Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME I.
THE INDEPENDENT.
SATUttDAY, AUGUST a, 1873.
PubltuHnt Wwkly at H 00 per Annum
in AdraMce.
Sittflf Coplc 5 rent*.
(From the Bavwmah Advertiser & Republican.]
Baltimore In Flames.
Immense Destruction of Property.
Vomr Ch.rrhr. Barntd to tke Oro.ld—
K1(hl Bn.lnm Black, mm* Ftrc
Other Balldlnß. Laid In Aakaa
—Great BxcH.rn.nt Among
the InkhhltanU—Tk
iln mured Lm ot Lift
Nat V.riled—Tk.
Kir. Under Con
trol at lout
Baltimore, July 26.—A little after ten
o'clock to-day a fire broke out in the plan
ing mill of Joseph Thomas & Cos., on the
south aide of Clay street between Liberty
and Park streets. Soon after a general
alarm was sounded, and the fire soon ex
tended to the three adjoining blocks, and
an immense conflagration is now raging.
A stiff southwest breeze is blowing and
immense cinders are wafted several blocks
off, in the vicinity of the Cathedral. The
locality of the fire is in the immediate vi
cinity of the Presbyterian Church, Rev.
Dr. Smith, corner of Liberty and Saratoga
streets, where the Presbyterian Assembly
was held. The entire southwest corner of
this block is burned. Particulars will be
given as fast as possible. Several fire en
gines from Washington have arrived.
Later. —The fire extends to Franklin
strict, Howard atreet and-Lexington Park.
Fane churches Arc burned. The Cathedral
is threatened. It is reported that St. Al
phonsus is burning. Several lives are re
ported lost, but the report has not been
confirmed. Water is ample, and unless
the wind increases the flames will be con
fined to the bounds above indicated.
1 o’clock, p. m.—The fire is still raging,
hut will probably be confined to the area
lamnded by Lexington street on the sonth,
Howard street on the west, Mulberry on
the north, and liberty on the east. After
breaking out in the planing mill of Thomas
& Cos., on the south sido of Clay street,
the flames rapidly spread across Clay to
the block bounded by Howard, Liberty,
Saratoga and Clay streets, consuming near
ly the entire block. At this hour few
buildings remain at the northeast corner
of the block, at which point the Central
Presbyterian Church, of which Dr. Smith
is rector, is located, which strnctnre i%,
now on fire. The probability is the entire
block will be consumed. From Clay street
south the fire worked its way back to Lex
ington street, burning all the buildings on
l’ark street. The fire is still raging on
this block. On the west sido of Park
street, from Lexington to Saratoga, nearly
every house has been burned. Fully two
thirds of the entire block bounded by
Clay, Park, Saratoga and Howard streets,
is being consumed. The First English
I.ntlieran Church on Lexington street,
(Rev. Dr. Barclay’s), is entirely consumed.
It is possible the fire will not extend much
beyond the four blocks named. It is im
possible to get all the particulars. The
streets in the immediate vicinity, and for
a number of blocks adjacent, are being!
jammed with tliousauds of people, furni
ture, wagons, drays, and every vehicle
imaginable, loading with and removing
furniture.
The greatest consternation prevails, and
the streets ore being filled with frantic
women, hurrying in every direction with
children, bedding, cradles and various
pieces of fu|niture in their arms.
The whole fire department of the city,
with two engines from Washington, are
now successfully battling with the flames.
The supply of water up to this time is
ample, and unless the stiff breeze increases
to a gale, and wafts cinders in other direc
tions, it will undoubtedly be confined to
its present locality.
The district burned out is occupied
principally by small shops, several fac
tories, and three-story brick residences.
At this time it is impossible to make any
estimate of the loss. There are a number
of rumors of parties, men, women and
children being burned, but strict inquiry
has failed to establish any loss of life up to
this time, 1:45 p. m.
2:40 p. m.—The fire is still raging, but
has not extended any great extent beyond
the blocks named in the last dispatch.
The Central Presbyterian Church, Dr.
