Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-09-06
ABLE ADVOCATES.

MesSrS. Ped1gO ana summers, tWs
Republican members of the State Con
vention, had their inning on Thursday
last. In their Jealous advocacy of the
negroes and what they term "his
rights they have injured his cause,
as narrow bigcted partisans often do.
Mr.. Pedigo hunted around for all the
mean expressions in his vocabulary,
and when he had gotten them in his
culver proceeded to hurl them at the
Democratic party Of Virginia. This
was just the same as saying to each
Democrat of the convention "thou art
the man." Mr.. Pedigo told the Con-
vention that be would assume all the
odium of the Acknowledgement of the
negro, that he had voted for Lincoln
and Hamlin in Ohio, and that it was
the proudest day of his life. We do
OF know Mr.. Pedigo further than this
speech has disclosed him, but thus far
we are not impressed with his charac-
ter, or his orato1y, and if he means to
try to assist the colored brother whom
he GEMS to love so we'll, we have no
regard whatever for bis discretion. Of
course the white people Of this country
have no control over the manners of
any man, he can choose that company
he best likes, whether it be decent or
indecent, he can hug the negro or any |
other person to his bosom, and over
whelm him with ravishing OSCILLATIONS.
Indeed he can 60 with the SOW and
wallow In the mire, Virginia will not
complain, but they will not allow
the mselves to be carried into the mire
by any and every hog loving animal
who may wish others to wallow where
he has made his bed.
These speeches have probably sealed
the negroes doom in Virginia, that is
the ignorant negro. The day has come
when he can not hold the same power
as the educated white man, as the
man who pa Us the taxes and forms
the basis of our governmental fabric,
and nobody need be surprised if his ,
Acknowledgement, as it is called, goes {
step further than ever before in l
tended. Those who know the history
of the Underwood Constitution and ;
who recall that the vote of every negro t
In that convention. and they were c
largely in the majority, was to dis
franchise every white man then in :
Virginia who was then Southern +
sympathizer, need not tremble and '
wall and tear his raiment when I
he contemplates the prospect before
him of some negroes not being allowed [
to vote. If there are those in Virginia 9
who have forgotten these things and
suppose everybody else has, they are il
mistaken, they are not forgotten by
all nor will they be.
Messrs. Summers and Pedlgo have :,
hurt the cause they profess to espouse
though they feel better no doubt than n
before the delivery of their speeches, Il
heir gorge of Democratic hatred has %,
been reduced, they have ''said their G
ay" and are happy. But the cause
II their friends has been ruined, they sc y
ave upset the frying pan into the to
ire, and those whom they pretended to W
e helping should wish them with r.
stone about their necks In the I'll
Ottom of the sea. There is a foul =.
ird which history tells US eats none WI
ut rotten food, and will not eat that
ntil it has vomited oyer it. Mr.. n 11e
edigo seems to be among men such Da
erson as that bird is among birds.
he quicker the negro of Virginia gets lni
d of this character of beast, bird or -. ;.
an, the better off he will be. 70.