The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-09-22
AN APPEAL OF AN ABLE
COLORED MINISTER TO
HIS RACE


Permit me, in this open letter, to ad-
dress to you few words upon subject
of vital Importance to your present and
future peace, happiness and prosperity
as a people.
Together with your white neighbors,
you constitute the inhabitants of this
great State. With these neighbors you
have ever been most intimately assO-
ciated. No geographical lines have sep
arated you, but from childhood you have
grown up as the members of one great
household, in bonds of common sympathy
and good will The war did not change
these relations. Since you were free
you have found your white friends true
to you-their best counse. has ever been
given you-they have planned with you
for your prosperity, they have aided you
when in trouble or distress, and when
death has entered your households you
have had their sympathy and consolation,
and their tears have been mingled with
your own. In all things you have con-
fided in them, and counselled with them
save in one-let us consider whether in
that one you have not made a great and
fatal mistake.
As soon as the colored men became
voters, they were formed into political
party, as compact in all its parts as a
military organization. How this was
brought about it is not our purpose now
to enquire-it is with the facts only that
we wish to deal. The colored man asked
no questions as to how his vote should be
cast The words Of advice and warning
from his friends fell alike unheeded on
his ears. He stopped not even to enquire
as to the character of the men whose
names were upon his ticket. He but
turned to his League or Club to know
what order had been sent to him by his
superiors, and then considered it his
duty, blindly and implicitly, TO obey.
When the drums beat it was for him to
fall into line, and he became as n ma
chine in the hands of those who controlled
him
And what is the result of all this !?
We have an administration of public
affairs so
VIGOROUSLY CORRUPT
that it is a by-word and reproach
wherever known. Some good men there
are in public positions, but they are in a
hopeless, helpless minority. In your
conventions, the most honOred places of
trust and power, are bartered and sold
like merchandise in the markets. You
are cut off from the confidence of the
General Government-you are disowned
by the National Republican party. Your
white friends at home are made your po-
litical enemies, and your friends North,
and in foreign lands are fast losing con-
fidence in you, and questioning whether
your enfranchisement has not proved a
curse instead of a blessing to you. The
blood of the white man and of the col
ored man so needlessly spilled is crying
from the ground to high Heaven against
this unnatural and unholy antagonism.
The end is near, and can you doubt what
Ih0C Gnu wiz OO "A yOA PCASAob All gOuA
present course?
Let me suggest then whether the
cause of all this trouble should not at
once be removed? This is your country
here were yoG born, and here have you
always lived-there is no other to which
you can go. Your interests and the in
terests of the white people are identical,
why, then, should there be strife and
enmity between you? Turn away, and
forever, the political Leagues and Clubs
which have enslaved you. Be worthy
the name of freemen! Investigate for
yourselves the merits of the candidates
for whom you vote. Let your ballots be
cast only for sober, intelligent, God
fearing men. Join hands with the white
people in redeeming from the spoiler
your common country, and peace and
prosperity will soon come to you and to
them alike.
In what | have above written, desire
to say that do not mean to dictate to
colored men, but that after due refec-
ton, consider it my duty, as minister
of the gospel, to interpose my advice for
their consideration in this very impor-
tant crisis in our public affairs.
With sentiments of respect, and fra
ternal regards,
Your friend,
J. G. JOHNSON,
Minister of the NJ. K. Church.