The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-06
THE C0L0RED PEOPLE.
rAEIR STRONG AovooArE SPEAKS.
Letter ofFrsd.rIek Douglass to Private DArs.l,.
The Speech Of the Negro Patriarch 1t Luul.
Vile Nl,cos.tru.d-ls is sui Rspab.l-
can and Alw,n Rope. to b. o.s.


Special Dispdtehlo ne Iate,ltoMctr.
CALDWELL, o., October 5.-Private Dal-
zell lately wrote to Frederick Douglass, an
old friend Of his, inquiring about his ati-
tude on the color question, and to-day re-
ceiyed for answer the following interest.
ing letter:
WASHINGTON, D. c.. October ., 1883.
Ny DEAR DAlzELL:-Your letter came
to me in the midst Of the Louisville Con-
ysntion. had no time to acknowledge
and thank you for 1t at the moment as 1
should have gladly done. 1have read II,
and bear witness to thetruth that you have
ever been true friend Of my people and
OF the Republican party. I Iconcede to you
the gift Of prophecy, and should like to have
you tell me whom the Republican party
will put in nomination next year. I see
that my views at the Louisville convention
are variously commented upon. I am
thought to be an Independent, and 30 /
am, but am an independent; inside OF the
Republican party can have all the inde-
pendence want; inside Of the Republican
party am independent aud dependent.
1 do not take a step in LIE that 1 am not
dependent on somebody Or something. In
politics | am dependent on one or the
other political party, and / am foolish
enough 10 think that the Republican party
may as safely be trusted with thetlestiny Of
the Republic and the rights Of the colored
people IS the Democratic party, and in
this know am right
CAN'T SEE THE poiNr. i
For the life Of me I cannot see
how any honest colored man who has
brains enough to put two ideas to-
gether, can allow himself under the no
ton Of Independence, to give aid and com.
fort to the Democratic party in Ohio or
elsewhere. Woe to the colored people Of
this country when the Republican party |
shall triumph in spite Of the treacherous
votes Of colored men. Bad as our condi.
tton nov is it would be worse then. We
should neither have nor deserve the conf
dence OF any party, and would, to use q
slang phrase, "be out in the cold" MyI
advice to coIored men everywhere is 10
stick to the Republican party; tell your
wanti; hold the party up to It's professions,
but do your utmost to keep itin power in
the State and Nation.
HIS LANGUAGE PERVERTED.
What said at Louisville about the cleo
ton OF colored man to the Vice-Pfesi-
dency hss been perverted. What said
was that no clacs Of the American people
could afford to be excluded from partici-
patton in the administration OF the Govern
ment, and when colored man could be
elevated to the Vice-Presidency or had a
seat in The Cabinet the color line would no
longer be significant. My views on this
subject are given in the last paragraph Of
my address which l send you herewith.
We hold it to be self evident that no class
or color should be the exclusive rulers Of
this country. II there is such a ruling
class there must Of course be subject
class, and when this condition is once es,
tablished this government by the people,
OF the people, and for the people, will have
already persisted from the earth.
STILL A REPUBLICAN,.
hope you will allow no man to tell you
uncontradicted that ] am not now, as
ever have been, firm and ipfsxibIe Re-
publican. The convention at Louisville
was non partisan. The objects sought were
broader than party, and appealed to the
Justice OF the American people at large.
My hands are full Of work, as doubtless
yours are, and will not write you further
now. Your friend,
[signed.l FRKDRmcK DOUGLASS.
IGNORANT OF TIE LAW.