The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-02
THE ELECTIONS AND TIE NEGRO

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THE ELECTIONS AND TIE NEGRO,
! Colorod Mans Opinion al the Causes an'
/ the Results oi ia" Defeat ot ne hepub''-
can Pnrty.
Mr.. George T. Downing has written TO
newspaper recently established in Richmond
Va, in the. interest Of the colored people,
letter which is of especial interest from ,hO
fact that it contains the views of lcadu.
culorcd man as to therecent political change
IN this country. 1t is as follows:
."Yo hf Edjtoy If the Rlcl,mo'.d RcciGr:
II received copy Of your paper | thank
you, 1t is a needed enterprise. 1t can be o
essential service, but its success depends or
the sympathy and support 1t will ruceiye a
the hands Of those it can benefit II they eX
pcct it to be manly, outspoken and not truck
ling, they must give it financial support The
colorcd people of Virginia can do so anC
make It power. They can support an indie
pendent editorial chair without feeling the
expense. They can command high order o.
talent.
I'VE as u class are peculiarly situated. We
are minority, We are poor and uneducat
ed we are not, however, void of all intelli
genCe and means. As q consequence of Oul
dependence We are subjects Of outrage. But
with the political powers we can weld with
those we can depend upon in an issue involv.
ing principle; with facilities at our doors
to become wealthy and highly educated
with others divided into parties on various
issues to us subordinate mot that we must
be clannish on the ground of race If we will
see face 10 face as an oppressed minority
should, and be willing to aid whoever will do
most in securing our rights, casting our bal
lots so that they may be most effectively felt,
and avail ourselves of other facilities within
our reach, we may be removed far from de-
spair You live IN section where you can
make your power felt, where you can win, as
we'll as command respect. Do not allow your
self to be used against your class through
the tender of any temporary advantage. a
true and faithful course pays best in the end.
"l'he white sOutherAer is no more hostile to
the colored southerner than is the northerner.
In fact the former feels closer to You. There
is no more blood relation. Plantation and
other intimaces have been closer and more
feeling. Win the esteem of your neghbOrs,
prove yourself entitled to respect, demand it.,
and it will be accorded to you. AS for posi-
tons and honors, time will set them right
Old asperites and iuvidiOus discriminating
lines will fade out. When you shall have
your Wises and your Mahones-as you may
your color will be subordinate consider
alton.
II am tempted to refer to the late election
| believe that under God all things will WORK
together for good OF course | recognize the
necessity of human inslrumentalites.
The recent defeat of the republican party
is TO be accounted for IN manner that takes
from it its sting, ut least as tar as the colored
man is concerned. If those who voted are
intelligent reading persons, they know that
the hues and cries put forth in the canvass
should be laid, properly, no more at the door
of the republican than at the door of any 9th
er party; that individuals of each party sup
ported the SO called Objectionable policies
| refer 10 back pay, Credit Mobilier, expan-
sion, contraction and the like. Members OF
both parties are recorded as favOring Zach OF
these projects.
THE principal cause of the uneXnected de
feat in the late election was this: The poor,
the laboring class, the mass, who have been
IDLE, who have been hoping tor something,
who have under disappointment become des
perate, obtained the impression that congress
could relieve them and did not. | do not
the outs II was, in my judgment, unfortu
nate that congress dabbled in the matter. 1t
will have to be regulated mainly by congress
We must arrive at a natural basis as soon as
practicable, Our present financial difficult
ties would have to be endured some day
They are the sequences of the war and at
tending circumstances.
Among other causes that contributed TO
the defeat OF the republican party was retlcence
of the President on the third term question
1t was not understood lie stood too much
on his personal dignity. If he had had it
proclaimed aulhoritlvely that he would per.
nit himself 10 be placed against an honest
entertained by the American peo.
pie, who are jealous of power, against an I'M
written but strongly registered American re-
publican law, having the sanction OF Wash.
ington ant all American precedents, to re.
spect which would impair DO paramount in.
icrest, the party would not have suffered the
defeat it has.
Had the party have passed the Civil Rights
bill. as il might, it would have had an effect
no more untavorable All possible odium
was attached the same as If il had done the
full act OF Justice TO have done which would
have made the cOlored vote steady and inSpir
ed. The opposition in the South, inspired by
hesitancy on the part Of the republican party.
would have felt the fat decomph upon il, had
the Civil Rights bill been passed, and /,
would have been less inspired in opposing
efforts They would have reasoned and seen
that it was an gRisfatUUS that had been i'm
posing on them, leading them TO suppose that
the appropriate bars that enclose the sacred
ness OF the family circle were TO be torn down
We could not have had 50 many outrages and
murders AS have been true since the adjourn
ment of congress
The late success must not be regarded a.
dcRunciatory OF the republican party for de-