Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1881-08-26
Recognition of COlOred Voters.

The Democratic Mayor of Republican
Philadelphia, recently appointed four col
ored men upon the police force Of that
city. This has caused much excitement
and considerable Indignation among the
Republicans Of that city, and is a subject
of much comment among Northern Re
publicans The Washington Post of 10th
inst, commenting on the matter. has the
following:
"1'he great phenomenon of colored po-
licemen in Philadelphia continues to al
tract the attention of the country. 1t ex-
cites profound interest throughout The
North, not only because it is, in itself,
startling change from the Republican
practice, but for The further reason that it
has agitated the Republicans of Phi'adel-
phia in most remarkable manner.
The quartette of colored appointees of
Democratic Mayor, arrayed in blue and
brass, armed with the customary baton,
and with pistol in reserve to be used
"when constabulary duty is to he done,
have been stared a by thousands Of pro
truding eyes with as much curiosity as
the stoical red men displayed when they
beheld the first Europeans who landed in
the new word.
In fact it is reliably reported that there
is, as yet, no perceptible abatement OF
this curious interest, but that those sable
guardians %. the public peace, as they
walk their respective beats in the City OF
| Brotherly Love, are followed by gaping
crowds as if they were a Have rly Nasto-
don procession or Barnum's Only Great
est Show on Earth
| The appointment of these colored men
to office as al act of justice aud good
faith on the par; of the Democratic mag
istratc, is significant event
Heretofore, in all the Republican strong
holds of the North, thsre has been no Off
cial patronage for the black Republicans.
They have been expected to do their full
share of campaign work, and they have
fu ly met this expectation They have
been expected to vote their party's ticket
scr-tched, and they have done it, Da-
mon was not more loyal to Pylhias, Jona-
than more true to David, than the black
voter has been to tie Republican party.
And when the campaign was over and the
fruits of victory gathered, there has been
but feeble recognition Of the black mans
fidelity, no chance for him to share in the
henors or emoluments
In many Nor;h hern towns and cities the
colored voters hold the balance of power
In many localities, where the Republican
party has long been dominant. shere are
numerous colorcd citizens who arc edu-
Gated and well-to- do. But these men.
whose votes were necessary to each and
every success Of the party, have been sys-
tematically snubbed when they have pre-
sumed to hint at an equitable distribu-
tien of offices.
| Hereafter this will not lie the case. The
day Is past for using the black voters TO
win battles, and then driving them away
from the public crib We shall see the
colored men of Providence, of New Bed
ford, of Salem, of Cleveland, and hun
dred other cities demanding and receiy-
ing their share of offices.
Holding the fate of their party in their
own hands, realizing their power to make
or unmake it, and having the Philadel-
phia example to point to, they will as
sumo confident and Independent tone.
They will not beg as a special boon that
which belongs TO them of right.
All this is going to be a severe trial to
those great Republican leaders who have
professed SO much friendship for The col
ored race while persisently discrimina-
ting against them. But they will lie com
PEELED to yield to the inevitable, while The
benficiaries of the change will have 10 adj
nit that were indebted to Democrat for
the Inauguration ef the work in the most
intensely "loyal' of all Republican ci les