The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-26
THE BANQUET AND ITS MEANING.

Inc banquet gwen last ihtHt Wy ehS
Democrats Of Richmond was a notable
event long to be remembered. II is ex-
pected TO be the originator OF conse-
quences. more In emphasizing what has
been done, than in actually starting new
things. II is a great cry OF joy sent up
by all the South to the whole world. for
that II shall be known of all men that
the South Is henceforward at peace. This
Southland recognizes the last Presidential
election as a proclamation from those
who for twenty-five years have Indus
triously fomented domestic insurrection
and strife in her borders that they aban-
don their misjudged, where not wicked.
designs, and agree that she shall be hence
forth accorded that privilege of reg l.
Iating her own internal affairs, which is
given to all free peoples.
Last nights Democratic banquet was
our peoples exultant response to this
joyous announcement. 1t was a paean to
Almighty God from overlooking hearts
that in His goodness, wisdom and power
He had seen fit to lift from our land and
our homes that black pail which had hung
over them so long, excluding from our
hungry and eager eyes the light of ,rder.
peace and repose.
We take the last Presidential election
to be one of prodigious significance.
Many men have fomented our disorders
ttat they might secure personal political
advantage to themselves from them. But
no political party can maintain a pro-
longed hold on large bodies of men I'M
less 1t is animated by some definite and
live moral principle. The moral princi-
PIE which has backed and sustained the
Republican PARTY IT. its devilish malignity
towards the South has been the sincere
apprehension in the mind of the old aboli-
ton element of the North that the negro
would not be safe in the enjoyment Of a
citizens rights II left wholly to his old
master. They have believed sincerely that
the Federal power Which enfranchised
him must stand at his elbow ready to de-
fend and protect him from attacks which
they thought the old master would GER
tainly make upon him If he had uninter-
rupted opportunity.
We believe that time has opened the
eyes of this element to two cardinal facts:
First, That the white man has no dispO-
stion to treat the negro unjustly, and that
both get along far better when left to
themselves. each understanding the other
perfectly; and second. that It is not in the
nature of things that an outsider can prop
a citizen up with the capacities of citi-
zen-that If he cannot maintain for him
self his own position as citizen the out
slider cannot secure it for him, and he
must inevitably lose 1t sooner or later.
We believe these people have concluded
deliberately therefore, that there is neith-
er occasion for nor proprfety in United
States interference with the principle OF
local self-government in the South, and
that they have therefore determined to
leave the negro to shift for himself, ac-
cording to the exigencies of his environ
ment The moral element that has gus
tanned the Republican party in its cru
SADIE against the South being, therefore
withdrawn, the loaves and fishes brigade
will soon find themselves unable to keep
I'D their war We believe, then. that the
late election was Gods announcement OF
the fact that the old abolitionist has
finally determined to leave US TO our
selves. and this being So last nights ban
quet is to be regarded as the South's cry
of exultant JOY that she is at last to have
quiet. order, peace and local government,
administered by our chosen sons.
The February number Of the Forum con-
tafns an article that bears striking evil
derce Of these conclusions. 1t is from the
pen Of John c. Wickliffe. and is entitled
Negro Suffrage a Failure. Shall we
Abolish It?' As its title indicates. II Is
an argument adverse TO continuance or
negro suffrage and favors repeal of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Consi-
tuion of the United States, so as to leave
each State full power 10 deal with the
electoral franchise as 1t sees fit. We do
not know who Mr. Wickllne is. and can
therefore form TO opinion of the signi-
ficance of such an article from him. out
the fac. that such an article Is admitted
to the pages of the Forum we regard as a
fact Of prime Importance. If the thoughts
of a large body of its Northern readers
were not running in the same channel the
Forum would certainly never have pub
lished the article, and the fact that 1t has
published 1t is strong evidence that the
country has pretty well made up It's mind
that the batting OF the South shall cease.
So mote IL be-