New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20
Frederick Douglass to the CoIOred Men OF
Columbia.

Doo&ihs 10 the uesa "a
CoiUmbi
CoLoRED MEN OF CoLUMBIA: Listen to me
for moment. You are to vote on Thursday
Two parties and two sets OF candidates solicit
your votes. The more important candidates
Tor one or the other of whom you must vote
are Hon. Richard L. Merrick on the one side,
and General n. =. Chapman on the other.
These two men represent two parties. Mr..
Merrick represents the Democratic party, and
General n. p. Chapman the Republican party.
No doubt that both gentlemen represent their
parties equally WELL and whichever is victo-
rious in this election will bring victory to the
principles and purposes of his party. He'll and
heaven are not more opposite than are the
spirit and purposes of these two parties. You
know the parties. You know the men who
represent them. Mr. Merrick stands for the
past He elings to the "good old tames''-the
times when slave holding. slave selling, slave
hunting slave auctions, slave gangs, bound in
chains like wild beasts, were hurried away
from wives, children, and friends to the New
Orleans market; when coored man could
not In safety visit the capital of the country,
and when its own native borne citizens were
not allowed to walk the streets in peace after 9
o'clock at night when colored man could
neither ride on street car nor enter the halls
OF Congress; when the popular cry was ''Half
cent to Kill negro, and half a cent to bury
him." Yes. Richard Z. Merrick represents
these good old times and his election would
be triumph, resurrection of the spirit of
these good old times"
On the other hand, General n. p. Chapman
represents the new era of American ciyiliza-
ton, which gives all men an equal chance in
the race Of life, which leaves no man in bond
age, and opens the way to all alike to wealth,
education, and happiness. He represents the
man fnI a,,f, L.
csted-with equal rights as a man and la
borer in time of peace, with equal duties as a
citizen and soldier in time of war He rep
resents all the new constitutional amendments
and Congressional enactments in favor of lib
erty and equality. In a word, he represents the
spirit of Abraham Lincoln, whom traitors
murdered, and under whose administration the
Union was saved and slavery was abolished
He represents General U. S. Grant, the first
general to lead colored troops to battle and the
first President to recommend giving colored
men the ballot, and who to-day stands foremost
in the great party of progress.
Between these men and their opposte par
ties and principles you are to choose on Thurs.
day. The issue is made up between the old
and the new, between the Democratic and Re-
publican candidate for Congress-between
Richard L. Merrick and General n. P. Chip
man. For one, say shame, eternal shame,
upon any colored voter who supports Richard
L. Merrick, and withered be the black mans
arm and blasted be the black mans hand who
casts vote against General n. p. Chapman.
Be not deceived, colored citizens No change
has taken place in the Democratic party What
1t once was it still is. What it did when it
had the power that it will do when it gets the
power. The skin may be new, but the snake
IS Old and his fangs poison. Beware trust
him not. Among all horrid, disguised mid
night murderers of the South there would be
the widest JOY over the election Of Mr.. Richard
L. Merrick, while our hunted, harrassed and
bitterly prosecuted people in every Southern
State would wiring their hands and utter a
shrek of despair.
Congress is Republican. If this District is in
any way to be assisted by Congress, that assist
ance is to come by Republican votes. Now let
common sense decide Mr.. Merrick is an enc
my to Congress. General Chapman is friend
OF Congress TO which man would Congress
be most likely to lend favorable ear? Which
man would be likely to get the most help to
this territory DO men usually give to their
enemies and turn away their friends? You
Know they do not and will not. w isdom sug-
gests that you send Delegate to Congress in
harmony with Congress. There s no music
IN discord, and Merrick sings out of tune with
Congress.
Pardon me the liberty take in addressing
youth. Both self-interest and principle alike
unite in the one duty Of voting on Thursday
the whole Republican, ticket and no other.
Your friend, FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
WAsHINGToS, April Is.