Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-10-01
FRIDAY. OCT. L. 1897.

!. not calculated to strengthen the re-
Duhlican party. While the division in
the democratic party, caused by the
adoptiop of the populistic platform
weakened that party, and threatened to
break the Solid South, as it had existed
since the DAYS of reconstruction and
carpet bag rule, the policy OF the
pressnt administration promises to once
more cement the warning factions and
insure the indefinite existence OF the
Solid South.
The fact that under the law, the
negroes have the right to hold once
cannot be disputed. The best FRIENDS
the negroes have are the Southern pee
pie. The negroes are better treated III
tn. South than in any section OF the
United States. Here they enjoy them-
selves more and their rights to properly
and to liberty are respected by all
classes.
Negro suffrage was believed by the
Southern people to be sn outrage It's
result has caused the republican party
TO consider it stupendous blunder'
They made the blunder and the demo-
cratic party has enjoyed the fruits OF II.
From the time that the Northern people
introduced slavery into the United
States. and after finding it unprontao'e
in their section, sold the negroes to the
South, there have been no more eltter
enemies OF this race, than these same
Northern people. They were scarcely
rid of their own slaves before they be-
gan to weep over the sins Of the slave
holders of the South. 1t was never
dying theme for their preachers anu
writers. Without in anyway iustiiying
slavery, it is a well known fact that the
negroes were a happy people. Ihey
were in a condition suited 10 their pecu-
liar nature. They had confidence in their
owners and their owners trusted them.
When war swept over this land, the
white men OF the South trusted the care
of then wives and daughters TO their
negroes. These people were faithful to
their trust and protected the homes and
defenceless members Of the families OF
their masters. There were then no
lynchings. Outrages by negroes we're
seldom, ~ ever, heard OF. 1t was only
after the Northern brother came down to
SOW seeds Of discord. to give the negro
the right Of suffrage under the impress
ion that be would always vote the repuo-
lican ticket, to stir his most bitt'" pass
ions against the white .,eople Of the
South. and to fosterau the young genera
ton, feelir.s Of resentment, that our
rage upon helpless females became
common and negroes by the score were
lynched for this terrible crime.
That President Of the United States
elected as was President Mckinley,
would lend his high Office TO keeping up
this feud was more than was eXpested'
Thousands Of people Of the South
voted for President Mckinley, not that
th.v endorsed his sentiments, but be-
cause they believed that the party
which he represented was in favor OF a
sound currency and opposed to the
free coinage OiSilver III 10 to !.
They doubted the wisdom Of the party
in nominating him. because he himself
had been in favor of this same populisti'
doctrine. and when men can change
their views very suddenly to be In &C
cord with their party ana to thus place
themselves in a position TO receive party
honors. they are not TO be trusted.
When the President Of the United
States left the seat of Government snt
made pilgrimage TO the grave OF a maj
who endeavoied 70 incile an insurrectior
OF negroes and to lead them to the in
discriminate slaughter Of the people OF
this section and there with un-
covered head sing; John Brown'I
body lies a moldering in the grave,
he demonstrated to thu entire
world that he was unfit TO Nil the
Office TO which he had been elected
That this same man should endeaVOr to
uilI further inclte enmity between the
two races, by appointing negroes tC
handle the mails OF the whites where
min. tenths of the business OF the offices
il with white people and there are mum
bers Of those people, belonging to hi'
own party, competent and even anxious
TO I'll the offices, it renders still more
apparent the blunder Of the republican
party In nominating him.
1t is very poor excuse that some OF hi
henchmen bad promised these negroes
offices if they would cast their yOtss, il
the nominating convention, for Nc
Kinney. III tnt hiShSoe N'4NN 80 N''
government is thus bartered for, b.
obtaining the votes OF negroe'
who cannot control one electoral
vote in the whole country, ant
the President Of the United States sane
tions the corrupt bargain by enfcrcini
its terms. it is conclusive evidence o
the terrible blunder made IN his nomi
nation and election.
President Mckinley had the Op
portunity Of placing himselfupon a leve
with the best Presidents Of the Unite'
States. II he failed to do so, bseaus
he lacked the ability, he is not so mucl
To blame. His strong advocacy OF
protective tariff, which is srsss inius
tice to large majority OF the people
may have been bad policy, but in doinj
so ne was not inconsistent with his pas
record. His advocacy Of internsiions
bimetali,m. however futile it may Law