The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1882-05-04
rHE coLoREp CONVENTION.

sion, something over two hundred
delegates being in attendance. Ia
organizing the, wraogled a good
deal, and one OF two called each other
"puppies" which was very uncom'
plimentsry to say the least. They
adopted q platform Of resolutions in
which they pledged themselves to be
in sympathy with any movement
Independent or otherwise, to over
throw the Bourbon Democracy, and
that will offer better inducemeu,
than the Republican party, Th'
resolutions demsnd the repeal o.
modification Of the peniteutisry sys
tenn of the State, and largo appro
priaio for educational purposes
and declare that the poll tax ough
not to be made a prerequisite tc
voting.
This convention il is said ives
composed of the best educated col
ored men of Georgia, yet how incon
sistent and illiberal their platform.
Prejudice, passion and partizsnsbip,
seemed to have ruled them in their
deliberations. They first array
themselves against their friends, the
white people, and declare them
selves in sympathy With any move-
ment to overthrow the Bourbon
Democracy" the very men they
look to for employ ment and patron
age the very men who represent
the intelligence, wealth and respec-
liability of Georgia. They demand
that these men shall not only be
overthrow and political power taken
from them, bat, in substance, their
property shall be taxed that a larger
appropriation for educational pur-
pose may be raised that their race
may be educated. They go fur
ther and demand that they shall be
relieved of the one dollar poll tax
as a prerequisite to voting, with a
Wow doubtless that they may have
free license TO vote men into office
who will give them this Charger APP
propriation," moth outstanding this
same Bourbon Democracy gives
them equal benefits in the public
school system as now 10 operation,
and an appropriation of $4,000 an
nually to the Atlanta coIored uDiver-
sity. The colored people in all
their interests, in property and life,
are protected, aud there seems to be
no trouble between them and the
white men, and why they should
meet in solemn convention and draw
the color line and seek to keep alive
the race Issue is as unfortunate and
nexplicable, as it is prejudicial and
disastrous to their welfare and adj
vancemeut. The white people Of
Georgia have been very forbearing
and patient, trusting the race prob>
lem would find a happy solution un~
der the Radical reconstruction
amendments, but it is not in sight
yet. Even some of these same Re-
publicans, who made the negro vo,
ter and citizen, declare it to have
been a great course aud crime" as
said Senator Jones, of Nevada, the
other day, in his speech 10 the Unit
ed States Senate on the Chinese bill.
He went further aud said "the folly
of enfrancbising the negro must be
remedied by law" The strongest
Republican 10 Georgia, Hon. Jona-
than Norcross, who says the very
name of Democracy is vicious, and
who ran as tho Radical candidate
for Governor against Gov. Colquitt,
10 an interview said that "if
he lived fifty years he would never
attempt to build up party on the
negro" and yet colored people are
following the lead of such hypocrit.
ical friends to overthrow the Bour~
bon Democracy, party that has
reduced taxation and given them
greater prosperity than is enjoyed
by their race 10 any other State 10
the Union But they will ignomin
iously fail-the coalition will prove
collapse-aud the motley crew will
feel the worse for having exhibited
such bitter hostility, where there
was need of nothing but friendship.
The Democracy is just as certain to
be successful in the coming cans
paign as the sun shines.
The Post Dispatch publishes re