The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-09-14
THE NEGRO In POLITICS.

That political revolution is tax.
ing place in the minds of intelligent
colored men in all parts of the coun-
try is apparent. A council of rep.
resentative colored men was held
the other day at Jefferson City, Mis-.
souri,, presided over by a man OF
considerable reputation for ability
in which the good of the colored
people and their relation to political
parties were considered. The main
questions considered were the educa-
tion of the colored race and the i'll
dustrial pursuits of the negro,
The speeches indicated a general
desire for political emancipation
and while obligation was recog-
nized as due the Republican party,
it seemed to be the opinion that its
day of usefulness was gone and that
it was especially not doing that
which has been expected from it for
the colored man. A resolution, de-
claring the purpose hereafter to feel
released from adhesion to the Re-
publican party when white instead
of colored candidates are supported,
was adopted, and letters from dis
tinguished men of the race were
read One said of the Democratic
party, "with all Its past devilish
record affecting the colored man,
even it could, L believe, be induced
to do more for us than the Re-
publican party is doing, if it
could hope by so doing to have
our votes and get into power"
This was the opinion of strong
partisan in Missouri, where parties
have been closely divided, and
where nothing like the legislative
consideration paid the negro in
Texas has been extended. Here,
where the Democratic party has
been powerful enough to control all
the affairs of the state government,
where there has been but one or
two members of the senate Republi-
can, and where the house of repre-
sentatiYes has been almost wholly
composed of Democrats, there has
been shown more determined pur-
pose to advance the negro than in
any other state of the Union. The
antipathy to the negro in most of the
northern states is known, they be-
ing made to occupy more decid-
edly adverse relations to the whites
than anywhere else in the United
States. In truth, it begins to appear
that the negro stands more chances
by far for advancement among the
people who know HIN best, than
among those to whom his peculiari-
ties are not familiar. The Demo-
Gratis of Texas being no strangers to
the habits and customs and needs OF
the cOlored people, have inaugurated
educational systems that will soon
lift them out of ignorance. 1t was
simply to meet the requirements of
the colored people that the Demo-
Gratis of Texas instituted the system
ofnot only educating but of feeding
and providing the attendants of the
colored normal institute, established
by them at Prairie View, in Waller
county. The oolored children are
educated in the common schools un-
der the same rules and regulations as
the whites, and as soon as this normal
school turns out sufficient number
of educated teachers there will be
the most rapid advance in the
Intelligence of the colOred peo-
pie of Texas. In the good work
going on in their behalf the Tillot-
son Institute of Austin, is doing
noble work, turning out some of the
best teachers in the country. In
this it has the cordial support and
encouragement of the states Demo-
cratic government, as was lately
shown in that most successful sum-
mer normal school held in that
institution. The work progress
es, and now this same Dem
ocratic government sets to work
in establishing the colored branch
of the state university, the ques-
ton of its location being now
submitted to the people for decision
at the November election. Judge
Terrell, in his most admirable speech
last night, spoke to the subjectl
of education, and what he said as to
the efforts of the Democratic party
to do all in its power for the colored
people-more than has ever been
done for them in any Republican
state-should be carefully consider
ed. Truly it is time for a political
revolution to take hold of the color
ed mind. 1t is not, however, in
Texas as with the colored man IN Mis-
souri, said: The Democrats of Texas
have had the colored people as their
consistent political foes, and
they have expected nothing
else than that the Republican
machine will continue to contro-
them against their real and effective
friends. The Democrats of Texas
understand the colored people, and,
accepting the situation, they have set
to work to make them more capable
of exercising the rights enjoyed by
them. Their purpose is the mainte-
nance of good government, and
since there are 10000 colored
voters in the state, the Dem
ocratic party would have this polit-
ical power exercised with wisdom,
not have the colored men driven to
the ballot-box to vote alone at the
dictation of corrupt and designing
bosses,
THE Lampasas Dispatch is emf
nently satisfied with the nomina-
ton of Judge Hancock. 1t recog-
nizes in him one of our ablest men
and statesman.