The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-08-20

cd him TO dominate the negro, IN the face
of a large numerical superiority, they
ori.y sill contiue for all time, az il has
.rD III begipHn; :. Hit does, W. shall
have nothing to fear from mere force Of
numbers coupled with ignorance, unless
! they receive material cXtrane0us aid
They admit that these moral forces. cor-
pied witt, race pride that has kept them
politically intact, and maintained their
actual supremacy, continue into the flu.
tire, it will go a long way towards the
solution OF the vexed suffrage problem.
They admit that whenever these intluen-
Cos arc entirely withdrawn nothing short
of the repeal of the fifteenth amendment,
or better still, the removal of the negro
will prevent negro rule.
All this is felt and acknowledged by
every white man OF average intelligence
and always has been Bitter and humili-
ating experience alone, has burned this
knowledge into their souls. Eight years
of reconstruction taught also, that the ne.
gro could be maintained in supremacy by
constitutional and legislative enactments.
Those of rs who had attained mans estate
during that period, need not he remind
ed that an ignorant and corrupt negro sat
as Parish Judge, negro desperate repre-
sentcd MS in the senate. two slick and I'M
scrupulous black rascals represented us in
the lower house, q negro mnrdcrer occupi-
ed the sherih's office. and negro thugs and
hnllies acted as his deputies, need not be
told that conviction before the conrts of a
negro for murder or robbery was an i'm
possibility, especially were the party
murdered or robbed white man, that
taxation amounted almost to coniiscation,
land was assessed at ton dollars per acre.
All this happened in spite of tho united
protest of the white people of this Parish
and State, and the Mississippi did not
tNrn up stream, though it was enough to
make j. do SO.
They know further that it required .
physical revolution, which assImed the
proportions of q race war to bring about
reform, and establish white supremacy,
further, they know that had it not been
for the moral support given without stint,
by the Western people at this critical
jWncture, our efforts would have proved
unavailing. While events since that
eventful period have steadily tended to
cement the friendship between the Soc
tons and 70 Obliterate sectional lines, so as
to render return to these conditions most
improbable, still as long as the cause re-
mains (tne negro, the danger is ever pres
ent.
The above depression is justified By reas-
on Of the fact that new generation has
come on the stage of life since those mo-
mentOus times, and are important factors
in shaping the future. These young rhite
men should read at least once vear the his
tory of this period. the horrors of which
can never be half told. Knowing these
things as do, have not the regard for
the constitution that MY friends has,
especially when any Of its PROVISIONS stand
in the Light of whitc suprdmccy.
1t the average negro is rs smart as Mr..
Evans says he is, and if az many of them
Can pass the required tests Us he thinks
can, our future is 'pretty blue His is enc
of the best arguments in favor Of the suf-
frage ordinance, as well as against the
poll tax prerequisite. My experience tends
to confirm the opia; on that the property
owning class of negroes would como moro
under the influence Of the whites than
either the educated or ignor&ut-tor they
have far more 1T stake and are likely to
suffer from political disturbances.
Ihave always thought that the odnca-
tional test WAS the weak point in the or
NlufttEoy ftuu t'lliih 10 SIOuitl udFU DCtU
high enough t" prevent coacbing-a
all has been said, I believe that with
faithfulnoss on the part of the whites or a
large majority Of them to the traditions of
the past, we can safely count ON white
supremacy and consequent good govern
mcnt for at least twenty years.
That there will be some traitors to race
and creed doubt not THIS is to be looked
for. Judases are confined to neither race
nor cline. Happily for mankind their in
flnence seldoms extends beyond the length
of their own shadow
Yours Truly,
Valley Farm Matt Gilmore
Aug 1893.