than the white men
among whom he lives To certain ex-
tent every man south of the Potomac is
practically disfranchised. Would any sane
man undertake to say that Georgian could
be elected President of the United States!
Certainly not. Not because he would not
fully fill the constitutional requirements,
and add honesty and ability as we'll. But
he would be cried down simply because he
CHANGED to live within prescribed area.
Whenever the Georgian is accorded the
came rights and privileges in all respects as
the Ohioan or the Pennsylvania enjoys,
then it will be time to talk to him about
any political shortcomings that may be APP
parent to those who take so lively an in
terest in his faults, but can never recognize
his virtues. Then will their admonitions
and recommendations appear sincere, and
be hesrkened to with kindly appreciation.