The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-20
TIE CoLORED VOTE.

The effort of Mr.. Sumner and others to
divide and split up the colored vote of the
country has thus far produced no palpable
effect upon the rank und file Of the colored
voters, either North or South. The only
colored men now engaged in the work OF
disorganizng the party are those in the
employ and pay Of the Cincinnati boilers,
several Of whom are on itinerating eXcur-
sions through the South, soliciting colored
votes for MIR. Greeley, as the " friend of
the colored race.n SO far they have made
no impression upon the popular mind,
those whom they address being at all times
prepared with the Arguments which over
whelmingly dispose of their appeals.
lnthc first place, the colored people Of the
South know that they owe not only the re-
cognition of their manhood, but their free
dom, their right to bear arms, their right of
suffrage, the provisions for the education Of
their children IN common with the whites
all of their rights and privileges, in fact, as
American citizens-to the Republican par
ty aud that any attempt to destroy and
break up that party sand ofnecessty must
be, fraught with danger to the colored men.
This they have the sagacity to see, ifnot the
unerring instinct to detect, in all appeals
made,t them by the Greeley Democratic
party. a ID art
They know that everything they have in
the world this side their chattlehood and
the auction-block they owe to the Republi-
can party-to the organization that Mr..
Greeley and bis Democratic associates are
now seeking TO break up and destroy.
They know that if the Democratic party
could have their own way, they would
again be in slavery; that among the most
approved watchwords Of the Democracy is
the assertion that 4" this is a gol,ite mans
government and that the negro has or
should have no place in its administration
and they further know that the election of
Mr.. Greeley means the defeas Of the Repub-
llcan party and the restorationsof the DEM
ocrats-their lifelong enemies--to power.
When the Democracy lost what Nasty
calls sits best holt" and the "niggers y
were entrusted with the ballot, prodigious
change took place. The abuse, denuncia-
ton, and ridicule suddenly ceased. The,
party organs went down on their knees to
beg for idusky votes. The " niggers" be-
came onr'a' colored fellow citizens"
There were no more denuciations Of
the 4 Fifteenth Amendment, no more
boasts that this is a aohite mans gov
ernment TIE rights and liberties of the
colored race were received as accomplished
facts and as part Of the organic law of the
land. But to whom is the nation indebted
for this miraculous conversion, if it is any
thing more than heartless profession, if
not to the majestic and triumphant march
of Republican doctrines and ideas? Yet
the party whose opposition obstructed
every step on that glorious road TO emanci-
patton and acknowledgements, the par
ty which was not ashamed of its barba
rlsm and cruelty even two years ago, has
now the audacity to aspire to the support
of the very class whom it has so bitterly
prosecuted. And what is the only ground
advanced to excuse this mblushing claim ?
That the Democrats have Endorsed Horace
Greeley, lifelong Republican, for the
Presidency! Surely, this singular argu-
ment has been sufficiently disposed of by
the remark of the North Carolina voter:
"Dat dar must be sometin' wrong wild
Massa Greeley, or the Democrats wouldn't
be for him.
But it is not merely on this account that
the colored men Of the country will never
be induced to put their old enemies into
powed. Much as the Republican party has
done to secure liberty and equality, they
know what appropriate legislation is re-
CURED practically enforce thenew amend
lnents, and this can only be expected from
Republican Executive, backed by Re-
publican Congress. Hence, no amount of
hypocrisy and toadying on the part of the