The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-08-04
THE COLOR LINE BROKEN.

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Republican as we'll as Democratic pa.
pers say it is in Furnishing condition
and has many members This is q
hopeful sign, as it denotes the break
ing of the color line, and shows that
colored citizens intend to exercise the
elective franchise like freemen by vot-
ing for whom they please Similar
clubs have been organized in the Sonth-
crn States, but our Republicans friends
intimate that coloped men are driven to,
il in that section by shetguns. How
ever that May be, the. most radical
campaignep will not dare assert that
force is used In the metropolis of the
Pacific Coast to- compel colored citizens
to declare fos Hancock and organize
clshs to support him for President
Isselligent colored rsen know full well
that General Hancock fought for the
Union FROM the outbreak Of the rebel.
lion until the surrender Of Lee, and
shed his blood for the cause, while his
opponent, General Garfield. who en-
tered the army as Colonel of Ohio
Volunteess, and served about year on
General Rosecrans' staff, left the bat
tlefield to stamp Ohio, early in 1863.
and never returned to the scene of the
conflict. This is: 10 campaign clap
trap. but the plain, unyarnished TRUTH.
though many are impressed with the
idea that General Garfield. served in the
war to, itS close.
General Hancock declares in his lea-
Ger of acceptance that that the Thir-
teenth. Fourteenth aud Fifteenth
Amendments to.the Constitution are in
violable, and General Garfield does nos
say as much, and. could mot say more.
One of these Amendments prohibits the
payment Of the rebel debt by the
United; States, and another guarantees
the elective franchise to colored citir
zens. That General Hancock will, if
elected, hold these Amendments. invio-
LIABLE. he has pledged the word and
honor of man. and soldier, conse-
luently there is no reasen why colored.
citizens should. not support him.
Since the ratification of the Fifteenth
Amendment the Republican. leaders
have acted as if they had a mortgage On
every celored voter in, the United
States, and convey the idea that the
ballot-was given to .colored men, not to.
be used at their discretion, but simply
as they, the leaders, direct. While
nominallY free to,vote as they pleased,
they were in reality the slaves of parti-
san leaders. Now, like sensible men,.
they are emancipating themselves from,
this ,thraldom, and giving evidence of
their intention to. exercise the elective
franchise, not like chattels, but as
freemen. This manifestation OF indie
pendence is to- be commended. The
welfare of colored men, as we'll as of
al Municipalities, and classes, to great.
extent depends upon their voting as
individuals rather thap as a. race or
class. If they divide their votes among
the different political parties, it will
make no difference TO them, as a race
or class. what party is, in'power; their
rights will be respected, if from no
higher motive than. that Of securing
their votes But, on the other hand,
IT. they continue to vote as whole for
one party, they cannot reasonably ex,
pect many faSors, except those guaran-
teed them by law, from the party they
oppose. 1t is high time that the color
Line, North and South, was broken, and,
that colored men, like white men, voted.
for thor favoiites regardless of race,
oosss or party. The candidates of the
respective parties are pledged to en-
force. the amendments to the Constitu-
ton and to protect all citizens in the
rights guaranteed them, and are alike
Gessrving-of the confidence and support
ef eolored citizens, and tho efforts of
aemagogues to array race against race
aiould be diseountenanced.
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