Evening journal., 1892-04-04
WHITE AND BLACK.
The Philadelphia TELEGRAPH Discusses the
Delnwars Negro In Politics.

DeluWhre Nekro IN oAAAAtas
As the time for holding another
national election comes on, a fruitful
topic Of discussion In the Southern press
Is the negro at the ballot-box. The spirit
of the hour shows no change with regard
to this important matter. Democratic
Journals, as a class, plainly intimate
their continued and relentless hostility
to the black man as one justly entitled TO
the full rights and privileges Of citizen
ship. They unite in holding the Repub-
licsn party responsible for the enfran-
chisement OF the colored man. and also IN
the declaration that he Is In nowise Mt
for the performance OF the duty thus
made incumbent upon him There Is Ger
tain measure OF discreditable satisfaction
evinced in calling attention TO the still
groveling condition Of vast number OF
the blacks that is highly sigr ihcsnt,
Delaware is the smallest Of the states in
which this'problem Of NEGRO suffrage has
been tried. and therein IL presents many
characteristic features, There was large
number Of free colored people on the
Penil sula when slavery was abolished,
and It is a sad fact that many OF these
were quite as unfit for the citizenship
suddenly thrust upon them as their
brothers In bondage. Nearly third Of
a century has elapsed, and what has
been donesto leAven this helpless mass
Of ignorance9 Almost nothing
at all. apparently. This Is a monstrous
disgrace TO all concerned in any
way responsible, and this includes every
white citizen Of means, opportunity, and
usefulness. The politicians, regardless
of party or faction, have been the worst
enemies Of the black man. They simply
use him as they can; to help him is
farthest from their thoughts. So to-day a
Democratic newspaper refers 10 the sub
isct In the most shameless manner, evi
IDENTIFY having no conception Of the self
reoroach its own reckless language i'm
plies II. Is the Wilmington JOURNAL
which speaks In this fashion Of the col
ored citizens Of Delaware
There are many honest aud respect
able negroes, but they are in the minority
The majority Of them are Ignorant and a
large number of them are bribed. In
nearly ali cases the white men Of low de-
gree take advantage of these lamentable
faults and take charge Of their suffrages,
and on one plea OF another control, too
frequently by purchase, their votes. IL
Is indisputable that, as class, the
negroes are not Independent voters. The
Republicans do not claim that they are.
This state OF affairs causes dissatisfac-
tion all around The friction between
the whites and the negroes often leads to
bloodshed I; it always threatens trouble.
Meantime the negroes get abuse from one
party and promises from the other. Their
political advances and advantages are
not commensurate with their Industrial,
commercial aud social progress. Politi-
cally they have retrograded The worst
Republicans In the party have used them
to ride into short-lived power; they have
taught them all the political vices, with
out showing them a single virtue
Is this degrading picture auywlse over
drawn2 The probability Is that H. is the
naked, albeit the cruel, truth The
white politicians have, indeed, taught
their helpless victims all the political
vices, but none Of the virtues. Aud is
this state Of things to continue indeh-
nitely3 VIII the negro voter teni Tor
twenty years hence be merely creature
OF political merchandise and trickeryl
Our contemporary shows strange obtuse-
ness and lack Of political conscience
when It further remarks:
"Why should not the intelligent, re-
sponsible and honorable colored men and
the Republicans, who are not In a mad
hunt for the spoils Of office, unite to pro
pose measure Of relieff
Why Republican, indeedS Is this not a
matter that concerns the whole state and
every citizen thereof The Democratic
party In Delaware Is under just as heavy
an obligation to deal justly, decently and
manfully With the negro as Is any other
political organization. What right have
Democrats to kick and cuff the black
man, simply besause his instincts tell him
to vote with tn 10 other partyl What right
have the Republicans In Delaware, or
elsewhere. 10 presume upon his ignorance
aud TepRlity, 10 treat him as de Eoid OF
manly honor and seli-respectI II won't
do. The time has come when this ques-
tion should be viewed In different man
ner, from the standpoint Of intelligent
and incorruptible patriotism. Let the
white citizenship Of Delaware arou Sc
itself to a sense Of Its responsibilities IN
this manner. Let the black voter be
treated as a man, and not az one who has
neither intelligence nor sincerity. Let
him be lifted up to the plane Of true man
hood and be made In all respects ht fol
citizenship. p.--Philadelphia Telegraph.