Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-08-17
Speech from a Colored Man.

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Indiana, delivered August 2nd, which
we clip from the indianapolis Sum-
He said it was his purpose to direct
his remarks to the consideration OF the
speech recently delivered to the colored
voters of this city by Major j. w. Cor
don. In times past it has been custom
airy among politicians to get certain
class Of people together and then make
a speech to suit that class. The time
for such trickery as that is past Re
publican speakers would have the col
ored people believe that the Republican
party alone had done all for them that
ever had been done. He produced evil
dence to prove that John Brown was
not Republican, and that the leaders
of the party refused to recognize him as
such. He quoted from the messages OF
Abraham Lincoln to show that he was
willing to let slavery remain where 1t
was; and from Republican platforms to
prove that the party itself was not In
favor of interfering with slavery. The
colored people had formerly believed all
that Republican speakers told them,
were consequently all Republicans; but
they know more now than they used to.
They are like the boys pups. a man
came along and wanted to buy them
while they were quite young, but the
boy would not sell. He was asked
what kind of pups they were, and an
swered that they were Lincoln pups. In
a few weeks the man came along again
aud asked the same question. The boy
answered that they were now Fremont
pups. Of course the man asked why
they were Fremont pups, aud the boy
answered sit was because they had got
their eyes open" So with the colored
people, they were all Republicans when
they could not see, but now that they
are getting their eyes open they are Ma
tionas. Maj. Gordon had told the col
ored people that there were but two po'
litical parties. What does he mean by
making such statements, when the news
papers all over the land are full OF talk
about the National party? He could
not account for it on any other theory
than that he believed the colored people
were ignorant and would not find Out
the falsity of the statement
The speaker said the Republicans re-
| minded him of the old man. a keg oi
powder was left on his premises, and
he became very anxious TO see what II
was. Having no other way to get
hole in the keg he took a red-hot pokel
and commenced TO burn hole through
one end. The old lady watched The
operation from a safe distance. Abou
the time the old man got a hole through
the keg the powder exploded and h'
disappeared "There, said the old wo
man, chats just like you, John, when
ever you get good thing you Away
run off with it" The Republican part.
may yet run off with the colored vot
in the same way.
Mr.. Gordon had claimed that tn,
honor Of freeing the colored race all at
tached to the Republican party. No
so. The war was called a white man
was, and was so recognized until IT be
came necessary to call on colored people
to put down the rebellion. The white
people of the North needed the coloreC
men, as bad as the colored men needed
them. The colored people do not owe
any party for their freedom. The Re
publicaus declared officially tha. they
did not intend to interfere with slavery
1t has been the policy Of the Republi
can speakers, when addressing crowC
of colored people, to instruct them tC
frown down any one of their numbeI
who breaks ranks They do not require
their of the white men. They can e
into any party they like, and it is al
right; but they do not wish to allow
the coIored people the same privilege
but expect them to ignorantly follow
their instructions without having any
opinions of their own. The Republicar
party love the white people in the Souti
aud the colored people in the North.
When Mr.. Pihchback wanted to re
cognize the Nichols government il
Louisiana, Republicans said be was no
reliable anyway, and was always pro
slavery advocate But Hayes could
recognize Nichols, aud it was fine
stroke of southern policy, If Hayes II
Presiden. of the United States, tber
Packard is Governor Of Louisiana
| (Great applause).
The speaker gave some attention Il
the speech of Mr.. Herrod. lie haC
claimed that the Republican party bac
been the especial champions of the col
ored people with regard to schools
Republicans ard Democrats alike haC
objected to the free education Of th'
colored people. We do not rccoguiz'
any party as the champion Of our peo
pie; not even the National party. W.
want to put all parties on their gooC
behaviour, and vote with those who's,
policy is best suited to our wants. Mr.
Herrod had said the Nationals wanted
cheap money, so they could just pick i
up anywhere. So We do, after we have
worked for it.
Everything else bat money has come
down, including the price Of labor
money has gone up higher. We wan
it cheaper The leaders Of the Repub
lican party try to cover up their actor
of refusing the colored men representa-
tion on the legislative ticket Why dc
they do it, The colored people have
made no fuss about it. The Bible says
| "lhe wicked flee " hen DO man pursneth.