The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-20
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.

BY AN OBSERVER.
In the midst Of our peace jubnccs. our
mutual fluctuations and golden prospects
OF foreign trade. and the fatornal greet
ings between the North and south. all
OF a sudden dark cloud arises over the
south. and We find that the same old
negro troubles are once more Co the
front. OF late the negro has been very
much I'm evidence again. FoT two genera
lions the tendrlls of a1ecuonate solici-
tude on the part OF our Northern people
have been entwining themselves about
this race. Much gushing sympathy has
zone out towards the negro, and none.
so far rs we have ever been able 10
learn. towards the white people Of tho
south on the part Of our Northern broth-
rem. Beginning way back I'm tho early
days OF the abolition acit1tions down
10 tho present, there has been hatrcl on
the part OF the North for the southern
whites and mawksh affections for the AZ
rican. The Californian can kick from rs
shores and maltreat IN any way be
pleases the almond-eycd yellow man from
the orient: the Government Itself can oD-
pross. butcher and drive from his an
cestTal titles the red man Of the forest.
but Just let tho South once try 10 curb
the growing aggression Of It's negro popu-
lation. at once there Is n shrek from
over tho Northern borders. Although
there are six million negroes IN the South.
or there3h0uts, yet they were never made
10 rule tho white mon or to SIT I'm civil
Office over them. and the North might as
well recognize that fact once and for all
time.
Because Of the stupid lack Of foresight
Of some former Virginia Legislatures,
the Governor Of this Commonwealth
found himself with two battalions OF ne
gro troops on his hands at the breaking
out OF tho recent war. fully equipped and
commissioned These negroes ought
never % have been authorized by the
Virginia Legislatures. and our former
Governors 10 wear tho cloth Of the Nir-
g.nia militia and bear arms; but, having
these arms in their hands and commits
si0-< in their pockets, the Governor did
the right thing 90 turn them over bodily
20 the Federal Government 10 DO with as
80 pleased Northumberland CroNton.
West Point graduate was put IN charge
OK THIS battalion. Re found his officers
inefficient. lie asked for an examining
board. The officers resigned rather than
submit To the Modification Of exposing
their ignorance OF military law and tac-
tics. The Governor then appointed com
petent and weu-attested white officers 20
take charge of these negro companies.
There was a Wild mutiny ON tho part of
these negroes. Il would have been a
God-send for an time 20 como DC they
had been punished severely for such de
hance OF law, and f0T such malicious mu-
tiny Because OF the unpleasant and
disagreoable nature of their assignment.
the young white officers have resigned.
Tho negro chuckles with giee There As
talk OF mastering them out OF this we
DO not care. Ii would Doe better 20 rebulso
such mutlny and sulienness and send
them to The most distant and Disagree
able duties that the Federal Government
can pick out for them But. OF one
thing let us all rest assured. that no
negro again shall ever bear a commission
from the State Of Virginia in our militia.
and that we will not train up such people
TO bear arms I'm the borders OF this
Commonwealth.
or all religious denominations. tho
Northern MethodIsts seem the most med
dlssome in politics. Their record n the
South during the war was enough Go
bring tho blush of shame 10 members of
that denomination even thirty years OH
from the occurrences. Their mi STEERS
encouraged cOwardly mo1s no beat Well
nigh 10 death other Christian ministers
Of different political views. We remem-
Der 10 have seen an old riding horse of
a southern Methodist minister that bore
TO his dying day a large scar down the
uostrls where one Of these bowling MODS
y. Ia g H..H
TO his appointment and had stabbed the
horse as no attempted 10 ride through
them I'm the road. Now. when the white
men of North Carolina have taken charge
OF their home government again. tho
Northern Methodist Conference up I'm Mr..
McKinleys State OF Ohio. of which the
honorable President himself IS a mem-
Der. introduces resolutions % "lnvesti-
gate the 0utragos I'm the South" and 90
take steps 20 see what IS "tho remedy
Cannot these pharlsaical people stay az
homo and mind their own business
HIVE they a mission 10 come over the
borders OF North Carolina from ont the
State OF Ohio and teach tho white men
Of North Carolina how 20 treat "the
down-trodden and oppressed nogrO2'
Perhaps II would be better for them 20
clean up q little Of the rottonness and a
few OF the dead mems bones I'm thoir own
wiited seDuichre Andrew Johnson
when President Of the United States
was waited upon by a company of these
Northern Methodist ministers with the
request that he assist them In selling an
OF tho church property % tho Southern
Methodist Church then lying IN the State
OF Tennessee 7 quote the exact words
of President Johnson 10 ono OF his inti-
n ate friends from Tennessee. Said he:
"Nhue these men, clothed IN the habil-
nents OF heaven. Wero talking 20 me. I
could see tho dancing devils in their
eyes" Now. the fierce fires or the civil
war are dead. the passions or those un-
Happy days are cooling. but nothing dld
90 much 10 bath0 our beloved country
IN rratricldal blood as this very NEEDING
with other peoples business by these fe-
iigi0us bodies OF tho North. The OHIO
Methodist Conference had better not
send their committee down into North
Carolina 10 investigate.
We very much fear that there are dark
days ahead for the South. The intern
6erate persistence with which this free
silver issue was forced % the front has
given the Republican party full control
OF the coordinate branches Of our gov
eminent After the An OF March nexi
there viii be a Republican President.
Republican House and a Republican Sem
ate They viii have IN both legislative
bodies n good, easy-workng majority.
The negro question Is very apt 10 be
forced 10 the front again. and ~ South
il ~ cornD again under the cc/0unr0r'8