New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-19
Letter freq, IS :ss,.Hri.
ST.. JOSEPH, August 80, 1872

a few weeks ago for here, stopping at Chica-
60 and keokuk on my way. Being a little
interested in knowing about how our people
stood in regard to political matters, / inquired
into the matter while remaining in Chicago,
and found that the colored vote Of that city
would be given almost wholly for Grant and
Wilson. Keokuk, Iowa, contains about eight
hundred cOlored voters, and | feel safe in
saying that there will be about eight hundred
colorcd votes cast for Grant and Wilson in
that city in November next. During my en-
tire journey from Oberln to this place, which
took about a week, was unable to find COL
ored man who was in favor Of Greeley and
Brown. In this city am told there are one
or two Greeley men and few Democrats
among the colored people. have not been
unfortunate enough to see those enterprising
gentlemen and hope 1 shall not be.
Soon after reaching here visited Leaven-
worth, Kansas, where met with 4 cordial
reception and had 4 delightful time. 1t was
there that l met the first colored Greeley
man that ever saw, and he was in the per-
son of Captain Matthews. Onreaching there
was told by friend that Capt. NJ. and a
friend of his were liberals" I of course
had great curiosity to see the wonderful
sight, so urged my friend to take me to see
the great 81 am" of Leavenworth. A long
and spirited argument followed our meeting,
and at the end I came to this conclusion,
namely: that Senator Sumner is Liberal,
because he is displeased with Gen. Grant !;
Capt. NJ. is Liberal because Senator Sumner
Neither my friend nor myself could get any
| reason from him why he had turned against
the Republican party. | believe he did men
ton few of those base falsehoods and SLAM
derous charges which are being spread abroad
through the country by Schurz and Trumbull,
characterized as "liars, rumsel'ers, and horse
there's" Iregret that there is colorod man
living, that ever made any 2refcnsions Of in
telligence or honesty, who has become SO
low and degraded as to assist in spreading
abroad those shameful ISLANDERS against a
man who has ever been our steadfast friend,
since we knew anything about him, and who
stands firm by us to-day. How any colored
man can join the Greeley party and labor to
destroy that party which took us from the
position of humble slaves and made us Amer
can citizens with the rights and privileges of
such, and which propose to give us still more
rights which we do not as yet enjoy, is some
thing which L cannot comprehend. True,
we find there in that party the man who has
always stood by us and been our faithful
friend in the past, but what of that? Can
we follow man simply for what he has
been? Can We follow a man in the broad
road of destruction because he once was our
faithful friend and seemed to be the only
friend we had on earth? Nay, rerily, While
we should take into consideration what men
haze been, we must not loose sight of that
more important question of what they are
now. 1 love, honor, and respect Senator
Sumner for his past life and deeds, and / feel
safe in saying that no one feels deeper
gratitude toward him for what he has done
for our people than !. do yet when he turns
from his lifelong principles, as the champion
Of human freedom and equality of all men,
the bold and fearless defender of the black
man, and the pure and spotless statesman
and clasps hands with that party which has
always been and is to-day the bitterest foes
| of the black man, Notwithstanding their pre-
| tension t. the contrary of freedom, eduea-
| ton, equality before the laws and purity in
| the administration of public affairs, and adj
wise Us to follow, cannot but address him
| with these heartfelt words: Friend, if you
must forsake your lifelong principles; if you
must turn your back upon the cause which
you have so boldly defended; if you must
forsake us, the people by whom you have
stood as firm as a rock when seas of ungody
! men comprised us about; if you will turn
| from your pure and spotless life as an Amer
| lean statesman and walk the broad road to
| political destruction, ask not, oh, ask not the
| black man to follow you. We love you, we
honor and respect you, and shall ever cherish
| deep and lasting gratitude for you; but if
| you will go, we must bid you go in peace,
hoping that the blessing of God may attend
you all your journey through, for we cannot,
no are cannot, follow you.
While walking about the city yesterday
in search of one of the members of the school
board, suddenly came upon a Democratic
convention. went in and staid about three
hours, and must say that Of all the public
meetings ever attended, that was the most
disorderly one. There were present all of
the discordant elements Of Northwest Mis-
souri,, should judge. The two conven-
tions-Liberal and Democratic-met to NOM
mate Congressman for this, the Nineteenth
District. Il took them about two hours to
agree upon the basis upon which the Liberals
shoul be admitted, but, after much confusion
and many hard words and almost blows, the
DEM rats agreed to admit the Liberals to
their convr ton, allowing them one-third of
the vote f. be cast. Most of the time it was
impossible 70 hear anything that was being
said, for there were at one time cheers, at
another boots and Kisses, both on the floor
and in the gallery. They finally succeeded
in nominating Gen. Craig, of this city.
After the nomination there was no longer
any such thing as order, though the presi-
| dent shouted at the top of his voice and