New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-05

they promise that they will give these people
the rights which they have always denied
them? Is it not far safer to trust to that
party which has given the colored race all
the advantages which they now enjoy, and
whose record is one of devotion to their in
terestss
The colored race in America have just
entered upon the threshold of the mansion
Of liberty, they have breathed but little of
the pure air Of freedom, they have but a
glimpse of the blessings in store for them.
They are to be elevated through the emo
bling power Of education, and here they will
meet the bitter opposition Of the Democratic
party, which is the enemy of the common
school. While, then, the colered race is just
emerging from the darkness Of slavery into
the marvellous light of freedom, while they
are still under the van from prejudice of race
and color, while they are denied the privi-
leges Of citizenship; while, in fact, they now
need friends and advice more than at any
previous time in their history, then it is that
Greeley, Sumner, Banks, ct id Omne genus,
arc willing to desert them and go over to the
ranks of their lifetime enemies, and bid them
follow. But, sir, in this emergency, the COL
ored race are proving themselves superior in
political sagacity to those whom they have
| been accustomed to look upon as their
leaders. .....
The colored men of tho South have real
izing sense of the danger of committing their
political freedom to the keeping Of the Demo-
cratic party. They have an ever present
dread of the success Of that party, in the treat
ment they would receive at the hands of local
self-sovernment. Local selfsovernment, as
advocated by the Chapaquacks, means death
to the political freedom Of the colored man
in this country, particularly at the South.
This it is, that, being, as it were, born into
them, this distrust of the Democratic party
makes them stand solid as rock for Grant
and Wilson and tho regular Republican or
ganization, and Greeley nor Sumner, nor any
other &c father Of Republicanism," as they
are so feelingly termed by the Democratic
press in their appeals for the support of the
colored vote, can turn them. Nay! verify
believe that were the immortal Lincoln
sainted though he is, In the estimation Of
every co!ored man, woman, and child in the
land-to rise from the dead and ask them to
follow into the Democratic camp, they would
disregard his appeals. While they respect
Sumner for the good he has done, they griepe
orer his detection, and have heard many say
" they wish he had died while true to the
faith, before he had furnished his fair record
by coalcscing with his and their political
enemies"
Grant and Wilson will receive the almost
undivided support Of the colored men of the
South, and of the Republicans generally, and
they are well deserving of the support Of all
true lovers of their country.
We have strong hopes Of carrying Vir-
ginia. The "Greeley craze" is modifying
every day. There are many native Vir-
ginans who say they cannot and seN not sup
port him. The movement will have a good
effect, however, in breaking up the intense
prescription for opinions sake which has eX-
listed here since the war. Even now a great
change is to be noticed for the better, par
ticularly in the country away from the bitter
utterances Of the Democratic press. A man
who can support Greeley cannot denounce
one who supports Grant. Let the colored
men stand firm for Grant and Wilson, in any
other cause is danger.
..., ...- ...E JOHN +. -DEzENDoRP.