Year: 1876

Mr.. EDITOR: [ have noticed in your
paper a report from Brunswick, in
which it is stated that the color line is
established in that county, and that
the coming campaign is to be conduct
ed ou that basis. I beg leave to say
few words in relation thereto, appli-
cable not only to Brunswick, but to
other Counties also.


While acknowledging with sorrow
that the color line IS established, the
Democratic party refuse to accept the
responsibility of having originated or
of approving it. Wherever the color
line is established in North Carolina,
the Republican party are responsible
for it and its baleful effects upon the
interests of our people. None but
the kiudliest sentiments are felt by
Democrats towards the colored race,
aud we assume to be the pest friends
of that misguided people We do not
advise them to set themselves up as
rulers in the State Or alton. We do
not place them in positions they are
incapable of filling with credit to
themselves. Taken suddenly from
slavery and made to assume the rights
of citizenship, it is obvious they can,
not be fitted by education or acquire
ments for places requiring political
experience. Consequently we do not
expect to give them official position.


The Republican party must take the
consequences of the misgovernment of
ignorant as we'll as the misgovernment
of dishonest rulers. We have no part
or parcel in the ruin which broods
like black cloud over the destinies of
South Carolina and Louisiana Those
communities, hanging like fostering
sores upon the Republic, dead weights
upon the prosperity of the fair coun~
try, tue result of the reign of
Republican ignorance aud corruption.


But We assume nevertheless to be
the friends of the colored race, and in
anything of real benefit to them, we
are ever ready to stretch forth our help
ing hands for their assistance. We
are willing. nay We are desirous of
raising them from their depths of ig-
norauce. to the former position of in
telligent citizens. This is tue first
principle III which we claim to be their
friends. The laws of North Carolina.
so far a. they have been mado by dem
ocrats, are clearly favorable to the
colored race, giving them an equal
chance for education and improve
ment. The proposed amendments to
the COnstii utIOn are distinctly and I'M
equivocally in their favor, giving equal
opportunities of being educated at the
public expense. and guaranteeing this
TO them in perpetuity. Aud their
pride of good citizenship is distinctly
appealed to in that amendment which
refuses to allow to felons the right to
vote. Their republican friends teach
them that they are no better than con-
victs, and counsel them to resist an
amendment which deprives them of
the raie privilege Of standing up be-
fore the ballot box, side by side, on
terms of equality with robbers and
feIOns of every kind.


There is no color line in all this. We
hail with cordial pleasure the rare
sight of a colOred conservative, and we
protect by our just and equal laws his
right to vote with us if he desires to
do so. But having held out to him
the olive branch of peace and fratern-
lty always, In the past. We are some
what more chary of making these ad-
vauces In future. fearing they WILL be
contemptuously spurned. as they have
been heretofore.


We know full well that he is free SO
far as the white man is concerned. and
can vote with us if be likes, and if lie
had learned to think, he could see that
the only relic of slavery which attaches
to him, is the chain which binds him
to radicalism.


We propose to make as brave a fight
as we can IN this campaign on quite a
different issue. We propose to over
turu the tables of the money changers
in Washington and Raleigh, and we
propose to put honest men in their
places. We do not propose to allow
the hard earnings of the laboring men
and women of the country to be
wrung from their hands any longer
for the purpose of building marble
palaces for Republican officials. Our
issue is the people against the office,
holders everywhere. We are a law
abiding people, particularly in North
Carolina, and we do not want, and do
not intend to have hereafter, one
hundred thousand officeholders to rule
and keep us in order. We propose to
reform this feature of Republican
management, and if the colored race
choose to help us they can do so.


And the principles we advocate will
not stop at the high places of the
nation. We want reform everywhere
from the highest to the lowest place,
and we want our Tilden and Vance
clubs in every township in North Caro-
lima to send up the cry of reform and
put our people once more in the track
of prosperity and happiness.


And furthermore, Mr.. Editor, lest
1T might be thought we have no other
principle to advocate but reform, let
me say the Democratic party propose
to see to it that the laws are just and |
equal, bearing harshly upon no part
OF this broad land and upon no race,
and that they are executed faithfully |
and impartially, irrespective of race,
color or previous condition of servi. |
tuda n