The Democratic advocate., 1883-09-01
Movements of colored Republicans.

hOVC1ACAtO O4 SOAOAO ASOP
From the Baltimore San.
One of the most striking features of the
general political situation is the increased
activity of the colored element of the Re
publican party The scope of the move
ment is unmistakable. A complete change
of leadership is contemplated, involving
nothing less-where the colored element
furnishes the larger part of the Republican
voting strength-than replacing the present
white Republican officials with colored
ones, and this, too, not only in the unre-
munerative positions of party organizations,
but also in the paid offices of the Federal,
State and minor local governments. There
can, of course. be no objection to this
The majority of party is entitled to name
it's candidates and control the party ma
chinery. White Republicans consented to
it beforehand in giving the colored man
the ballot and welcoming him to their
party. They have always stood up-espe-
cially in the South-for the competency of
the colored voter to discharge the duties of
citizenship. They have especially contend
ed for his right to the benefits of the bal
lotto elect and be elected They will
only be acting consistently with their prin-
ciples, therefore, in acquiescing in the pro-
posed transfer, in this city and elsewhere,
of the party control to a new basis. The
claim of such prominent colored papers as
the Tndicator, of this city, the Echo, of
Savannah, and the Globe, Of New York, is
that their demand for at least proportionate
representation in the management and ben
efts of the Republican party cannot, after
eighteen years of patient tutelage, be deemed
premature or immodest. While they were
learning the arts of politics the colored vo-
ters were content to vote their instructors
into the offices. Now, however, that the
period of tutelage is over, the favor should
be reciprocated Only thus will the excel
lence of their instruction and the talent of
the colored race for the discharge of high
political functions be demonstrated in a
way to convince the incredulous. 1t is
not perhaps without justice that the colored
press find fault with the Bourbon conduct
of 3d. 900 white Republicans of Kentucky,
who remorsely scratched the Rev. Mr.. AS
bury, the colored nominee ON the State
ticket for register of the land office. Doubt
less it is as obligatory on white Republi-
cans to vote for colored candidates as for
colored Republicans to vote for white can
didates. From the point of view of all
Republicans it should be regarded as moth
ing less than party ostracism of the most
Objectionable character to bolt or scratch a
candidate on account of his color No OBJ
lection was made to Mr.. Asbury's record.
On the contrary, he is represented as a
man 'of good education, broad ideas and
gentlemanly character. That he was
scratched so largely cannot but be considered
as giving point to the declaration made by
Mr. T. Thomas Fortune in the New York
Times of Tuesday last, that ''the colored
voters in this country are no longer in
leading strings" but "want honest treat
ment and less gush; less bossing and more
obedience" The same colored writer shows
in what various ways their discomfort has
been voiced by the colored people of the
United States "The colored people of
Rhode Island in convention assembled de-
nounced the party and its methods, and
put their denunciation in the ballot-bOx not
a year ago for the Sprague ticket The
tidal wave that swept over New York,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachu-
sets last November Mr.. Fortune declares
was largely colored, the voters of that race
giving at that time "ample proof that they
were not machines The opposition to
the holding of the proposed national col
ored convention at Washington in June,
he states, was due to the conviction among
the militant colored element that the con-
vention, under the partisan leadership of
Fred. Douglass was ''to be run in the in
terest of politicians" Hence the change
of the date from June to September, 4nd
and of the place from Washington to Lou
isville. The Colored Press Association at
St. Louis passed resolution declaring it
self non partisan-a significant fact, in the
writer's opinion. The convention of col
ored men held at Columbia, South Caro-
lima, some weeks ago, CONDEMNED the
management of the Republican party in
the strongest language" and their animus
has been again exhibited in the recent let
ter of prominent colored politician of
South Carolina to the Charleston Ne,os
and Courier.