Smith, southeast corner Saratoga and Lib
erty streets, is a complete wreck, nothing
remaining • but the walls. With the ex
ception of three brick dwellings on the
southeast corner of this block, in the in
termediate rear the ruins of the church,
not a building remains. At this hour the
wildest rumors prevail in regard to the
fires in other portions of the city, but an
inspection of the localities named as on
fire, fails to verify the report. The roofs
of several buildings on Calvert street, north
of Saratoga street, have taken fire, among
them the Children’s Aid Society, on Cal
vert street, adjoining the city spring, but
all have been extinguished. St. Alphonsns
German Catholic Church, a beautiful struc
ture at the northeast corner of Saratoga
and Park streets, is in imminent danger,
but at this moment has not taken fire.
Dispatches have been received from Phila
delphia, offering assistance. About one
hundred buildings have been burned.
3 o’clock p. m.—The fire is still raging.
' Light blocks and five buildings have been
THE INDEPENDENT.
burned. The authorities are sending for
outside help. The water supply is failing.
Clay street, from Liberty to Howard, two
squares, is burned. This is a narrow street,
filled with carpenter shops and box fac
tories. The steeple of the Central Pres
byterian Church is on fire. At half-past
one o’clock the fiercest portion of the fire
was on Saratoga street, between Park and
Liberty streets. On the south side
house on the square was in flames. The
fire reached this square from the back
buildings, which reach to the destroyed
houses on Clay street
Up Saratoga to Howard, on the south
side, the houses were still burning at one
o'clock. The course of the fire from
Thomas's factory, where it commenced,
was up Park street on one side and rear of
St Alphonsus school on the other side.
Burning shingles and sparks started the
fire in the square on the north side of
Mulberry street between Cathedral and
Park streets. The fire then dashed across
the street to the Academy of Arts, The
dome of the Cathedral at one time was on
fire, but was put out by citizens, who were
stationed on the roof prepared for it At
eleven o’clock the casings of the windows
of St Alphonsus Church were on fire for
the third time. The sparks were showered
all over the church from the burning
houses in front and alongside of it
Notwithstanding the intensity of the
flames and the natural excitement incident
thereto, no panic prevailed in the neigh
borhood of the fire, but all did their ut
most to prevent the spread of the flames.
The Salvage Corps appeared on the scene,
and are doing good service. No estimate
of damage is possible under the circum
stances. The work of moving is still go
ing forward, and the streets arc impassable.
On Mulberry street the buildings of the
Maryland Academy of Art have been
burned. Dr. Dalrymple’s school, adjoin
ing, is on fire. Three handsome private
residences on the north side of Mulberry
street, between Cathedral street and Park,
took fire, but were saved with considerable
damage. A force of forty men are passing
water to the dome of the Cathedral, which
is covered with blankets.
3:10 p. m.—Clay street, on which the
fire originated to-day, is a small street
beginning at Liberty street, about midway
between and parallel with Saratoga and
Lexington, running west, intersecting
Park and Howard streets, and stopping at
Eutaw.
4:10 p. m.—The fire is now completely
under control, and many who removed
their goods and furniture on blocks adja
cent to tlm fire are moving back. Reports
are still circulated that several children
were burned and men killed, but a strict
inquiry at the Marshal's office fails to
verify any death by burning.
BISMARCK.
IIIi Attempt to Crash the Christian Itell
glon and Eielt the State Into a Deity.
A correspondent of the world, under date
of Berlin, June 29,makes public a most re
markable conversation with Prince Bis
marck in which the Prince, after giving ex
pression to his weariness of spirit, is made to
say: The truth is, there are not half a dozen
men in Germany, or on our sido I mean,
who clearly comprehend the real meaning
of the conflicts in which wv are engaged,
and in which, notwithstanding our success
thus far, I now believe we shall be beaten.
The Emperor does not understand it, and if
he did he would change sides in a minute.
The Crown Prince, perhaps, does under
stand it, but he will put himself on the
other side, if indeed he is not already there.
The fight is the Empire against the Church.
It is the fight of the State, Empire, Mon
archy or Republic against God, and in this
fight the State will get the worst of it, un
less it succeeds in destroying the idea of
God and placing itself in his place. Men
say they must have something to worship.
