The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-08-26
County Democratic Ticket.
Decentralization of the Negro.

Why are landowners leaving their farms
Because of the lack of labor.
What creates the demand for small farms ?
Lack of labor to cultivate larger ones.
What causes lack of labor to till the farms
The decentralization of the colored people
by politics and the small smattering of educa-
ton they have been able to take.
When the ballot was given TO the negro his
downfall began, aud the eolored schools and
Republican demagogues have about completed
the decentralization of the race.
The ordinary negro likes the life of towns
and cities, where backing boots, selling pa
pers, playing crap and politics furnish him all
the occupation he wants. On the water
courses he can fish and oyster at hls own
pleasure, and he can manage to live through
the year with what he thus earns, together
with what can be obtained at primaries and
elections.
Everybody knows that negro labor, some
what of a dependence all over the State and
almost the only reliance in many counties, IS
not as efficient as it was forty years ago. The
decline has been gradual and steady. When
slavery was abolished many negroes thought
it meant freedom from work. All customs
and practices that pertained to the days Of
seryitude were laid aside. The banjo was
discarded and cornbread eschewed. The
evening hoe-down lapsed into distavor. Man
ufactured tobacco took the place of the nat
uraltvist. The old homes we're left. Free
dom to most of the negroes meant an entire
change-there would be no freedom without It.
When the voting privilege was conferred on
the blacks, that race assumed an arr OF IN
portance aud impudenee. When public
schools were opened to them the rush tor an
education was great.
Had legislation in reference to the negro
race stopped when slavery was abolished, the
negro might have remained good citizen and
a reliable worker. But with the ballot and
opportunity TO 60 to school the decentralization
of the negro race has become general. Every
succeeding generation shows decline IN use
fulness and an increase in vicicnsness. Fifty
years ago assaults by negroes upon white
women were unknown-they have been ire
auent since. Fifty years ago crime by negroes
was scarcely out of proportion to their mum
bers. Today II is largely in excess
The negro is with us, and will stay. 1t Is to
the interest Of the white people 20 do what
they can to make the negro useful citizen.
The ballot has been failure; the school has
not wrought habits ofindustry. No one wants
a return of slavery, even if it could be reestab-
Hshed. No one would abolish colored schools
although their establishment has not been
generally beneficial But the ballot should
be taken away. With the ballot came the
designing and scheming white man 10 play
upon the fears Of the negro that he might
profit politically. The white demagogue
remains. aud corruption with money aud
whiskey has been added. With the bal
lot recalled the negro may he improved as TO
habits of industry and efficiency as a laborer-
This belief is generally held. A, any rate,
the general electorate will be elevated by the
elimination Of mass Of ignorant voters. The
adoption of the proposed amendment, 1t IS
confidently believed, will arrest the downward
course of the negro, and turn him back 10
paths of usefulness, aud will purify politics to
a large degree. Some Of the whites, who have
lived by politics through their ability to ma
nipulate the negro vote, viii have 10 retire to
private life aud give place to better men,
There are great possibilities for good in the
adoption of the amendment. 1t will be a bad
day for both races should the amendment be
rejected.