The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-13

hing Eould exist. He began Republican
ssurailv-as naturally as the white
d the South began his post-bellum career
nnosratic. He has remained Republican
hesase the white has remained Demo-
cs.ic; aud were the whites to suddenly
vsss around and become Republican the
neTo would as suddenly become the OPP
ponte. This is the KEY to much that has
gone Misunderstood, and, when it shalt be
pecognized. we shall be in fair way to
begin TO rectify mistakes and to solve the
peat problem.
Ny frst recollection of an election was
TIE FIRST at which the negroes voted. 1
Knember the poll was few miles from
Eydd home. at Beaver Dam Depot, IN
b long. low. brick depot building,
saich had been built to stand even
h after Stoneman and sheridan in
nir raids had twice burnt the wooden
hiding. Once they destroyed along
With 1t three davs' rations stored there for
Gen. Lees army. which seemed rather q
taste of the raw material to US boys. who
had not had taste of coffee or sugar in
two years. The ballot box, or perhaps
there were two. cannot recoiiect, was on
abench in the wide door at the end, and I
think We were taken over to see the spec
tacie Of the negroes voting. / remember
was struck with the sma!lness of the box,
about which had heard so much talk
had expected to find it rs large as a wood
box at least, ii not one OF the big white
boxes In which the servants "winter
clothes" used to come from Richmond.
II was not bigger than tea chest, and. In
fact. have never got over feeling that it
nsomehowsnot quite commensurate in
dignity with Its function. II is big enough,
however; bigger than it looks.
remember the strange men sitting
gun and important in their chairs Just
Whad the box and the group of negroes
pressing up and handing in their slips of
Fps some with diifidence. some with
snuaefnent, some with pumpous pre-
"nse OF knowledge, but all with a certain
seriousness born of their desire to per-
.e'm without error their new aud strange
isac'lon. They took their orders from
one Oh the strange men, and one after an
e'nef handed in their ballots, while a
group OF negro women on one side watched
sh''e men on the other side watched sur
ay she ansontei spectacle. 1t was an
sn'hoas beginning. do not remember
sAst 'he vote vas for. | DO not know
ass ever knew. aud doubt if the voters
"'a ether. remember Archie Tyler, a
sR' OF preacher and leader. years after
ven. uFsnt's presidency, testifying that
NC voted Tor ole Mr.. Grant" | only re-
senoer that somehow | felt that it was a.
ao'eue act. aud was angry with the two
heh who were behind the box. though
ae'' as recollect. with the negroes them
70 Us "''o'A' i''' 'e'o"se"
y. ane hfst represer tative from my county
"a s' l remember was Burwell Toler, an
esso, VINO was elected to the state
h nv over Mr.. William +. Wick
s,a =. re "ealthiest man in the county
" " we iather of Gen. Wickham. The
NAhsms bad been Wings and Union
- Ve.ore the war. "a hal my own peo-
-. Voting against secession until the
s,,s went out, when all of proper age had
w.. we army, where they stayed until
s.oas"ox. And after the war they ac-
Il 49, tne situation and deemed il best for
-. ooa'h TO unite with the Republicans
~ uy 10 guide their policy in the south
s,s.' mus voted With the Republicans at
enns,. enough eventually, in the face OF re-
r,s., non: they fell into line with the
'sdy Of the Southern people. Thus
- ma, On occasion 81 tna frs, election
siss,s.h opei that sir. Wlckham might be
so,ss aad Tor the first time in his life he
t.,,ss to run for Office. lie was de-
ec,..' however, and never again offered
ins sauhg himself with voting and hav.
sVete neutraiizei by that of his old
Ts'. Viver, Rurwell Toler'S brother.
IA, !. related because il leads IN To the
,hr,s4aai zen. Wickham, who had been
a.. All the period Of reconstruction
ma nsend that the negro had in VIZ
inc ~,' sha " no incurred bv has unfinch-
saa se That hostility which only those
n. fFesaie who know how strongly
te, snasaefner c8n feel in political mat
Ga s.s.eqOently ran for the state senate
TIE I~spaslng Republican, aua because
Rnocs o. the whites in the district
CO., as as Nell a. Republicans. adv o.
~ ain. was opposed hv the negroes
esat-s, - Extraordinary unanimitv. This
rs . Illustrates the tendency Of the ne
Ii. ..gh himself against the white.
Geo Wsaiiaate who came ont against
u. en.s.aan WAS man who moved to
the sis,r;ss ior the purpose OF contesting
iii rra.a His past was. according 10
sevsO-,s As we'll calculated 10 excite the
sss IA hostility as Gen. Wickham's
s.aa.s,, ehist their gratitude and
eesa lie had before the war
U o,,.ae Of the leading spirits
ag the blue lodges OF