Well then let them worship the State; let
it be all in all; let it take the place of the
family as well as of the deity; let it be the
deity. In two generations, if we had the
field wholly to ourselves, we could so ob
literate the idea of God and of imaginary
right, bestowed on man by Him as their
creator; that the substitution of the State in
His place would be effected, and the State
as in Pagan Rome, would be all in all.
The correspondent giving in his own lan
guage the spirit of a continued conversation
with Bismarck, says the seminal idea of
the whole was that the aspiration for lib
erty grew out of belief in God; that it
wonld be impossible to make a perfect sub
servient people ont of men imbued with
dogmas of Christianity, and that while all
forms of Christianity were alike fallacious
he could war against none bnt that of the
Roman Catholic Church, for the reason
that it alone was formidable. He said noth-'
ing has amused me more than praises
which I have received from Protestant Chris
tians of England and America. I have
wished to crash Rome that I might crush
Christianity. They praise me for my ser
vices in the cause of what they call reformed
Christianity. If anything could console me
for chagrin, which I forsee I am to endure
for some time to come, it would be to wit
ness the amusement of these good friends of
mine when they understand the truth;
but understand it they never will.
Three Kinds op Praise. —There are
three kinds of praise: That which we
yield, that which we lend, and that which
we pay. We yield it to the powerful from
fear, we lend it to the weak from interest,
and we pay it to the deserving from grati
tude.
QUITMAN, GA., SATURDAY, AUGUST 2,1873.
[From the Atlanta Constitution.]
GEN. JOE JOHNSTON A GUEST OF THE
GOVERNOR OF OHIO.
An Incident of the War Not In Hlstorjr.
Atlanta, Ga., July 21, 1873.
Editors Constitution:
A reception was held at the mansion of
Governor Noyes, in Columbus, Ohio, on
Tuesday evening, July 15th, in honor of
the members of the State Constitu
tional Convention now in session
in Columbus. There was a number of
distinguished gneats from abroad. Promi
nent among the many was General Joseph
E. Johnston. He was a marked man and
attracted universal and most respectful at
tention. Thi.; is as it should be.
Upon being made acquainted with the
above fact, a war incident was called to my
mind—a war incident that is not part of
history, and which ahowa the necessity of
carrying out the orders of the Comman
der-in-chief at all hazards.
It was in May, 1864, that General Sher
man swung into Georgia with his great
army of one hundred thousand men and
two hundred and fifty guns. Nine years
ago! It does not seem nine years since
the thunders of artillery ahook the moun
tains from Ringgold to Atlanta! Then,
Governor Noyes of Ohio now, was Colonel
Noyes of the 39th Ohio infantry, and part
of the Army of the Tennessee under com
mand of General McPherson. The com
mander of the opposing Confederate army
was General Joseph E. Johnston, who was
Governor Noye’s guest on the 16th of this
month of July.
But to my incident.
General Sherman, with his splendidly
equipped army of one hundred thousand
men, wanted to give General Johnston,
with his army of fiity thousand veterans,
battle in tho month of May, 1864, for he
well knew that every step General John
ston took toward Atlanta he became stron
ger. Johnston was at Dalton, with his ad
vance at Ringgold; his line of supplies as
well os of retreat, the Western and At
lantic Railroad.
Sherman conceived the idea of flanking
Johnston by sending McPherson, with his
twenty-four thousand men, around through
Snake Creek Gap to Resaca, or any other
point north of Gostanaulla river, with or
ders to seize the railroad, hold it, and burn
the bridge at Resoca at all hazards.
Meanwhile he would keep the Confederate
army at Rocky Faced Ridge busy. Gen.
Thomas doubted the success of the plan,
because, he said General Johnston was
too good a soldier to leave Snake Creek
Gap unfortified. But Sherman was bound
to try it, and so he started McPherson,
with the army of Tennessee, on n mission,
which, if carried out would result in as
great an achievement as ever was gained
by armed men. Johnston would be sur
rounded—hemmed in by the Oostananlla
and Conasauga rivers on the south and
east, by John’s mountain on the west, he
would have to surrender or fight against
fearful odds—double his force attacking in
front and rear.
