Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-15
THE COLORED MAN
As an Independent Force in Our Poll
tics-An Address by COl0red Ed
itor Delivered Recently
Before the National COlOred Press AssO-
citation at Observation-Disclosures
Speller Recommended.

Speller Recommended.
i
t. The following is nearly full report of the
J. address on the "Colored Man an indie
:, pendent Force in our Politics" as, delivered
d by L. Thomas Fortune, editor of the New
York Globe, before the National Colored
Press Association, in session at Washington,
II d. C, June 9th.
+ The Address.
O In addressing myself to an exposition OF
: this question, come at once TO one of the
vital princi piles underlying American citi-
!, | zenship and the citizenship of the colored
: man in peculiar manner. Upon this ques-
4 lion hang all the conditions of man as free
+, | moral agent, as an intelligent reasoning be-
ing, as man thoughtful for the best inter-
ests OF his country, of his individual inter
> est, and the interest OF those who must take
! | up the work of republican government when
/ | the present generation has passed away.
When say that this question is of most
. complex and perpiex ing nature, only assert
what is known of all here assembled. When
L say. that stand in the presence Of those
who Exercise a widespread influence over
I the mind of my race, l Acknowledge the vast
ness OF the responsibility which rests upon
, them.
PARTIES AND PRINCIPLES.
1 would not forget hat the arguments for
and against are based upon Two parties or
sets of principles. Principles are inherent
in government by the people, and parties
are engines created by the people through
which to voice the principles they espouse
Parties have divided on one line in this
country from the beginning of our national
existence TO the present time. All other is-
sues merge into two distinct ones-the ques-
ton OF a strong Federal government, as
enuuciated by Alexander Hamilton, and
maintained by the present Republican party, |
and the question of the rights and powers OF
the States, IS enuncisted by Thomas Jeffer-
son, and as maintained by the present Demo-
cratic party.
WHAT MAKES MAN INDEPENDENT.
| But il is not my purpose to dwell upon
| the mechanism of parties, but rather to show
| why colored Americans should be lndePend- |
/ cut voters, independent citizens, independent |
| men. 10 this end l am led to lay it down. |
| ~ That an independent voter must be |
| Intelligent, must comprehend the science of |
| government and be we'll versed in the history |
OF governments and of men. (2) That an |
| independent voter must be not only citizen |
| well versed in government, but one loyal 10 |
| his country, and generous and forbearing |
| with his fellow-citlzens, not looking always |
| to the word and the act, but looking some
| times to the under-current which aciuates |
| these-to the presence of immediate inter-
| est, which Is always strong in human nature,
| TO the love OF race, and to the love of sec
| ton, which comes next to the love of country. |
SITUATION IN THE SOUTH
| 1t is in the South that the largest number
| of our people live; it is there that they en-
counter the greatest hardships; it is there
the problem of their future usefulness as
| American citizens must have full and salts
| factory, or disastrous and disheartening de-
he
statesman and the colored editor must turn
| their attention to the South and make that
| field the center OF speculation, deduction and
practical application. We all understand
the conditions OF society in that section, and
the causes which have produced them, and
while not forgetting the causes, II is a COM
mon purpose to alter the existing conditions,
so that they may conform to the logic of the
great rebellion and the spirit and letter OF
the Federal constitution. 1t is net surpris-
ing, therefore, that, as an humble worker in |
the interest of my race and the common good, !
| have decided views 10 the course best TO |
be pursued by our people in that section, and
the fruits likely 10 spring from a consistent
advocacy of such views.
Is
CLANNIsHNEss.
1t is not safe in a republican form OF gov-s
eminent that clannishness should exist ]
either by compulsory or voluntary reason;
n
good for the individual. A government like |
ours is like unto household. Difference of |
opinion on non-essentias is wholesome and
natural, but upon the fundamental idea in
corporated in the Declaration of Independ-
ence and reaffirmed in The Federal consti-
tuition the utmost unanlmity should prevail. |
That all men are born Tree and equal, so far
as the benefits of government extend; that
each and every man is justly entitled to the
enjoyment OF life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, so long ss these benign benefits be
not forfeited by infraction upon the rights OF
others; that freedom OF thought and un-
moested expression of honest conviction
and the right TO make these effective through
the sacred medium of fair vote and an
honest count, are God-given and not to be
curtailed-these are the foundations of re-
publican government; these are the founda-
tious of our Institutions; these are the BIRTH |
right OF every American citizen; these are
the guarantees which make men free and in
dependent and great.
THE CoLoRED MAN MUST RISE
to full conception of his citizenship before
he can make his citizenship effective. 1t is
fatality to create or foster clannishne,s in a |
government like ours. Assimilation of senti-
ment must be the property of the German,
the Irish, the English, the Anglo-African,
and all other racial elements that contribute
to the formation of the American type CT g
citizen. The moment you erect caste
standard, the moment you recognize the ex- /
istence of such, that moment republican
government oscillates above nightly ch asm,
the vitality of its being becomes vitiated
and endangered. If this be true, the Ameri- q
can people have grave cause for apprehen- C
sion. The Anglo-African element of our pop
ulation is classed off by popular sentiment, l.
and kept SO. 1t is for the thoughtful, the v
honest, the calm but resolute men of the race b
to mould the sentiment of the Masses lift
them up into the broad sunlight of freemen
Ignoranc and superstition, and prejudice and
intolerance are elements in our nature born of
the malign institution of servitude. No f1t | I
of government can eradicate these. As they v
were the slow growth, the gradual develop =
ment of long years of inhuman conditions, so
they must be eliminated by the slow growth Y
of years of favorable conditions. Let us 3
recognize these facts facts, aud labor hon. I
estly to supplant them with more wholesome, c
more cheering realities The independent =
colored man, like the independent white
man, is an American citizen who does his
own thinking. When come one else thinks a
for him he ceases to be an intelligent citizen | !,
and becomes dangerous dupe-dangerous i
10 himself, dangerous 10 the State. +
WHAT RECONSTRUCTION TAUGHT. d
1t is not TO be expected now that the COL B
cred voters will continue to maintsin that g
unanimity OF idea and action characteristic 8
of them when The legislative halls of States {
sounded with tine clamor of law makers OF
their creation, and when their breath flooded
or depleted Safe treasures. The conditions
are different now. They find themselves !
citizens without voice in the shapement OF !
legislation; Taxpayers without representa-
ton; men without leadership, masterful I
enough TO force respec, from inferior num-
bers In some States, and when holding the E
balance of power in others. They find !
themselves at the mercy of a relentless pub 7
lie opinion, which tolerstes, but does not d
respect their existence a voting fotce; but 9
which, on the contrary, while recognizing
their right to the free exercise of the suffrage
forbids such exercise at the peint OF the II
shotgun of the assassin, whom it not only
nerves but shields in the preparation OF his
lawless and Infamous crimes. And why is :,
his? Why is it that the 10000 black =
voters of South Carolina allow the $4,000
white voters of that State to grind the life :
out Of them bv y
LAWS MORE oDIoUs, MORE INFAMOUS, MORE P
TYRANNICAL AND sUBvERsIvE OF MAN r.
HOOD r
than any which depopulates the govern Il
nent of the Old World? Is it because the ii
" hite man is the created vIcegerent of gov
The scriptures affirm that all are Il
spruug from one parental stem L. il be- | q