New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-08-28
Letter from AIaba ma.
SELMA, ALA, August 20. 1873.

oELhA, Ala, august ~, 1913.
To TIE Editors At the S,,c National Sra aad cisen
DEAR SIRs: The colored citizens Of Selma
are complaining, and | think, very Justly,
too, about the maintenance of one Edward
Cant, as "city turnkey"
We have reached that period Of our politi-
cal existence to know when we exert every
nerye and exhaust our very energies in
behalf of any party-that party ought,
whether il does or not, to g i've recognition to
its adherents; and the party that fails TO
go down, and down to stay. Notwithstand-
ing the letter Iwrote prior to this, concerning
the city Government, there are many screws
that need turning; and this authority that
maintains Mr.. Cant in his present position
had better learn a little more than the hog
that consumes the acorns beneath the tree
without once thinking from whence they
came. oh! tell you, my good friends, it
will not do for you to 60 back on those who
help you in needy time. Why, what is the
reason some colored man cannot act in the
| capacity of city turnkey" We are Justly
entitled to it, and it will not do for those
that are in authority TO say that we are not
possessed with the capabllity or the respect
ability that is necessary for one to have that
enters upon so dgnified position. Another
fact seems to be very patent, and it is this,
when one of those wolves that wears sheeps'
clothing is honored with position, where
he ought to take in some colored man, the
very first thing he does is to employ the
bitterest Democrat in the community to do
his dirty work, and to take advantage of the
ignorance Of the colored man. Now, this
would not be near or half 80 bad if he would
employ those like himself. We now ask in
earnest, and with determination behind it
that means something, for them to quit prac-
ticing these pernicious deeds.
This way of arresting persons upon certain
charges, and taking them as though they
were some criminal and interrogating them
separately, and by those that have no more
business Of doing so than l have, for the
purpose of making out three or four charges
against said persons, has gone far enough,
and it is quite time some one Were putting
stop to this multfarlous stigma. O, shall
we continue to stick the knife in our own
selves? Can we never see our enemies
when they appear every day with the potency
of some official character? o, men, learn,
learn, that ''self preservation is the first law
of nature.' Learn that those you are trust
ing one-half are cutting your threats, and
the other are cutting out your pockets and
learn, too, to tell these "turnkeys" and
marshals. when they ask certain questions
about your arrest, that it is none of their
business, and that they can find out all that
is necessary when you are brought before
the proper authority. They have no right
to interrogate you and bring you down to
those scrutinizing examinations for the pur-
pose of extracting money from your pockets
to enrich their greedy lust. They have fat
tened long enough on your hard earnings !;
you now need it for the purpose of educating
those little babes at home you need it for
the purpose Of getting food and clothing for
your better half, who has wearied along
through many years of slavery with you !;
you need it to help build that little cottage
to protect yourself, wife, and little ones.
Your, &C., w. L. STEVENS.