On the Bth and 9th of May, Sherman
hammered away at Rocky Face Ridge and
Buzzard's Roost, at a fearful rate; and
during the night of the 9th, a courier from
McPherson arrived at Sherman’s head
quarters with the information that Mc
pherson and his army had passed through
Snake Creek Gap and were within a mile
of the Railroad.
This was great news for Sherman. He
immediately called for horses and an escort,
and rode to Gen. Thomas' quarters, over
a mile away. Bursting in upon General
Thomas, he shouted:
“I told you so, Tom!” (In familiar in
tercourse he always called General Thomas
Tom.) “McPherson passed through the
gap, and by this time has the railroad, and
has burned the bridge. I’ve got him
dead!”
Of course Thojnas was overjoyed, they
congratulated themselves on ending the
campaign at its commencement. To go
down to Atlanta, and from there to Savan
nah would be holiday work. At daylight
a general advance would be made. Mc-
Pherson shall hear our guns before night.
Victory!
Before daylight another courier came,
and his message was that McPherson had
met a considerable force, and considered
it prudent to fall back to the west end and
fortify.
Then Sherman stormed. He said “the
grand opportunity is over—oh! if I had
only sent Osterhans or Charley Wood, or
somebody who would have done as I or
dered, Joe Jonston would have been mine
before forty-eight hours.”
Sherman at once put his army in mo
tion for Resaca, via Snake Creek Gap,
hoping to get through before Johnston
could get away, leaving Howard’s corps to
watch Buzzard Roost. But that wiley
Chieftain had detected the object of the
movement, and he pulled up stakes at Dal
ton, and, having the short cut, got to Re
saca before Sherman debouched from
Snake Creek Gap, while Howard’s corps
occupied Dalton.
Then followed tho three days’ bloody
fight around Resaca, nntil the night of
May 15th, when Johnston quietly slipped
away to Kingston with his army, the rear
guard burning tho railroad bridge across
the Oostanaula river. Sherman did not
get into Atlanta until the 9th of Septem
ber.
Gen. Sherman was terribly incensed to
ward Gen. McPherson for not carrying
ont his orders to seize the railroad at Re
taca, and contemplated removing him
from command of the army of theTennes-
see. But McPherson was a noble, dashing
officer—the idol of the srmy, and at Re
aaca on the 14th he carried a line of rifle
pita across Camp Creek, which enabled
him to pour a destructive enfilading fire
upon the Confederate works and to com
mand the railroad bridge; so Sherman for
gave his blunder; and by his brilliant gen
eralship from Resoca to Atlanta, where he
gave his bright young life on that bloody
22d of July, lie was fully restored in the
confidence of his commander, who char
acterized him as "a noble youth, of strik
ing personal appearance, of tho highest
professional capacity, and with a heart
abounding in kindness, that drew to him
the affections of all men."
No man can foresee events; but had
General McPherson carried out his ciders
at Reaaca, would the 30,000 Federals and
42,000 Confederates killed and wounded
between Dalton and Atlanta have been
spared? A. L. Harris.
foreignTffairs.
SPAIN VS. CUBA.
Washington, July 25.—Information
from Madrid by telegram has just been re
ceived in diplomatic circles that the Cortes,
by a large majority, have resolved that
they will confer no further political privi
leges on Cuba until tho Insurgents shall
lay down their arms.
DON CARLOS AND HIS MOVEMENTS.
A Hemld special from Lecumberry,
France, of the 24th says: Don Carlos, by
the advice of his Generals, hesitated to
advance on Pampaluna, and is waiting for
a junction with tho forces of Darregitrry.
His whole force numbers fifteen thousand
men, fully armed. Numerous French vol
unteers arc arriving, and are demanding
arms.
Paris, July 24.—Tho Government lias
received information which it regards as
trustworthy, that instructions have been
issued from the head of the Internationals
in London to its subordinates in France,
to organize for a serios of labor strikes
throughout the Republic, to be carried
into effect during the coming recess of the
Assembly. Increased vigilance on the
part of the local authorities is ordered, and
contact of the soldiery with foreigners is
prohibited.
