The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-07-27
PLAIN REFLECTIONS ABOUT
THE COLORED VOTERS.

square declaration of principles
which it might be expected would
control his administration, if nomi-
mated and elected governor. There
was no subterfuge in anything this
gentleman said or did, and he was
free to declare himself publicly upon
any point to which his attention was
called. By this means, in face of
powerful opposition and combina-
ton, he won upon the public mind
until his nomination became a
question alone of taking one
ballot, and even this was SUBJ
stituted by unanimous decla-
ration for him by reclamation.
Not in the history of political NOM
nations in Texas, for twenty years,
has there been that unanimity upon
any nomination for the Office of
governor as was accorded John Ire
land, and this, and the favor with
which it has been received all over
the state, gives promise of more per-
feet unanimity among the intelli-
gent masses of Texas voters than
ever before. 1t seems quite certain
that this fall there is to be quite a
change in sentiment throughout the
state, from a quarter where such
change might be least expected. The
coiored voter has been growing
more intelligent, and he has at last
learned that what is of most adYan-
tage to the white man is also of
most advantage to him; such
declaration IN fact has not been
unfrequently made for the last few
weeks in assemblages of colored peo-
pie. When the colOred people do
really understand this self-evident
proposition, they will have advanced
far toward a position of indepen-
dence which will give them character
and standing as political factor in
the state. The faith of the Demo-
cratic party is pledged to their pro-
lection and consideration, and this
was written and adopted in strong
terms at Galveston. The rule of the
carpet-bagger ami the scalawag Is
passed. and Republicanism being
powerless in Texas, and in truth in
clined to use the Negroes vote alone
to acquire place, and not his
brains to assist in admins
firing public affairs, it is reasonable
to suppose that the intelligent col
ored voters of the state will no
longer throw their influence away,
but that they will seek to make
themselves felt in perpetuating a
government to which they are allied
by every principle of interest, to say
nothing of policy. Fifteen years
ago the colored man regarded him
self as the creature alone of Repub-
licanism; but, admitting that there
was reason for such regard, it must
be remembered now that there is
nothing left of this old claim, and
that the colored man finds himself
free, and that it is even
permissible and especially polite
that he vote with Democrats, who
preserve and control Texas. 1t is
believed that in November twenty
thousand colored men will go to the
polls and vote for John Ireland, be-
cause they know he is going to be
governor, and because, since the
Democratic party of Texas has been
a real and valuable friend to the
colored race, they would show ap-
probation of such friendship, and
would give sanction to its continu.
ance. Read the Democratic plat
form, adopted at Galveston, the
same one upon which John Ireland
was nominated, and to which he
subscribes, and it will be seen that
the party pledges itself to the
education of the negro in the lower
and the higher schools. They are
already equal in personal and pro-
perty rights with the whites, and
the public money, contributed
almost entirely by Democrats, is
distributed and will be distributed
equally among white and colored
school children. Almost every COL
ored man in the state, who has OBJ
tanned property, has done so
through means of employment
offered by Democrats, and it is a
notable fact that all this kind
ness has been extended the
colored people, while their voting
strength was being used to affect ad-
versely the best interests of these
|, very Democrats. The interests of
the white and black man are mutual
and when it is intimated they are
going to follow George Washington
Jones into the clutches of political
nondescripts, having no convictions
and less power, it is to assume that
all colored men are fools; and this is
not true. These colored men, as the
indications go 10 show, are going to
cast heavy vote TO sustain a party
that sustains them, and they are
going to cast 1t not only for Ire
land, but for the Democratic con-
gressional nominees, as well as for
candidates for the legislature who
will be i'll harmony with the state
administration. The colored people
of Texas have been trying for fifteen
years to cut their own throats, and
they are disguised with the attempt.
They are not going to be led off by
those who can do nothing for them,
because of weakness, and who would
be less inclined than any to sustain
them, possessing the power. These
declarations of the cOlored people
throughout the state mean that they
have served out q second term OF
slavery, which will be their last.
A New York correspondent of the
Washington Republic having made
the statement that Mr.. Tilden would
be candidate for the next Demo-
l i