Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-05
HOUK'S FRIENDSHIP TO THE COL.
ORED RACE.
What a COlored Newspaper Man Has

To Say of 1t.
The following we take from the
editorial columns of the cambridge
Weekly Times, edited by Mr.. James
g. Patterson, worthy and intelli-
| gent colored man:
We have not ascertained exactly
when Mr.. Houk began to fight the
colored race, but we have ascer tanned
the fact that when the colored peo-
pie most needed a friend, Mr.. Houk
vas in the thickest fight against
hem. In 1866 Mr.. Houk placed
himself on the record against us; on
August 1st he issued circular and
sent it broadcast over this Congress
sional District, in which he said: Y
Maynard is candidate. He is
in favor of negro sutfragel He says
no man can give good reason why
the negro shall not vote. ] am ops
posed to negroes and rebels voting. .
How long he fought us and our
interests we know not. How long
he ridiculed us we know not, and how
long he endeavored to cheat us out
of our rights we know not How
long be tried to deprive US of our
citizenship and right to vote we know
not, but we do know that he kept up
this warfare until 1874 for in that
year he made speech in the opera
house at Knoxville, and had the
speech published in the Loudon
Times and sent broadcast over this
Congressional district, in which he
said:
Il announced myself candidate
on Friday, and on the Monday fol
lowing took my position fair and
square In opposition to this bill aud
have continued to maintain that po-
sition up to the present moment,
and shall not shrink from it here's
after. One of Col. Thornburgh's
most devoted friends Intercepted
me ON this subject long ago, In the
presence of Senator Brownlow, and |
[ then and there told hun l was OPP,
posed to the measure. Yet it suits
the purpose of those who wish to
defeat me to circulate the report
that I favor the pending Civil Rights
bill. l do no such thing. But now |
stands Col. Thornburgh ? Is he not |
committed to it in all It's forms e
From 1865 to 1874 is nine years.
Hence we see, for nine long years,
he spent his spleen and low wit ON
our then unfortunate condition. For
nine long years, he punched us in
The fifth rib For nine long years
lie fought us from one end of the
district to the other For nine long
years he oppressed us when we were
weak. For nine long years he en-
deavored to crush us For nine long
years he said, Il am opposed to
negroes vo '1s' and the bill which
guaranteed the colored race the
nights of citizenship z
But when y have. become edu>
Gated, when we have become able to
fight for our rigb.s, when we have
become a poNe r in the land, "a
change comes o!er the spirit of his
dream" and he says, Il have re,
pented" But this apology is not
much appreciated by those who
were reyiled ard ;spat- upon when
they were weak. He tried to ditch
us when we were in the dark, he
tried to take our bread from US when
We were hungry, he fought our
physicians when we were sick, he
hunted US down when we were in
bonds "a = HHIa
There are hosts of colored men all
over this district who remember
these things and who will not vote
for the man who has always, fought
them; but it is for the younger COLI
ored people we write, who know not
the hardships and struggles of the
oder colored men, Young man,
st and think, before you reward
your enemy with your vote and your
support. Houk now claims to be
your friend because you have power
ana influence, that which he hereto
fore tried to break down and de-
stroy. i-#-- -3s Ut l-.If /