Year: 1876

lo los


heard in remonstrance of such course, the
black man is cautioned by bis political masters
not to listen to these facts, and the white man
branded as rebel and untrue to his country.
In this way the politicians and leaders of the
Republican party have held control of the
Government, and by such means hope to con.
tinue their control over the colored voters
and their grasp upon the pocket-books of the
Taxpayers. Let Us foil them in their further
work Of misrule and corruption.


In the matter Of reform within the lines Of
the Republican party, of which much had
heretofore been said, the speaker argued that
with but few exceptions there are no earnest
reformers in the party. He admitted, how
ever, that among the few is Governor Cham
berlain but when he attempts to stem the
tide of corruption his party rises against him
and he goes down.


The speaker was pleased to witness the dis
position as evinced BY the people ofboth races
to bury prejudice, which augured for the vel.
fare Of each. #


He assured his colored hearers that he de-.
sired to tell them only the truth. He asked
their attention, and appealed to them as in
telligent men who know right from wrong.
he did not, nor would not beg their sufrages,
but felt assured if they would but break the
party shackles that bind them, they would
agree that he would be the proper man to re-
ceive their votes. *,


He asked the colored voters who have here
tofore supported the Republican ticket, What
has the Republican party, and what have the
leaders of the party done for your Has the
party made you any freer than God, in his
wisdom and providence, has made you? Do
you think, should the Democrats come into
power, that they will attempt to reduce you
to slavery2 [Cries from the colored people,
No No1 No, indeed, they would not, re-
sumed the speaker, and two years ago you
would not have answered my question SO
promptly. Another voice by q colored
man-"Yes, but our eye-teeth are cut, now ri
Are you afraid, if the Democrats succeed,
that your right of voting will be taken away
[Cries-Nol No! Go on.] There is no pow
er that desires to take single right from you.
The Democrats only wish to do for you what
the Republicans have promised but failed to
do. The Democrats have no desire to deprive
you of the right of voting. They would not
do it if they could. uea.


We all have common interest in the vel
fare of our State, and in the welfare Of each
other. The white people wish to see the col.
orede-people prosperous and happy. % We
would not>deprive you Of a single privilege
you now enjoy under the laws of the land.
So far from that, it is to the interest of the
white man that you should prosper. We desire
you to educate yourselves and your children.
It is to our interest that you and your chill
dren should acquire learninga and information.
We would not throw single obstacle in your
way, while it cannot be denied that it is to
the Interest of your party leaders to keep you
in ignorance.


He then adverted to the free school system,
and the bad management which has prevailed
in that branch of our government ever since
its organization, assuring his colored hearers
that they could never obtain for their children
an education while the system continues to be
so badly managed. If you put Democrats in
power, we propose to give 5. e.ss,u benefit
of every cent of the educational fnnds We
propose to givs you competent teachers and
place faithful and capable men in control of
the system. We will, by proper management
of the system, obtain for you the benefit Of
the Peabody fund, which is now withheld
from this State on account of the corruption
of the State government and the incompetent
administration of the school system.


Then, asked the speaker, why can you not
come with US? he appealed to the reason Of
his hearers, whom he said, have been misled
for years. He asked them to meet the Dem
ocratic party in the right tpirit and we will
break down the barrier erected between US by
designing politicians, demagogues and car.
pet-baggers who have only personal greed and
gain as their object. Meet ua in the right
spirit and we cannot fail to agree. Give us q
fair trial Come out like one intelligent col
ored man told me the other day that he in
tended to do. He said he had rode the black
horse long enough, and now he intended to try
the white horse awhile Trust Us with your
confidence one time, and if we prove false you
are free to cast US aside. Republican candi-
dates misrepresent us to you. They give you
false and erroneous ideas. We are not your
enemies, either personally or politically. We
have platform broad enough for Us all to
stand upon. The whites and blacks can safe
ly stand upon it side by side. You are told
to stick to your party. You obey your lead
ers, and for what? Only to hold the party
together that the leaders may profit by it.
You are their slaves, and they are severe task
masters. But after your party allegiance,
when you get into trouble, does your party
help you ? [Cries-No! MOI the white Dem.
ocrats are our friends in distress Yes, they
have been and will be, if they are not taxed
out of everything they have. Taxation is
grinding US down, so that We may not be able
to help ourselves. But you stick to the par
ty, and when you are in distress, the leaders
of the same party send you to the Democrats
for assistance. Voice-That's 80.


Mr.. Witherspoon next spoke Of the neces-
sity for reducing taxation, and proposed as
one means of doing so, to reduce the number
of public officers, lower their salaries, and
provide for short sessions of the Legislature.
He next alluded to the rights enjoyed by col
ored citizens in States where the Democrats
are in power and addressing himself to the
white men, briefly summed up bis political
creed on questions not previously touched,
and thanking the audience for their patient
attention, bid them good night. The next
speaker introduced was


T. G. GAsToN, ESQ.,,


Democratic nominee for Solicitor of the Sixth
Judicial Circuit. Mr.. CASTOR made lengthy
review of the Republican administration Of
the Federal Government, arraigning the par.