The Journal of Negro History, Volume 7, 1922Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 7, 1922
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
had never been asked to the home of a Southern man since he came
into the State. "They do business with me, meet me in public
places and show me all respect, but never open the latch key". A
reverend and highly esteemed prelate of the Methodist Church in
the North came here to attend a gathering of African churches. He
was in an official position, for these churches were under the
control of his denomination. He remained here several days
presiding over the gathering. He was known to be an honored
prelate, whose life was given solely to his religious duties. He
told me that during his stay in South Carolina he had not
received a single attention from his Southern fellow Methodists.
The clergy had not noticed his presence nor asked him into their
pulpit. He saw only fellow Christians who had come from the North
or Negroes, I cannot imagine how the line can be more closely
drawn, and now speak of what happened only a few days since.
_The Negro and His Northern Ally_
The negro, then has been thrown back upon his Northern ally.
Every memory, every name, every anniversary of the war, is
cherished as sacred. All the rest is an abomination. You may well
ask: "Why should not this be so, for are not these memories dear
to them by the blood slain brothers and children?" Truly so, and
far be it from me to profane so holy a thought as that which
would honor them. But I am answering the question propounded some
time since as to how it is that the Southern whites have never
succeeded in dividing the colored vote, so as to give the states
a good government. They have driven the Negro away. In Georgia
when they gained power they have practically disfranchised him.
But for the interference of the Federal Congress they would have
forbidden his appearance in their legislatures. I do not think
that any frank Georgian will deny that this result was largely
due to intimidation and force. In a State with 545,142 negroes in
1870, to 638,926 whites, they have virtually stamped out a
Republican party. The negro is afraid to vote, is not in many
places allowed on the jury, is punished severely for crimes, and
Mr. Nordhoff has told you that at least 25,000 of them have left
the State in the last five years; and yet in Georgia they pay
taxes on a large property. The negro in South Carolina sees what
has been done across the line, and he knows, or naturally fears,
that should the white man rule here the same results will follow.
As a consequence, therefore, the negro is in the hands of the
adventurer. He fears that his master will make him a slave, or
reduce him to a condition akin to slavery. The result is,
therefore, that not one of them will vote the Democratic ticket.
I have heard of Democratic negroes, but I have seen none. I have
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account