Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-29
Favorable Symptoms Down South.

There are favorable symptoms in that
part Of Che country Familiarity known as
down SOUTH We refer to the symptoms
of intelligent revolt against the ingraincd
crceds, state rights and contempt for hon
est labor Incidentally human rights IN
general will be vastly benefited by the III
llOences now at work. 1t is surprising
how quickly those who practice injustice
realize that it is injustice when the same
practices are applied to themselves. This
kind of moral regeneration is not upon
the loftiest imaginable plane but is very
effective nevertheless. 1t is also as high a
plane as one would expect in South Caro-
lima, which for years was ruled by white
oligarchy without reference to popular
rights and which is now in the political
possession of the down trodden whites
holding their power by the same means as
were formerly used against themselves
and the colored people. Now the aristocra-
tic whites see the error of their ways. So
long as they were the arbiters of what
constituted public policy and popular will
they had no fears of the results. Now
that others have assumed the powers and
the methods with which they disgraced
the state for years they see danger to the
commonweal. They are intelligent and
influential and their conversion even by
this questionable method is a gladdening
sign.
When such man as Gen. Edward Nc
Grady, the author of the eight box cleo
ton law, designed to cheat the negro out
Of his rights, declines to DO candidate
to the constitutional convention on the
platform, which is, to frame constitution
that shall disfranchise the blacks, there is
hope for South Carolina. Gen. Grady says
this means "simply qualification of the
ballot for the colored people, which quail
fication shall not apply to white men,"
Evidently it is apparent to Gen. Grady
that the white aristocrats to regain their
power need the assistance of the black
voter The words of Gen. Grady are sup
plemcnted by Col. John J. Dargan, editor
of the Sumter Freeman who says: 81 be-
lieve that the amendments which give to
the negro equality of citizenship in these
United States cannot be defeated by any
election tricks of registration, nor even by
perjury of tho managers. The attempt to
defeat them is maddost folly and will
bring disgrace and moral disasters and no
good results whatever upon the people
of the state Not only the physical powers
of the federal government. but the politi-
cal, moral and religious sentiment of the
people of tho nation, and of the highly en-
| frightened and Christianized world, are
behind these amendments"
Surely here is an enlightened conception
of Federal authority that will yet require
years to saturate the minds of the aver
age South Carolina citizen. Col. Dargan
has also discovered that in some parts of
his state the people are not willing to
have free speech. This conviction arose
from his attempt to speak in Camden in
condemnation of the way Mr.. Hallowell,
the philanthropist, was treated because he
associated with the blacks there for a few
days in order to better understand their
needs and conditions.
As regards the state OF Georgia it can
be said that industrial self respect has
maintained there longer than in any Of
IT, other ultra Southern states. But
this respect of labor and willingness to
!, pay adequate wages has been confined to
q few industrial centres and is not ac-