New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-09
From Ohio.
MARIETTA, OHIO, June q, 1874

MARIETTA, OHIO, June y, 1874.
r, the Editor Of the Eeo National Era:
Delay, defeat, and denial of our civil
rights have again characterized the last
American Congress. Whether it was po-
litical man1uvre or an eleetioneering dodge
deponent saith not; yet the party lay them
selves liable to such construction when we
consider all the circumstances connected
| with the introduction of this bill to the pres
ent time. The elevation of the negro to the
full and equal status of the white man in this
Government makes slow progress, and is
'like the wounded snake dragging its shorn
length along" 1t is a heavy load for the
party to carry. 1 thought they would get
tired before they arrived to their journeys
end! 1 am not disappointed; 1 felt quite
confident that what has been would be the
finale this session Of Congress and would
have so predicted, but 1 did not wish Con-
gress to think that one who would have been
a beneficiary of the bill, and live and
staunch Republican, had not confidence in
their ability, willingness, and readiness to
do US justice by the passage of the bill the
present session of Congress. do sincerely
hope that it will not operate as an injury to
the party. But the party must remember
that if the party is not true to its principles
they can't expect the negro to be true to
them. 1 mean by this that the negro will
not continue to give their support to party
who practically ignores their rights. The
negro is as true as steel, but when betrayed
and his confidence is shaken, no longer feels
obligated to give it his earnest, active, and
unqualified support. But what do we gain
1 ask what do we lose? But, says the OBJ
jector, our withdrawal gives the other party
one-half of the votes which the Republican
party would have obtained. Well, that is
not our fault, but the party's falkland we
are not quite so simple as to give our votes
to men who are opposed to our interests, OF
our equality of rights. I advise, therefore,
every colored voter in the United States not
to vote for a Democrat-no! never! But
don't you vote for Republican until you
have ascertained that he is all right on this
vexed question in the State, municipal, and
Federal Government! These men want
your votes just as much as you want your
rights and you can, and must, demand
pledges in advance, else you will never OBJ
tain your rights. Let them know that your
ballot is the only protection against injustice
and wrong, and you ought to have your
rights without any legislation; but, as they
can't be obtained and enjoyed without, you
mean to use your vote to effect that object
You might just as we'll have no vote if il
can't be effective in doing you good. 1fyoul
vote has any power, you intend to make il
felt. Your manhood, self respect, and the
welfare of your race, all alike demand thai
you should thus act. This is our only hope
I cannot see our way clear in any othe1
direction. Men nor parties will not do III
justice if they can hold power without it
But just so soon as they find that their powe
is about to come to an end, they will make
any concessions, agree to any terms, ant
subscribe to any conditions rather than to b
displaced.
The worst feature in this whole matter il
that our rights should be held in abeyanc'
for moment by the party or the Govern
ment. An American citizen-or four mil
hon, if you please should be held in breath
less suspense by Congress for three con
secutive sessions as to whether they shoul
enjoy the same public rights and privilege