The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-05-15
RECOGNITION.

The action of the Republican eau
Gus of Councilmen and Aldermen in
decreasing the representation which
the colored people have had the pas,
year in the city Offices is an outrage
which can not be too severely con-
demned. 1t is an insult to the intel
ligence of the colored people and to
the zeal and fidelity with which they
have stood by the party.
Not even the bitterest opponents of
the Republican party supposed it
would be guilty of such an unexcus-
able blunder. 'I was terribly afraid, !"
said prominent opponent of the
party, "that the Republicans would
have the good sense to give the col
ored people some substantial recogni-
ton"
Subsequent events, however, proved
his fears to be groundless. The Office
of Master of the West Market is the
only city office above that of police
man that has ever been given to the
colored people. Our complaint is not
so much on account of the loss to the
colored people of this particular Of
flee as it is against the policy that
the taking away of this Office out
lines. The Republican party owes it's
ascendency in this city and county
to the colored vote, and it is right and
fair that they should share equitably
in the emoluments that come from
this ascendency. There are about
1000 colored voters in this city who
vote the Republican ticket with sub
stantial unanimity. A change of less
than 200 of these judiciously made
i'm the close wards would have
given the Democrats majority of
the members of our city legislature.
Yet the majority of Councilmen and
Aldermen act as if they think the
colored people are entirely ignorant
of these facts. Let us be understood
we are not drawing the color line.
On the contrary we are fighting, and
shall continue to fight for its oblitera-
ton. We protest with all the energy
of our souls against the policy that
makes the color of mans skin bar
to his advancement.
We claim that official recog-
milton of worthy and competent
colored men is a benefit, and bless
ing not only to the colored race, but
the white race as well. The aspira'
tions of the race should not be crush
ed out. We appeal to the rich mer
of indianapolis irrespective of party
to consider whether they are not by
an unjust system of discrimination
against colored people, planting th'
seed of a dangerous class-a com
mune mayhap which, though it may
provoke and procure its own destruc
tion, will drag down in the wake o
it's ruin, those whose ignorance o
avarice or predjudice and inhumanit.
or all combined, are responsible TO
its existence. Our schools are doinl
noble work in the matter of train
ing the intellects of our youth. Th
colored boy and the white boy ham
in hand, court the muses. with Home
Virgil, Horace and Shakespeare
. they study nature with Agasiz; an
, follow Caesar in his matchless cam
paigns. They see the Corsican Lieu
tenant leap from obscurity to fame
and the world append "Great" to tn
name of "Little Fritz" For the las
g time these boys cross the threshold {
the school l-room, and enter the aren
called life, from which the actors al
only released when the grave oper
. to receive them. The white bo
" goes to a bank with bright prospec
g of stocks, to a store as clerk wit
le the probability of partnership, to IL
q professions with the highest prefe
:, ment in prospect. The colored bt
y goes per necessity in most cases to
+. barbershop, the kitchens and dil
,e ming rooms of hotels, to menial
of position from which through wear
n life he finds it next to impossible
g extricate himself. The picture is n
u overdrawn. GO from the State Hou
ar to the outside corner grocery, al
ne scarcely colored man will be four
ly occupying any but the position Of
" menial. The colored people look
-. the Republican party for protecti'
~ and encouragement. When they q
he for bread, the party should not 81