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Feeding The Wolf John B. Rayner was one of the most prominent leaders of Peoples party in the South during the last decade of 19 th century. His figure is being largely forgotten now and the main reason for this is that, even during his lifetime, he had lost all credibility for easily switching his political ideas, in order to please public. This approach proved to be failure only historical prospective gives us a proper insight on the importance of any politician. According to this approach, Rayner is being forgotten not because of public ungratefulness, but because his figure is not quite worthy of having any historical importance attached to it. Greg Cantrell's book Feeding the Wolf is an autobiographical account of Rayner's life.
Author admits that up until recently, he was unaware that John B. Rayner is actually an illegitimate son of Kenneth Rayner, the slaveholding congressman and planter from North Carolina. He served for twenty years in North Carolina legislature and was known for his unusually warm feelings towards the Blacks. In 19 th century it wasnt unusual for White slave owners to accidentally knock up some of their female Black servants, yet recognizing bastards officially was very much unheard of, back than. John Rayner was able to receive education at Raleigh Theology Institute and St. Augustine University after the end of Civil War.
This, of course, wouldnt happen if his father didnt support him. He began his political career as Republican in 1870, yet there was a large Democratic majority being elected to North Carolina legislature, causing Rayner Jr. to lose his job as constable to grand jury. After this, John Rayner moved to Texas, where he taught in school, yet his political aspirations caused him to become politically active once again. In 1890 he joined Peoples Party, which was formed as a farmers response to the worsening of economical situation in this state.
Just like many modern politician, Rayner Jr. tried to capitalize on the racial issue, by attempting to fuse Black racial conscience with idea of statewide Populist movement. He gained notoriety as the silver-tongued orator of the colored race; in his many speeches he used to criticize Democrats for not recognizing black and mulatto factor. In a way, he was the first politician to promote the concept of multicultural society. Nevertheless, Rayner and other leaders of Peoples Party did one tactical mistake they decided to oppose growing Democrat Partys popularity.
The price for this was the rapid decline of their supporters number. Back in those days the concept of democracy was a bit different from what we associate it with today. During the 1896 elections, armed Democrats simply did not allow Populists to vote this was beginning of downfall for Rayner Jr. In 1904 he was hired by Conroe College as financial agent. This year marks the time when he totally changed his political ideas.
From being a proponent of Black radicalism, he became an outspoken critic of his own former ideas. I personally think that John Rayner wasnt just trying to appeal to Whites, like many people thought at the time, it looks like he really believed that Blacks had to subjugate to Whites and work on raising their educational level first, before coming up with demands of equality: Political activity alone cannot make a man free. Back of the ballot, he must have property, industry, skill, economy, intelligence, and character (Cantrell, p. 60) Yet, although Rayner gained some popularity among Whites, he lost much of his influence on Black people because his name became associated with ultimate collaboration. There were other Black political leaders at the time that used to promote the similar ideas, such as Booker T. Washington, yet they were always respected because they stood firmly in what they believed was right and wrong, unlike Rayner. There were five paid positions that John B.
Rayner held throughout his life: orator, organizer, political strategist for the Texas Peoples Party, preacher and lastly schoolteacher. Nevertheless, being a politician was his true calling and there often were times when Rayner worked on voluntarily basis for his party. Despite this, it appears that the true motivation behind his political activity has making a career. Obviously enough, Rayner Jr.
became politically active because of his fathers influence. In 1854 Kenneth Rayner had founded of an American (Know-Nothing) party. He was in favor of cooperating with the Union at the time and this caused great many southerners to disrespect him. Kenneth Rayner, despite being known to exploit his slaves, just like any other Southern rancher, also strived to go down in history as humanitarian. At appears doubtful that he really cared about Black slaves well-being, although he liked to talk about making their lot easier, without moving a finger to help them in some concrete manner.
His sons beliefs also seemed to be only skin-deep. John Rayner's biography proves this better than anything else. This is the reason why he failed to achieve a historical prominence, just like his father. People can follow the craziest politicians in big numbers, yet they need to subconsciously feel that these politicians are being sincere in what they say. This wasnt the case with both Rayner's. Even though it seems that Rayner Jr.
really became honest in what he started to promote after the turn of the century, it could never bring him back his former popularity. It is interesting to learn about his reformed ideas. In one of his late speeches Rayner Jr. said: Negroes need White peoples guidance, just like children need to be looked after by adults (Cantrell, p. 71) His contemporary Black critics used to say that Rayner Jr.
tried to feed the wolf, meaning that White supremacists are never going to be satisfied with the situation of Black people having the same rights. The rise of Peoples party in South is attributed to the popular discontent among farmers, who formed the bulk of political movement, known as Populism. After the split of so-called Jeffersonian Democrats from the Democratic Party, they joined with Populists. Peoples party appeared as a result of such fusion. Its program largely resembled the program of Democrats.
Poor farmers, ranchers, laborers and Blacks, were also those from whom Peoples party drew support. John B. Rayner's task was to attempt creating a coalition among Whites and Blacks, which would guarantee Peoples Party having a fair chance while competing with Republicans and Democrats. Other Peoples Party leaders, such as James B. Weaver, Thomas Nugent and James S. Davis placed a great hope on Rayner Jr.
to consolidate Black voters in favor of Peoples Party. Yet, he failed their expectations, because he pushed the race issue little too far. At the end of 19 th century Blacks had a very low identity consciousness. Despite all of those injustices that are being done to them during the period of slavery, they still thought of themselves as Americans rather than Afro-Americans. His political failure cant be explained by the fact that his political phraseology wasnt effective. It was simply a bit ahead of time.
Whatever illogical it might sound, majority of Blacks were also sharing Southern patriotic sentiment. The treatment of slaves in the South before Civil War was very different from how it is portrayed in todays media. As a matter of fact, many Blacks were being treated like members of slave owners families. It was only the matter of time before slavery was going to be abolished in the South, even if Confederate army had never lost the war.
American nation was born out of civil conflict, yet even while troops were clashing on battlefields, deep inside this nation stayed undivided, thats why there wasnt any guerilla war after Confederates lost to Union. This is important to remember if were to remain one nation in the future. John B. Rayner died in obscurity in 1918, being poor and forgotten something he was so terrified of during his life. There is no doubt that Rayner Jr. wouldve gained popularity and respect among Blacks, had he lived in modern times.
American society is very secularized now playing race card can bring many more dividends for modern politicians than it used to be at the end of 19 th century Bibliography: Cantrell, Greg Feeding the Wolf: John B. Rayner and the Politics of Race, 1850 - 1918 Harlan Davidson, New York. 2001 I personally think that John Rayner's ideas can actually be applied to modern American society, which is becoming increasingly secularized over the issue of race.
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Research essay sample on 19 Th Century Peoples Party
