Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-08-17
1.-THE TIE THAT BINDS"

There IL one bond i'm the South which
holds together the white men of that
section, and that is the color line. For
thirty-fiye years the Republican party
has either been at actual war with
them on account of the negro, or they
have been trying by other means to
humiliate those white men and to set
the negro above them. This has bound
the whites together against Republi-
canism and while there have been good
measures advocated by the Republican
party. those measures were so over
Swallowed by that one great living
issue that nothing has been able to
make them forget it. Silver in the last
campaign did call away temporarily
some old line Democrats, and a few
may stay, but the great bulk have re-
turned to their home in the Demo
cratic party, because they cannot and
will not desert their friends and COM
rades who have been bearing the brunt
of the blows dealt by the negro loving,
south hating politicians, who have
tried to lower them and exalt the
negro race. The breach that is widen
ing between the two races in the south
has been caused in part by the imper-
tinent and pesky politician, but large
ly also by the negro himself. The
negro of today Is saucy, impudent,
self imposing creature, and is growing
more and more So. He or she delights
to force himself or herself into places
they have no business, they as a class
by their dirty, coarse manners, have
gone 80 far as to compel the whites to
pass laws that in travelling Oh trains
separate them from the white people.
He or she before the law passed took
the entire train. When they got
aboard their loud hOrsey laughter,
their spreading over whole seats, their
disposition to crowd into seats Occu-
pied by whites, and by thousand
other unwarranted and disgusting
things forced this separation, and il
will widen as time goes by.
But the action of President McKin
ley in the last four years toward tho
south in his appointment of negro
pOstmasters has been enough to cement
the white men more and more hermet.
ically, and turn them more and more
against the party which prefers negro
to white officers. This mas just been
manifested by several southern States
which have adopted constitutions dis
franchising illiterate persons, the bulk
of whom will be negroes, and such a
constitution is bound to be adopted
by the white people of Virginia as soon
as the time arrives. The white men
therefore know that self preservation
cempels them to stand by the white
men; the negro flocks with the negro,
the negro thinks with the negro, the
negro at heart dislikes the white man,
deeply, bitterly and unchangeably, one
has only to arouse his ire to see this in
all of its hideOusness. He must. there
fore expect that he will be held in his
place, not because the white man des-
pises him, because that is not the feel
ing of superior to an inferior. but
because the white men are bent on
holding the negro to his place of infe-
riority, and this will be done peaceably
if possible, but otherwiser if necessary,
and no bullying of Republican political
leaders, no spread eagle speeches in
the halls of Congress, no dread of force
bills, or loss of representation will ever
drive them from their set purpose.
Bayonets and bullets alone may &C
complish that, but death only will be
the sure mode.
The lesson Of 35 years ago, given the
north in the struggle for our civil
rights, has warned them not to tackle
the south about the negro any more,
the game is not worth the candle. In
talking to Democrat a few days ago
who had strayed away temporarily,
but who is back with the party heart
and soul, he SAID: 81 went off on the
silver issue thinking it would injure
the country IL adopted, but in the
election of Mckinley believe a thou
sand wrongs were inflicted on the
country, by the side of which the dam
age of silver dollars would be baga-
telle. But l say now and here that
never again for moment will desert
my people of the south in thought,
deed or act. l cannot regulate the
finance, nor control the nation, but my
party N Virginia and the south can
control State, and States, can protect
themselves and their institutions, and
rather than be seemingly untrue to
them for one moment again, the free
coinage of silver may be adopted at
any standard majority of the people
may dictate, the Democratic party
may do whatsoever to it seems wise
and will be with it heart and soul. l
am southern man, and l intend 20
show it by my loyalty to the south, to
the people l love and live among"
Northern men see the logic of this after
living in the south few years, and in
State matters generally join their
white brethren for good government.
Bryan's speech of acceptance has
made him thousands of votes already.