Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-05-31
COlOred Citizens.

Now that political purpose Is to be served,
and selfish schemes are to be promoted, the
corporation plunderers are loud in their pro-
fessions of regard for the colored people, while
their policy Is calculated to degrade, enslaye,
and injure them.
Instead OF seeking to elevate the newly-en-
franehised race, by encouraging habits Of
industry, self-reliance, true manhood, thrift
and independence, these tricksters only strive
to get their votes, to drive them like sheep to
the shambles, and to treat them as unthinking
animals, unit for any responsibility.
More than this, they have sought to antago-
nize them to the white population, to create
preJudices OF race, and to excite bad passions
Tor the worst purposes. The intelligent colored
people who have grown up among US, who have
common stake in the prosperity of the CITY,
and who are identified with its destiny, know
well that their interests are Identical with ours
and that whatever Injuries one must operate to
the disadvantage OF the other.
Adventures and knaves who have sduatted
Gown here only for plumber and to profit by the
divisions which Ii is their business to create,
care nothing for either race, or for the welfare
of the community. They live upon discord and
commotion, and hence they labor to keep apart
those who are natur ally bound together by the
ties Of fellowship, interest and sympathy.
During the past winter thousands of colored
people were Ike pit here in a suffering condition
by the shameful statements Of corporation
Plunderers, who prevented them from emigrat-
ing 20 States wnere IaD0r I.UOs~s,-S.-
false promises Of employment. The charity of
Congress and the city had to be invoked, to sup
port multitudes who were willing to work, but
had been deceived by treacherous "friends !"
who only wanted TO detain them for the ap-
preaching election.
And what Is now seen in every ward OF the
city, after this winter of hardship and cruelty?
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of negroes
have been imported here from MARYLAND and
Virginia, and put at work on the streets under
promise Of large pay, thus taking the bread
out Of the mouths of our own colored people,
who have already suffered by the receptions Of
Bowen and his followers.
And this is not all. These negroes have been
brought here a. fraudulent voters, not only to
neutralize the opinions OF respectable colored
citizens, but 10 vote down the man Of sub
stance, and to vote against the interests of
those, with whom the resident colored popula-
fion u associated, and upon whom IL depends
for employment and support.
Any man, whoever he may be, that appeals to
the colored people as class, to take part in this
or in any other election, is an enemy of that
race. They are citizens by the Constitution, and
are entitled to equal rights a. such. They form
but one-tenth part Of the whole population OF
the Union, and their happiness and peace,
depend upon the manner in which they shall
discharge the duties Of citizenship, and friendly
relations with those among whom their lot has
been cast.
Our faith is firm that they will fulfil the best
expectations OF their true friends. No race
could have acted better during the war, or since
peace has been proclaimed. But we would wish
to see them a. independent citizens, thinking
and acting for themselves, following their own
convictions and exercising the ballot for the
public good. There is no slavery 90 base AZ
that which prostitutes the high privilege of SUI
frage to the venal use of demagogues, such as
now seek TO again betray and defraud the
colored people OF Washington, for their own
selfish and sinister ends.