The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-02-10
COLORED MANS VIEWS.

m1ngton Messenger. We give space
for part of his letter:
"Whlle Garrison and his school Of
men exhausted their invective against
the slave system, and Lincoln
declared that the Union could not
stand half slave and half free,' yet the
careful student can see that the slave
proclamation was more the result OF
military necessity and tear OF the COM
petition of the products of slaye labor
and northern free labor than from any
Unborn love of the negro. The negro
was benefltted.
AS to the negro since the war, 1 will
say that 1 have been careful student
of his actions. I have had excel
lent opportunities Of studying the mo-
tives which actuated them in voting as
they have. I was born since the war
and was reared with all possible pref
udice against democrats as democrats
but not as men. 1t was strange
blending of ideas. The school in
which every negro born since the war
was taught, had for its cardinal princl-
pies the argument that the dem ocrat
was the natural enemy of the negro !;
that politically the republican party
was its only friend; they taught
that democrats only awaited a favor
able opportunity to re-enslave them.
White people will scarcely believe me
when I say that as late as 1884, when
Mr.. Cleveland was first elected, that in
every neighborhood the talk was rife
about what was to be done when
the white folks came for their old
slaves. No white folks came for their
old slaves. No white person was ever
allowed to know of these proceedings,
nevertheless, it was absolutely true.
The writer was then Is and remembers
we'll his fruitless efforts to convince the
older heads of their nonsensical talk.
They would invariably tell me that
was young and did not know whereof
I spoke. Nothing but time convinced
them that the election of democratic
president did not mean slavery. l
speak of the older people-the voters.
The young ones of my age knew moth
ing about slavery and paid very little
attention to the talk except out OF
mere curiosity and boast of what they
would do in case the drop did fall.
s.Now, sir, to me, one of the new ne
groes, the question is vastly different.
1t is why should / vote to keep a gang
of shameful white carpet baggers, thugs
and God knows what-all in Office
know as well, sir, as any man in the
state that the democrats can make no
possible voting test to get me that
would not at the same swoop get half
the democrats. I know that with all
their weakness the state was managed
better under them than under the
present gang with Russell at the head.
l know that under them the negro had
control OF his public schools, and no
pretty negro girl mad to go to white
man to get school. / know that I'M
der them the negro made just as much
progress as he makes now. We had
more offices. Why, then, shall vote
that ticket? To answer this, I will
say that the democratic speakers and
papers had control so long till they
we're drunk with power, and boastful
that by no combination could their
citadels be taken. We wanted to beat
you at first out Of mere curiosity. We
we're told so much about your election
frauds and how nice it would be to be
allowed to vote for magistrates and
county government and all it's para
phernalia till we had an unthinking
curiosity to see 1t. Now we have had
it. Do you think we see see the differ
ence? II only adds other burdens
with no adequate compensation.
"Your leaders are wise men, many
of them but let me make a sugges-
ton. I know represent the senti-
ment of every intelligent negro born
since the war-there are some older
ones that are yet afraid. But sir; if
you will stop talking about this being
a white mans country--a thing which
we haye experienced and don't want
any telling, and appeal to our man
hood, make us welcome to your ballots
we will restore North Carolina to the
control of her best people. We will do
this because we haye tried the repub-
lican party thoroughly, and because
they occupy every branch OF the gov
eminent, both state and national, and
the negro Is outrageously ignored. We
are tired of them but our manhood
Will not allow us to go to you unsought
or unwelcomed We want revenge.
We are willing to cut loose from our
base of supplies. We will risk being
destroyed by your democratic Cana
conda" before we get to the goal. APP
peal to us as men, and we will hear