New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-23
The C0lGred Mems Convention In
New Work state.

y
The COlored aien's Convention In
New Work state.
The following address was adopted by the
Convention of Colored Men held in Troy,
New York, on the 9Th instant:
Mr.. Butler, from the committee ON adj
dress to the colored voters, reported as fol-
lows:
Feuoc-citizsns Of tie STATE Of Ne,o York:
An important and interesting crisis in the
history of the National Government has been
reached, demanding your individual infiu-
ence your united and harmonious action.
In a few months hence you will be called to
assemble at the polls and cast your ballot for
the Chief Magistrate of the nation.
Never in the history of the nation have
graver interests been involved in an election
than in the coming one.
All those grand issues originating in the
late fearful conflict of arms, transferred by a
victorious army to that field of bloodless con-
flict, where great ideas struggle for the mas
terry, are involved in the approaching con-
test.
These mOmentous issues, rendered sacred
by the blood Of heroes the memories of
statesmen, and the devotions of a great party
are dear to all who can appreciate govern
ment, alike just and fair to all, but to none
dearer than to colored men. Already pretty
firmly fixed, by the faithful efforts of great
progressive party, and the successful admins
tration fits true and tried leader, U. S. Grant,
it needs but four years more of such efforts
and leadership to insure for them glorious
crystalization and an induring pemanency.
1t is at such time, and under such cir
cumstances, and for the final accomplishment
of such grave results that you are for the first
time since the ratification of the fifteenth
amendment to cast your vote for the chief
Office in the nation. All your dearest inter-
ests, as well as those of the Government,
demand that your exercise of this great right
and duty of citizenship shall have been most
wise and fitting.
Your inveterate and lifelong foe, the
Democratic party, convinced that the defeat
of the party now in power will rob race of
its hope, and nation Of its browning glories,
and thus impart new life to its own already
half dead organization, is putting forth
almost superhuman efforts to secure that de-
feat.
Recognizing the justly merited popularity
Of the present Administration with the Re-
publican party and the nation, and satisfied
that the denomination and election of its
honored head will continue to be, as it al
ready is, demanded by the spontaneous voice
of both-that party has watched every move
ment of the Administration, and searched
every nook and corner of the Government,
with the hope of finding some just cause of
complaint; failing in that, efforts have been
resorted to by weak, ambitious, and mis-
guided friends, to sully the fair name and
damage the brilliant prospects of our illustri-
Gus Chief Magistrate. But all efforts thus
far have only served to show the people how
much there is to admire, and how little to
condemn, in his eminently successful admins
tration of the affairs of this great Govern
ment, while it proves the unreasonableness
and the animus of the clamor against him.
While we should, in common with all col
ored Americans, hold in grateful memory all
our old true friends and advocates, and es-
pecially that tried, true, and able champion
of our rights, Charles Sumner, who is doubly
endeared to us by his consistent and manly
course in the interest of humanity; and while
we may, as we doubtless do, heartily depre-
cate any seeming want of appreciation of his
eminent craftsmanship, we nevertheless see
that it would be suicidal in our people to at
tempt to avenge either his real or imaginary
wrongs by countenanclng any division in our
ranks, or allowing any confusion in our coun-
ellis which may be improved or taken advan-
tage of by common enemy to defeat the
Republican party in work so dear to the
race. i'll the prosecution and accomplishment
of which it has shown itself so eminently ca
pable.
In view of these considerations, we cannot
but deprecate the unwise and unreasonable
movement of the Liberal Republicans $50
called) at Cincinnati; since its only prac-
teal result will be to weaken the progress
sive party of the natiOn-with whose success
or defeat our destinies are 80 intimately con-
nected.
1t is all the more to be deprecated. be-
cause many who are identified with that
movement are men who, at other times, were
true to the principles of the great party in
direct opposition to which they are now COM
bined. Let Others contend for mastery let
even misguided friends fritter away their
strength for, whether victory or defeat is
the result, their political and social condition
is permanently secured beyond the possibility
of any great change:
But, until we have secured permanent
position in the Government defymg all efforts
to change it, we cannot afford to withdraw
our support from the Republican party, which
has not only been true to us in the past, but
is also the casket of our deepest hopes for the
future.
Faithful as has been the record of the cam
tldates just chosen at Cincinnati, and many
who support them, we cannot afford to cast
a single complimentary ballot in the coming
campaign, while the nominee of Philadelphia
bears the great Republican banner.
While the varied factions are shouting for
their chosen leaders, let one unbroken sound
come up from our ranks, Philadelphia and
vietory"
WIN. F. BUTLER,
URIAH JACKSON,
WILLIAM RICH,
ROBERT A. JACKSON,
GERpIr 9 TOaITFN