Prince Frederick Charles, of Germany,
has tendered to Marshal Bazainc evidence
in his favor on his trial for the surrender
of Metz to the Prussians. The Marshal,
however, declined to permit the evidence
to be introduced.
The Journal de Pari to-day says the
project of placing a Prince of the House:
of Hohenzbllem on the Ahrone of Spain
ha/s not been abandoned. A number of
discontented Carlist leaders and former
Liberal Unionists aro said to favor the Ho
henzollem candidacy. The Journal also
says the Cure of Santa Cruz waa pro
claimed a rebel by Carlos for being con
cerned in this intrigue.
The permanent committoc of the assem.
bly to sit at Versailles during the recess of
that body is composed of ton members of
the Left and one Bonapartist.
The Duke de Aumale to-day asked leave
of absence from the Assembly for the pur
pose of presiding over the court martial of
Bazaine. The bill authorizing the con
struction of the Church of the Sacred
Heart, a grand cathedral on tho height of
Montmatrie, overlcoking Paris, passed the
Assembly to-day after an exciting debate,
in tho course of which much violent reli
gious partisanship was evoked. It is prob
able the Assembly will adjourn Thursday
next.
Madrid, July 25.— The Prussian frigate
dispatched by the German Consul in pur
suit of the Spanish war vessel Vigilante,
which was captured by Insurgents, was
overhauled en route off Almeria, whither
she was bound, for the purpose of pro
claiming that province an independent
oanton. Senor Galvez, a deputy in the
Cortes, was in command of the Vigilante.
The German Ambassador has offered to
deliver the captured vessel into the hands
of the government.
A dispatch from tho town of Fignoras,
in the province of Gerona, says the gates
of the city have been olosed, the streets
barricaded, and the authorities were pre
pared for defence against the Insurgents.
A number of Carlists have been arrested,
and six priests, suspected of intriguing for
Don Carlos have been thrown into prison.
THE OARXJHTB TURNING ON GERMANY.
Madrid, July 25.—The Cortes has
passed a bill suppressing the Admiralty.
President Balmeron has issued a proclama
tion calling the men of the reserves into
active service against the insurrectionists
of the country.
Madrid, July 25. —Contreras, command
ing the Rebels in Carthagena, threatens to
seize all German ships now lying in the
harbor of that port, unless the Vigilante
captured by a German man-of-war is res
tored to tho Insurgents. There is a rumor
which needs confirmation, that the Ger
man Consul at Carthagena has been ar
rested by the Insurgents, and is detained
as a hostage.
THE SHAH.
London, July 25.—The Shah of Persia
will embark at Brindisi for Constantino
ple.
KHTVA’S CONCESSION*.
St. Petersburg, July 25. —The govern
ment has received a dispatch from General
Kauffman, announcing a treaty between
Russia and Khiva, which has been signed
by the Khan, who promises to pay Russia
two million roubles and abolish capital
punishment in bis dominions. In return
for this, Russia guarantees independence
of Khanate. The Czar’s troops will oc
cupy Khiva until the war indemnity is
paid.
A portion of tho territory of Khanate is
to be given to Bokhara, for assistance ren
deraet to the Russian troops.
Social and Political Equality at tho South.
Ib the Editor ttf the S. Y. Express:
Eastern Virginia, July 4, 1873.
The great ability of your paper, its high
oharaoter, and its moderate and conser
vative views as to governmental policy
have given it an influence and popularity
in the South possessed by no other North
ern paper. This ia more particularly tho
case in Virginia, where tho great mass of
the white population ore conservative and
utterly opposed to this wild radicalism that
controls the government and is rapidly
breaking down all the safeguards and bar
riers which the wisdom of forefathers
erected for the protection of our liberties.
Will you allow mo to say a word to your
readers upon a subject but little under
stood at the North, but of the most vital
importance to the North as well as tho
South? I allude to the question of social
and political equality between tho white
and black races in the United States. The
recent attempt to force this policy upon
the country is one of tho most unfortunate
errors that lias ever been committed.
Parties at a distance, who neither un
derstand nor appreciate the difficulties of
the question, havo undertaken its control,
and the result, thus far, is evil, and only
evil, for whilst it has brought no good to
the negro, whole communities of whites
have been bankrupted and ruined. Had
the people been left free to adopt such
measures as suited the negro iu his altered
condition, his usefulness and efficiency as
a laborer might have been maintained,
whilst, at the same tame, all nocessary le
gal protection would have been secured to
him.
