Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-09-21
Democratic County Ticket.
A


If nothing more worthy of notice
springs out of the Filley imbroglio
than the bringing of our colored pop
ulation to the front, that fact of itself
will be memorable in the political his
tory of the county. 1t is not yet GER
tain that either branch of our republic
can friends will claim especial credit
for this tardy acknowledgment of col
ored services and votes at past cleo
tons. 1t is barely possible that neither
was very anxious for this act Of con-
spicuous recognition, brought about
by their joint and separate actions ;
but as between the two republican
factions just formed and not yet
crystalized, the colored troops evil
IDENTIFY hold the balance of power and
are no longer disposed to be ignored,
and, therefore, there was perhaps no
avoiding what has been done. Had
present surroundings been different,
were republican selection and nomi-
nation in this county tantamount to
election, and did they not entail a
large amount of personal labor and
pecuniary contribution without the
slightest prospect of immediate re-
turn. the colored delegates in the
republican convention held in this city
at the court house on last Saturday
would doubtless have insisted upon
participation also in the county nomi-
nations; but IS things are, they only
demanded what they thought to be
suitable representation for Salt River
township and themselves and CORES
ponding position in the county repub-
lican central committee, and that they
obtained place there for only n of
their number is due wholly to either
the remarkable modesty of singular
short sighted incompetency of their
leader and spokesman. There is a
tide in political as in social happen
ings that real genius never suffers to
pass unavailingly, and had either York
johnson or any other colored delegate
but have suggested it, room would
have been made in the committee for
the whole colored delegation and,
perhaps, for some of the colored out
siders also, and a fuller representation
secured for Salt River township.
The event to which reference is
made turned up in this wise: The
four colored delegates in the conven-
ton sat seemingly highly satisfied
until after the county central commit
tee had been made up without a col
ored delegate upon it. When that
unlocked for climax was reached, the
convention was reminded ina rafting
speech from York johnson that a col
ored delegation with many republican
votes behind it was present and had
been unnoticed. The body was also
informed in familiar and appropriate
phrase that the colored troops were
no longer mere catspaws to pull ches.
nuts out of the fire, but were on hand
to have a finger in the pie, and the
pie had been cut and the quondom
catspaws didn't have as much as a
piece. The convention, continued the
orator, has cut down the representa-
ton of Salt River township until too
little room has been left for white
folks and none at all for colored dele
gates. He hoped this had not been
done Intentionally, but wanted to be
assured that such was the case. II
the negroes had been Intentionally os-
tracised 1T was time for them to form an
organization of their own. And i'm
mediately there was a motion carried
unanimously to put York Johnson
upon the central committee, where,
unless his remarkable modesty pre-
vents it, he is likely to be constantly
reminding that body that he is a bal
ance of power entitled to weight in
their councils.
We refer to this matter the more
especially on account of the increas-
ing tendency in political circles to-
wards class Legislation and class ap-
p%ointment. 1t is a wholesome demo.
cratic doctrine that nominations
should depend upon personal fitness,
and it vas impossible not to think
when demand was made for colored
recognition Of the consequence of a
similar request in a democratic con.
vention by u German, Irish, French
or Italian fellow-citlzens on account
of nationality. 1t must be admitted
however, that as presented at last Sat
urday's convention this assertion oil
the claim set up for ace representa-
ton was a manifestion Of pluck that
had much to justify it. The body OF
SPECTATORS. and even fhe convention
itself, seemed to take that view of it.
for York Johnson was up~roariously
and almost unanimously applauded,
although the convention was a highly
superior political body in appearance
and manifest intelligence, and some