New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-18
The Discomfort Among C"iored re.
pubiitan~.

That cclored men all over the country are
fully realizing and comprchcndng the TACT
that they are citizens Of the United states,
entitled to all the right, and privileges and
immunites enjoyed by any other class OF citi-
zcns, is evidenced by their assertions Of their
manhood, in their resistance to the attempt
10 make them the mere voting servants of
party on the ground thai they owe their I'm
reimbursement 10 such party, and conse-
quently must give it their support forever,
though that PARTY, forgetting that citizenship
and enfranchiscment make all politically
equal, ignores and proscribes the colored
element that largely makes up its voting
strength.
The impression that the Republican party,
through some of its leaders and such of its
organs as the negotiating Republican of this
city, is making cannot fail to ALLEVIATE from its
ranks the colored voters Of the country. That
impression is that white men alone are to re-
ceive political honors and places of profit and
trust, and that, in the opinion of white Re-
publican leaders, white men alone can act in
accordance with common sense or reason by
cooperating for the advancement of any opin-
ion or belief they may have, and that colored
men attempting to act for themselves for a
laudable purpose are TO be denounced by the
party leaders and party organs.
Having tasted the sweets of liberty, and
comprehending the rights and duties of free
men, the colored men of the country are jeal-
Gus of anything having the appearance of
placing them in any sort of bondage, physical
or political, and consequently all over the
lcountry are they agitated upon the question
of their duty in view of the manifest deter
mination on the part local Republican lead
ers to ignore the claims of colored men to
political honors.
In those States where colored men are in
the majority, or hold the balance OF political
power, white men not only are not discrimi-
mated against, but hold the larger share of
the offices. In the State of Virginia, where
the Republican strength is almost wholly col
ored, the white leaders Of the party ignore
colored men, even for canvassers. All over
the North, with but few unimportant excep-
tons, the Republican party is white mans
party, and for a colored man to apply for po-
litical recognition is to place himself in posi-
ton to be ridiculed and denied. The mutter-
ings of colored men, though low at present,
orc axrrassiors of n .I;-<-o.,.~rt that pcryadcs
the colored voters in many parts of the coun-
try. These voters do not ask Office for COL
ored men because they are colorcd, but the
fact is made apparent to them that colored
men are denied political honors in obedience
to prejudice against them on account Of
their race, color, and previous condition of
sarvitude, and in this are they aroused to
the feeling, which is taking shape in Ohio, of
not voting at the local election for the candi-
dates of the Republican party, and which
may grow to a still more serious abandonment
oftho party should not its leaders or managers
realize the Importance of making no dstlnc-
ton based on accidents of race and color in
the distribution Of its profits and honors.
We do not wish to see the colorcd people
of the country driven from the Republican
ranks, nor do we wish to see that party dis
rupted so long as it remains true to its profess
sions. The former may be accomplished by
continued opposition to the political advance
ment Of colored men such as the fight against
MIR. MADISON, a colored Young man who is a
candidate for the postmastership of Whining
ton, n. c., and such as the denunciation of
colored gentlemen in this city by the "Admin-
istration organ"-the National Republican,
because of their advocacy Of principles in
accordance with the Republican platform and
the inaugural address of President Grant,
neither of which have we seen rcbukcd by
the leading journals Of the party. by re-
naming true to, and acting in accordance
with, its professions in all respects, the Re
publican party can but have glorious future,
as it has had past, and the colored people
cannot be anything politically but Republic
cans.