Let not tho position of tho Southern
people upon this subject be misunder
stood. They do not desire to re-enslave
the negro. No people were over before
known to make the immense sacrifice
which tho abolition of slavery involved so
cheerfully and with so little regret; but
they cannot be indifferent to the immense
evils brought upon the country by the fatal
policy since pursued.
Wherever there is a negro ascendancy
in numbers, there, to all intents and pur
poses, is installed negro domination, with
all its horrible consequences. Instances:
South Carolina. Florida, Alabama, Louisi
ana and Arkansas. What else could be ex
pected when the governments of those
States have been taken out of the hands
of the educated, intelligent classos, and
placed in tho hands of tho ignorant and
vicious?
* In order to a right understanding of
this question of equality, I will revert
briefly to the
question of races.
Of the five different races now inhabit
ing the world, the white race is the su
perior. Vast differences exist between the
whites and negroes—physically, morally
and intellectually—to prove which I have
only to draw comparison. Seo what the
white man hus accomplished in the physi
cal, intellectual and moral world. Look at
his physical developments, his noble form
divine, indicating, as they do, the highest
type of moral and intellectual power and
excellence.
The greatest differences havo been de
veloped by scientific examination, by
which it has been shown that the head of
white man contains on an average 91 cubic
inches more brain than the negro, and as
great a difference as 17 inches was discov
ered between the two extremes.
Of the races the negro is now the lowest.
The great preponderance of his animal in
stincts and passions over his moral nature
renders it extremely difficult, and indeed
almost impossible to elevate his moral
status while he is left free to follow the
natural bent of his nature.
Had events been left to take their natu
ral course, and each of the races allowed
to take the position assigned by Provi
dence, there never would exist any antag
onism between them. Just as soon as
the attempt is made to force political and
social equality between the raees, just that
moment an antagonism is inaugurated.
It is contended that tho
NEGRO MUST BE EDUCATED,
and then he will vindicate his manhood
and prove his capacity for intellectual and
moral elevation and improvement. This
improvement is now being honestly and
fairly tried; but thus far, so fur as the
great mass of the negroes is concerned,
the out-look is not at all hopeful. Many
of them fail to avail themselves of the edu
cational advantages placed within their
reach, and those who do seem not to be at
all benefltted thereby.
The work of elevating the moral and
intellectual status of the negro, if practi
cable at all, is one of great difficulty. In
the absence of all family government, and
the absence, too, of almost all moral and
virtuous restraints in the social life of the
negro, it is yet difficult to see how any
public effort can accomplish much good,
especially in the way of moral reform.
You may succeed to some extent in the
education of the head, but, if unaccom
panied by a corresponding training of the
moral powers, this partial education will
only render the recipient more potent for
mischief. This moral reform must com
mence in the family circle. But here an
other difficulty presents itself. In the ab
sence of all social intercourse between the
two races, it is difficult to gain access to
the family circle of the negro. Recent
events have had the effect of producing a
sad estrangement between them, and
THE BREACH IS WIDENING EVERT DAY.
Outside of governmental aid, tho negro
is now left almost entirely to himself for
his moral and religioun instruction. They
have now their own churches and their
own pastors, and nearly every adult among
them is a member of the church; but their
religious exercises are gradually running
into a cessational furor characteristic of
the race, and in which there seems to bo
not a particle of real religious perception.
Political equality necessitates to Bomo
extent social equality, and sociul equality
eventually
LEADS TO AMALGAMATION,
or a mixing of the races—a double sin on
the part of tho white man, a sin against
God and a sin against the purity and in
tegrity of his own race.
The white race was set apart for a great
work, and in order to fit it for this work,
the benefleient Creator has bestowed upon
it instincts and capacities of the highest
order. If this race, so distinguished and
so highly favored of God, were allowed to
mix with and be corrupted by an inferior
race, the great purpose of the Almighty
would he defeated. The work assigned it
has not been completed, and tho original
necessity for preserving the purity and in
tegrity of the chosen race still exists.
