Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-07-19
The Coalition.

A special correspondent OF the BrOOK.
lyn Eagle, writing from Virginia, has
the following to say about the coalition
between the Republicans and the Ma
honeites:
II am satisfied those who are giving
encouragement to q fusion between the
Republicans and Readjusters In Vir-
ginia are engaged in q dangerous bust
ness, and that consequences would follow
from their success in the State more
widespread and deplorable than are
now dreamed Of. The main strength of
the Republicans in this State is in the
colOred vote. The white Republicans
are few, and they are nearly all profess
sional politicians, and professional pOli-
few honest and disappointed men among
them-honest enough. perhaps in their
way-but who are Republicans only
because the dominant party cannot re-
ward all the aspiring men who belong
to 1t. according to their own estimate of
their deservings."
The same correspondent reports an
interview with a prominent colored Re-
publican of Elizabeth City county as
follows:
I sought and made the acquaintance
of q man who was said to be the most
active and influential colored Republi-
can in the place. He was evidently a
prosperous man; was his own master !;
had colored men in his employ, and had
lived all his life by his wits and not by
hard work. He was q portly man, who
took the world easy. He was well
dressed, wore gold watch and chain,
and was what might be termed "a sub
stantial citizen"
He was q Republican, he said, because
he thought 1t was only right to stand by
the Republicans. But the Republicans
were not treating his people very well,
by which, as he explained, he meant
no more than this-while the whites
constitute but small contingent, nearly
all the offices went to that wing of the
party. The time would very soon come,
he said, when the colored men would
divide, but up to this time he thought it
was only right that the colored voters
should be Republicans.
fare you in favor Of coalition with
the Readjusters Pr asked.
'sYes; I think it best; but / will go
as the Republican convention decides"
"But you don't think it right to dis
grace the State, by refusing to pay its
debit"
II don't know very much about the
way this debt business Is to be fixed. I
know the colored people had nothing to
do with piling the debt up. don't see
why they should want to pay q debt
made while colored men were slaves
probably to help to keep US in slavery"
"But this argument would 60 to the
reputation of the State debt altOgeth-
er?n
ST don't know about that. Suppose 1t
did? Colored people had nothing to do
with making the debt"
"But you know it would disgrace
your State not to pay its debt. It would
cost the State more to repudiate its debt,
eventually, than it would to gay it.
You could not afford not to pay the debts
you owe. It would ruin your business.
Nobody would trust you"
"Well," he replied, in stolid sort of
way, "a State and person amt the
same
"N - is there in the stories that the
colo men cannot vote In Virginia ?"
The eolored leader answered energeti-
cally and with spirit, as If the charge
were r lection upon him and his peo-
pie:
4AOAO 40 AOoAA06 AL GA0os We GA
can vote as we please, and we do"
mo attempt to interfere with you ?"
"Not the slightest"
"Are you cheated in the count?"
mo, sir. We can see that we amt"
''The vote and count in Virginia are
fair?"
Eyes, sir. There is no denying that.
Our elections are now as fair as elections
are anywhere"
(which is your county ?"
"Elizabeth City county,"
(which party is in majority ?"
1.-THE Republicans"
"But you elect white men don't you ?"
mo, sir; we want to elect good col
ored men. We have elected two colored
men to the House of Representatives
Estate Assembly, for eight years. We
have two there now"
us the poll. tax regarded by the coll
ored voters as q grievance?" :
'Some do; some don't. AS many
white men az colored men don't want
this tax, or any other, for that matter"
THE RICHMOND AND DANvILLE