I don't pretend to
hint that my young opponent, Tom Bannister, would favor nigger rule, but I
do say--do you hear me, fellow-citizens?--I do say that every nigger in
this county is a Bannister man! How do I know?? I will tell you. Last
Saturday night the niggers had a meeting in an old stable on my premises.
Wishing to know what they were up to, I stole slyly to where I could
overhear their proceedings. My old nigger, Barnaby--yonder he sits, and he
can't deny it--was presiding, and the question before the meeting was,
'Which of the two candidates, Tom Bannister and Colonel Sommerton, shall we
niggers support? On this question there was some debate and difference of
opinion, until old Bob Warmus arose and said, 'Mistah Pres'dent, dey's no
use er talkin'; I likes Colonel Sommerton mighty well; he's a berry good
man; dey's not a bit er niggah in 'im. On t' odder han', Mistah Pres'dent,
Mistah Tom Bannistah is er white man too, jes de same; but I kin say fo'
Mistah Bannistah 'at he's mo' like er niggah an' any white man 'at I ebber
seed afore!"'
Here the Colonel paused to wait for the shouting and the hat-throwing to
subside.
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