It is clearly the intention of God that
the different races should not mix or amal
gato, and hence these distinctions of color,
and those natural antipathies and instincts
which were designed, doubtless, to keep
them separate and distinct The Israel
ites, when abont to enter the Holy Land,
were commanded to utterly exterminate
the inferior races then inhabiting it, in or
der to prevent this mixing.
Of all the human family, JMoses, the
great law-giver, and the great representa
tive man of the white race, alone was per
mitted to talk with God face to face. No
inferior race, no unhallowed foot was per
mitted to tread the top of that sacred
mount from whence God with his own
hands was to hand down the written law.
THE BALLOT FOR THE NEGRO
is like a sharp-eged tool in the hands of a
child; so far from being a protection to
the negro’s rights, it will in the end work
his destruction, because it brings him into
a state of antagonism with the white race,
will finally end in n war of races.
At tho North, where there are lint few
negroes, the evils of negro suffrage are
scarcely seen and felt at all, but here in
tho South, where the negro population in
many localities preponderates over the
whites, the effect is ruinous beyond the
most fearful anticipations. In tho exer
cise of this privilege, so highly prized by
the virtuous and enlightened freeman, the
great mass of tho negroes exhibit an utter
disregard of the public interest and service.
Men are voted for for high official posi
tions who can neither read nor write, and
are in other respects utterly unfit for them.
In almost every community where the ne
groes have a majority, the educated and
onlightcned classes are entirely excluded
from the public service and the best in
terests of the country committed either to
the keeping of ignorant negroes or of un
scrupulous and mercenary adventurers.
The negro, though the weaker party, is
constantly raising the issue of race or
color, whenever they have the escendaney
in numbers. He neither comprehends nor
regards any of your party questions, and
when appealed to his only response is: “I
go with my color.”
Fortunately for the pnrity and integrity
of tho whole race, and fortunately for the
interest of Christian civilization, this ques
tion of social equality has in a great meas
ure been placed beyond the reach of legal
enactments, though the insane and wicked
attempt has not been left untried.
Tho advocates of social equality fail to
recognize the distinction between equality
among members of the some race and
equality between those of different races,
more especially where there exist such
marked differences as exist between the
black and white races.
The white man, however humble his
origin may have been, if he has sufficient
capacity and energy, may aspire to and
reach any position, either in the State or
in the social circle. Not so, however, with
the negro. You may clothe him in purple
and fine linen; you may store his mind
with classic lore, or he may have gleaned
the vast fields of science, still he can never
be elevated to the social level with the
white man. The question at issue is one
that towers above all party. The mistuken
policy now being enforced is rapidly de
veloping results of monstrous import. The
laws of nature cannot be outraged with
impunity. Shall we pause and retrace the
steps so fatally taken in the wrong direc
tion, or shall we with pertinacious obsti
nacy, press on to the yawning gulf that lies
ahead of us ?
If a traveler in the prosecution of his
journey happens to take the wrong road,
as soon as be makes np his mind to the
fact he at once retraces his steps and puts
himself in the right road again. Why
may not errors of State policy be corrected
in the same way ? The prevailing idea
that governmental policies of a certain
kind, like the laws of the Modes and Per
sians, ore unchangeable, is a fallacy.
The character, condition and capacities
of the negro are much better understood
by the Southern than the Northern peo
ple, aud they are far better qualified to
deal wisely with these great questions at
issue between them.
Liberty and the franchise in the hands
of the virtuous and enlightened classes of
society is a great boon, but when thrusted
prematurely into the hands of the igno
rant and visoious they become a curse in
stead of a blessing. The great mass of
the negro population is at this time totally
unprepared for a safe and legitimate ex-
NUMBER 13.
erciae of those groat questions. The Bhi
and most deplorable condition of moot of
tho cotton States attests too plainly trie
truth of this position. And then, to come
back again to this question of races. Be
have to confront an additional obstacle in
the way of social and political equality that
can never bo surmounted. It i*M*Cly
impracticable to make two races lfon to
gether peaceably on terms of
And it is more particularly so With two
races so distinct and unlike as tho bleak
and white races. The inevitable qtiestiofi
of races will be raised, in spite of legal
enactments, constitutional provisions and
sickly sentimentality. And, itns|S In
say, the miserable infatnation of the negro
prompts him to make the first start is that
direction. In spite of hia weakness and
the remonstrances and warnings of hie best
friends, he is everywhere raising this dan
gerous and fatal question of room.
WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOB THM imsf
I answer, first, not slavery, but some con
dition of subordination to the superior
nice. The second remedy is to colonies
him and give him the opportunity of work
ing out his own destiny alone.
The %st is the only way by which the
negro cun be utilized here. When occu
pying his natural position he makes an
efficient laborer, and is better suited for
agricultural purposes in the Sooth then
any other. But his usefulness an a la
borer is being rapidly destroyed, in tke
vain attempt to make a political engine of
him. If, on the other hand, it be IbWif
impracticable to correct the error of th|a
past, it would bo far better to let him
solve the problem of his capacity for self
government, unaided by others.
THE NEGRO IN AFRICA.
There is something peculiar to Africa
and the negro race. The missionary baa
never done any great thing for poor, be
nighted Africa. He can’t go there. He
can’t live there, where "the air is like a
furnace" and the sands like coals of fire,
but God, who has said that the Gospel
shall be preached to every living creator*,
has not left the poor Afriean without a
chance of hearing the glad tidings of sol
vation. Slavery has been the means by
which that great blessing has been *x
extended to him; and it ia extremely
doubtful whether he could ever have been
Christianized in any other way.
The fact cannot be denied that the negro
has never attained to any degree of civili
zation except when brought into acme
condition of subordination to a superior
race. In the providence of God be hes
beeu brought here, where he has had bis
day of probation, and bas attained, pea*
haps, to as high a degree of civilisation a*
lie is capable of, and it may be that this
same all-wise and overruling Providonos is
in this manner opening the way for his re
turn to his native land, there to erect the
standard of Christian civilization, if, in
deed he is capable of snch a destiny.
Our Northern brethren, in their vain at
tempt to remove the disabilities which God
has imposed, had bettor take heed to their
ways, lest they bring upon themaehraa the
fate of Gahazi, who, in the attempt to
muke merchandise out of sooted things,
brought upon himself tho curse from which
the prophet had just delivered Naarnan,
We of the South have no other feeßng
toward the negro but that of lundncaa.
But when ho grnsps at the rein el gov
eminent, and attempts to pot the white
man under his feet, he at onee kindles a
flume that will as surely doom him as Ike
fire doth the stubble.
A wide-spread misapprehension existent
the North upon this subject, the removal
of which would tend more to the restora
tion of kind and cordial relations between
the sections than anything else in the
world. Let the good and patriotic men
everywhere come together, and let this
difficult and delicate question be dealt with
in the light of truth, justice and mercy.
Let the negro have all the safeguards and
protection thrown around him that may be
due to him in his humble position, but kt
nothing be done in his interest that may
endanger the supemocy of the white race.
Veritas.
The general feeling in New York State
is in favor of a united Democracy. The
Albany Argus says: “It is gratifying to
know that the feeling in New York eity ie
in favor of hearty union. The people will
follow where leaders in whom they confide
shall indicate. There is no disposition to
dictate, only a yearning for hearty and ef
fective co-operation. There is reason to
feel confident that this desire for unity
will be gratified. Complications will be
smoothed away, and no differences allowed
of a nature perilous to success. In the
full assurance of this auspicious result the
Democracy of the interior can confidently
prepare for the coming campaign. Sound
principles have been steadily gaining
strength for years. Give them vigor and
the issues of the conflict will not be doubt
ful.”
A debating society discussed the qnes
iion: “Is it wrong to cheat • lawyer ?”
After full discussion and mature delibera
tion, the decision was, “Not wrong, but
too difficult to pay for the trouble.**
“What a waste of money,” soliloquized a
vagrant, “to be buying meat that's half
bone, when yon get whisky without any
bone in it at all!”
A pickpocket when engaged in Ms pro
fession, seldom is aware that beisstealing.
He performs all his thefts in a moment of
! abstraction.