New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-19
THE COLORED VOTE IN ARKANSAS

Interview with the CoIored state Senators
For Grant First, Inst. and All the
Time.
iLittie Rock Correspondence Cincinnati Com
Inercial.
The two colnrcd members of the Senate
will average very well with the whites.
James NJ. Mason is Il tine-lookinS man, and
impresseS the stranger favOrably, both
from his looks and way he has of keeping
his mouth shut when he has nothing to say.
The white members could profit by his ey-
ample in this particular with benefit to the
State if not to their class. Mason is the
only Senator born on the soil of Arkansas
All the rest are carpet-bagSers. He was
rendered the position of Minister to Liberia
but declined Senator White. l was told
has more influence over the colored men Of
the State than any man in it. So | inter
viewed him on the question of 1872. ques
ton that is exciting cOnsiderabl interest in
Arkansas just now.
Senator" said l. who are the colored
people OF this State for for next Presi-
dent p
Grant replied he: Grant first. last
and all the time
'On what grounds
"On the grounds that he has done more
for the colored people than any man that
ever lived"
Not more than Lincoln. surely"
Eyes. more than Line
Glow do YOU make that out p
81 will answer that question by asking
another How many colored men did
Lincoln ever appoint to office ,.
But few, l suppose but then he freed
You. 1t is better to be free than 10 have an
Office
THAT may be 40. but then there is prin
cipie involved IN the thing. A colored man
never applied to Grant for an office but
what he got it. No man. sir. can poll the
full negro vote but him.
Then you think he will be the nominee
.'If he amt, then the nominee will be
beaten
There is one smart man among the col
ored members of the House. Barbour by
name. who is naturally about as sharp as
any of the white members. He has no edu-
cation, except what he picked up as IA slave.
but makes up in natural sense what he lacks
in education. Being after information
bearing upon the future welfare of the
great party of advanced ideas and things.
sounded Barbour on the 1872 question,
which is the great question now stirring up
the Arkansas mind. The battle now being
fought here is the battle that will decide
which way the electoral vote of this State
goes at the forthcoming Presidential cleo
ton
Mr.. Barbour said I. what of the
hour
The hour, sir, was gloomy short time
ago. but it's Frightening up now"
"IOu seem to have begun early here to
fight the battle of 1872.
''Yes, sir; the thing got forced on us in adj
vance: but we must save the State to Grant
and the Republican party
''DO you think Grant Will be the next Re
publican candidater'
He is bound to be, sir. or else we're gone
up. No man can save us but him
''All the colOred people here seem to be tor
Grant
'.Yes. indeed, we are; for where is there "a
man who has done more for us, Look at the
cOlored men he has appointed to office. l
know colored men who got office when
twenty white men were applying for the
same position. 1t takes nerve. sir. to & i've
it to the black man under such crcum-
stances. But Grant has got nerve and back
bone. and that's why we are all for him. No
man in the country can command the col
Ored strength like Grant. He will be nomi-
mated, and we will all go for him with a
whoOp and a YELL
That they are fighting the battle Of 1872
here year in advance is no joke. but Sc
rious fact The triumph of Clayton is the
triumph of the RI publican party in Arkan-
sas for the coming presidential election.