Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-05
Patriotism.

Democrats OF Shenandoah read the
following extract from a letter written
by Cornelius L. Harris, a negro of
Richmond, and published in the Rich
mond Whis, and termed 1.-THE Pa
VOICE OF A COLORTD
CITIZEN" In speaking Of the Re-
adjuster delegates Of the Republicans
IN the Staunton Convention, he says:
1.-THE proposition OF these worthy
representatives of the real sentiment Of
our race was this: We do not want q
Republican electoral ticket for this
State for the simple reason that such a
ticket 10 foredoomed to defeat. Let US
rather call q convention to meet III
Richmond in July and there and then
determine whether we can accept
victory under the ticket which the Re-
Adiusters will have framed, or rather
accept defeat in our own way. Mean
time we will join you in sending dole
gates to Chicago and in recognizing the
State Republican committee. We have
entered into this convention upon these
understood conditions, and If these are
violated, we are wholly unbound Such,
in deed, was the understanding and you
see now how faithfully it was violated
as soon as the Grip-Sack machine
thought that We were in its power.
Our course is clear. We must heart
ily unite with the Re-Adjusters in\ their
July Convention. We have nothing to
hope if the Re-Adjusters be divided,
beaten. while their union and success
will assure US the peaceful enjoyment
of those rights and privileges promised
by our Constitution and our laws. They
have been eur benefacters, and our
gratitude 10 due them. With the solid
Re.Adiuster column Of last year we
can sweep the State. Now let the COL
ored people be up and at it. Let them
paw their State poll-taxes for 1879. and
make, ready for the decisive battle-a
battle that must result in glorious victo-
nv for the united people against any
combination of Grip-Sack and Bourbon
Eunders and all their mercenaries."
That letter, written by Republican
negro, who most earnestly desires the
defeat Of the Democratic party and ex'
poets to attain that end by means OF the
independent ticket, is headed IN the
Richmond WhV, as 1.-THE patriotic
voice Of a colsred citizen" The effort
is to secure the votes of the colored men
Of Eastern Virginia. These colored
men desire the success Of the Republic
can party, and because they cannot
succeed in electing the Republican
ticket, they want to defeat the Demo-
cratic ticket, by means Of the indepen-
dent electoral ticket. Democrats OF the
Valley are asked to support this mixed
ticket, composed as it is of every ele-
ment hostile to the regular Democratic
convention. Democrats are reques-
ted not to attend regular Democratic
meetings, but wait for this new ticket
which is proposed as the stick to be
used by negroes ia breaking to pieces
the Democratic party Of the State. A
yiler scheme to betray the Democracy
Of the State Of Virginia was never de-
yised. Are the Democrats Of this
county willing to remain neutral, while
the negroes, the patriotic negroes, ii
YOU please, of E aste-n Virginia unite
with the independent ticket, which un-
der the cry of REIMBURSEMENT is expec-
ted to deceive the Democrats of this
Valley. "What care the people who
is PRESIDENT" is the voice Of the leader
of the independent ticket scheme.
The vote OF the Democrats Of the
old "Tenth Legion will show what
they care. The Democrats Of this
Valley are still Democrats of the old
school and they intend to show that
whatever may be the disgraceful ALI
an:es of Republican negroes and Office
seeking conservatives in other sections
Of the State, they will stand firm and
will rejoice in the victory ofthe Nation
al Democratic party. These are senti-
nents which the Democrats Of Shenan.
doah endorse now and will endorse at
the election in November. They will
vote the old time ticket and are not
frightened by an alliance OF all the ele.
ments, white and black, which you can
bring against it.