The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-10
The COlOred Man.


chooses to pervert an inference we drew
from the action of what is called the
Straightout Committee in nom mating a
| candidate for Congressman-at-large, in the
person of Rev. J. NJ. Dawson, a colored
minister, into concession to policy in
| imical to the colored race on the part OF the
Republican party. 1t could not have mis-
understood our meaning, and that was that
the Committee had nominated colored
man, not in the hope of electing him, but
to defeat the Readjuster candidate by
drawing off from him a sufficient nun Der
of colored voters to elect the Bourbon can
didate. There is no possible hope of the
election of Mr.. Dawson, in the present
complication of politics in the State, and
this every intelligent man knows, and the
only effect that Mr.. Dawson's candidacy
could produce would be to aid the party the
Dispatch speaks for in it's schemes. Daw-
son is as much the Bourbon candidate as he
is the Straightout Committees candidate.
They are working together and for the
common object of defeating the ReaGjus-
tiers, whether they understand it that way or
not. We are opposed to this false pre-
tense towards the colored race-opposed to
all devices and plots to use them to pro-
mote the interests of their political enc
mics, and for this reason we condemn the
spirit and motive which haye entered into
the nomination OF Mr.. Dawson. We recOg-
nize the fact that the colored man is an
American citizen, made so by the Consttu-
tion and laws OF the country, and that it is our
duty to deal with him as we would any 9TH
er citizen. So far as we are concerned, we
shall never be guilty OF makingan appeal
to him we would not make to any other
class, nor advise to a course in public az
fairs that did not contribute to his welfare,
In our estimatiOn-a proper conce ption Of
his rights and appreciation of his manhood.
we believe it to be the christian duty of
the white race to observe honesty, direct
ness and fairness towards him, that he
may stand fair chance in the race OF
life-in the development of his mental and
moral attributes and in his advancement in
all the relations which he has to bear as a cit
lzen. And because Of this we are opposed to
any attempt to use him for any object that is
not plainly understood and stated-to per-
suade him into position that is hostile to
his interests. We want to see him have
every right the laws give him-to have eve
ry opportunity of improvement and ad-
vancement that it is possible for him to
| IN no Tod
citation of such relations. If his candida
cy for public position will promote these
ends, we will favor his candidacy but we
would not support him simply because he is
OF the colored race, and pander to race pref
udlces in the hope of securing result we
could not otherwise attain. We have main
tanned these views in the past, when it re-
qulred more than ordinary frmness to do
so, for the reason that we considered it to
be right in the light OF the laws and Con-
stitution OF the country. We recogn lied
the TACT that he had been endowed by his
Creator with mental and moral attr ibutes,
which had been suppressed and benumbed
oy the Institution of chattel slavery-tha
successive generations in this conditio Il
had contributed to his intellectual and
moral obtuseness-and now that the
shackles have been stricken from his
limbs. it was duty we owed to hui
mainly to aid in striking them from his
mind aud soul. By argument and advice
we have done what we could to lift him to
higher plane-tO encourage him to high
er life and an intelligent comprehension OF
his duty and opportunities. This we shall
continue to do, in defiance of the sneers
land jibes OF those who assume to interpret
the purpose OF Divinity and insist that the
negro was intended for no higher life than
a beast of burden, and unfit for any OF the
privileges of citizenship.
From sense of duty we have done this,
and whatever influence we may have with
the colOred race arises from this fact and
not because we have resOrted to low ap-
peals for political effect or done anything
that would not bear the inspection of
open day, for these we have never been
guilty of. ~ 5-a,5..4i ,.4...tss.I ....a..t...t
Remembering the sentiment repeatedly
expressed by the Dispatch as to the fitness
of the eolored man for the elective fran
chise, or, indeed, any OF the privileges of
citizenship, Mr.. Dawson and all other col
ored men ought to understand its simu-
lated friendship now. It is because for Mr.
Dawson to continue in the field as candi-
date at-large for Congress, may contribute
to the success of Mr.. Massey, who now
stands as the Bourbon representative, and
ii successful. will open the way for the re-
turn to power in the State of the Bourbon
party. 1t is for no other reason and it is
because of this we condemn the action of
the ''Stratghtout' Commit and the
unfriendly feeling it implies to the Repub-
lican party, as well as the political privi-
leges of the colord man.
The nomination of Mr.. Dawson was an
act OF desperation and not of friendship. 1t
was with no thought of has election, but OF
the defeat of the Coalition candidate that
it was made. The Republican sparty can
be no more charged with it than can the
Dispatch with seeking the success of Capt
Wise. Political revenge-and possibly per-
sonal-is at the bottom Of it, and not de-
sire to see colored man represent Virginia
in the Congress Of the United States, and
so believing we oppose it and shall use
every legitimate argument at our COM
mand to dscountenance it and .concen-
trate the Republican vote, both white and
colored, upon Capt. Wise, in whose success
would be recognized the success of liberal
sentiment and national ideas.
The shibboleth of the Bourbon faction is the
defeat of "Bossism"-the overthrow and des-
truction of one man power in the State, the
rescue of the Commonwealth from syile
horde" as they put it, and to this end the
whole power Of the faction is invoked to
come to the support of Boss Massey. Well,
it is perfectly natural that such mythical
issue should be presented There is no other
for it to make. All the facts and arguments
affecting the practical interests OF the people
are against them. They have been tried in
the management Of the affairs of State and