The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-03-17
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seemed sure that Senator Bruce, the colored
statesman from Mississippi, was booked tor q
place. A number Of delegations OF colored
men wgled on General Garfield OF Mentor
ia behalf Of Senator Bruce, and petition after
petition was sent to him from the colored
people Of every section Of The south. IL wm
all without ovsil, however for senator Bruce
was colored snd there could be no place for
him In the cabinet, We say this because we
are told that the oalored delegations who
waited unon General Garfield were coldly
received, politely Of courae, but go ffigidly
and formally polite that it was equivalent TO
n rebuff, was repellsnt. One delegation,
bearing Of their approach, General CARRIED
left his residence aud went to the town OF
Mentor to meet them. This prevented him
from having TO tender the inequalities OF his
home. Another delegation he met on his
front stoop although there was snow on the
ground, and there listened to what they had
to soy. These are the newspaper accounts
which we have never seen contrsdlcted, of
General Garaelds reception of tne colored
men who called con him ia the interest of
their people. Senator Bruce is represented
to be man Of more than average inteii-
genco of fair learning, of polished manners
and Of sterling integrity and worth, popular
with all who know him, white and
black, In Mississippi, and respected
by all democrats as vol as republicans.
With the capacity an5.,ne culture TO represent
his race AMI to be of service to his country,
the question naturally arises, why was not
Senator Bruce acceptable as q cabinet minis
ter, If it be that race objection hos no inau-
ence upon The republican party? General
Garfield knows that tho bulk of the republi-
can vote in the south is TIE colored vote
indeed knows that the colored vote is fully
four-ffths of the southern republican vote.
He seemed to think the southern states were
entitled to cabinet position, but who did he
chooae for this splace' Was a colored man
TO represent his race and be appointed as
recognition OF the services of the colored
people to the republican party? By no
means Was it northern man, who
had bsttlcd in behalf Of republcsnism
in the north and in the south AS well? Far
from it. The appointment was given to
southern born, southern reared exsaye-
holder, Judge w. e.. Hunt, who was put
into the navy department. Now we ask the
colored men if it does not look very much as
though no freedman need apply when offic5
and pslronAgeis to be bestowed by the re-
publican party? Does il not seem 20 the
cclcred man that he 10 only fire brsnd in
the hands Of the republican party with which
to stir up strife, With which to make political
capital and with which TO Gil up their ranks
when thu voting has to be done? The colored
people havs sense and reason, and
although they may be but little
learned in books they have common practices
sense and keen insight into human nature.
We would say to them thea that they owe it
20 themselves, owe it TO their own manhood,
their own right of freedom, and owe it to
the generations of theiv people who are to
come after them of this day and time, to
think and act for themselves politically as
they do in matters Of religion and of every
dsy business. VIII their eyei never be ofen-
ed to the fact that they are nothing moro TO
the republican party than as sheep being led
TO the shameless? Is there colored man ia
Texas who has ever been made a United
States nlarshal or deputy marshal? A reve
nue. collector, or deputy collacsor? Apost-
master or deputy postmaster? Are there any
colored men who are consus, or foreign
minister? There are two colored
policemen in Texas, in Houston, appointed
by q democratic mayor, and confirmed by a
democratic city council. Don't the colored
people Of the south know the southern peo-
pie with whom they have bean brought up,
and knowing them, don't they know that
they are their best and truest friends? Yet
there cannot be state election, or county,
or even ci'y.election, without the colored
people, drawing party lines, vociierasing and
voting for republican ticket. Why should
they do this, especially in municipal cleo.
,iops? Why bind themselves hand and
foot, body and soul, TO the republican.party,
that never givss them Office, never recog-
nizes any right they have
10 position' Why not ignore
parry limos and vote for the mon they know
pesonsly, men who have proven themselves
to be worthy prospect and trust, men whose
interests are identified with the city and
county generally. All over the country there
arc hundreds and hundreds of democrats aud
republicans who 10 city elections ignore
party, and vote for The men they believe
best suited for tho Offices. 1t was only last
month that PhilidelphiA sndAPhsburg, both
republican cities by overwhelming msjori-
ties, elected, each one democrat for mayor
and number Of democrats for other NUM-
cipAl positions. Ifdemocra.s and white re-
publicans do this, why cannot colorei men
do #, too, especially when they have so
much reason 70 be independent Of the
republican Partyi