Huntsville gazette., 1883-11-17
The Freedmans Suffrage.
To be Continued.

DEAR S1R:-Allow me to say to my
fellow-freedmen, that if there was
ever time they were called upon
than another to exercise their right
of bal!oting, it could not have been
more necesitous than 1884 will be.
Our people are ten to one better
prepared to know how to use their
suffrage than when emancipated.
Yet those who have been benefited
by their suffrage to the present, and
have used them as tools to get into
Office, only find out now, as they
say, the suffrage of the freedman
was untimely. There advice is now
that the freedmen stand off and let
these democratic and republican
parties carry out the struggle. Let
me say to my people, There will be
no place for standing off in the en-
suing presidential campaign; for IN
my opinion, a standing off only
sleep to be aroused and precipitate
you deep into that gulf of disfran-
chisement now lying under the
hands of the present leaders Of our
republican party. I say fellow freed
men, 10 ballots, to ballots, and
straddle no fence in 1884. Set your
eggs either under geese or gander
If the leaders of the republican
party think, as they have shown,
that they would rather do without
you than to recognize you, Right
about: for no intermediate party,
now in existence can save you. To
stand off leaves you antagonized to
the democratic party; and on success
Of either party, you are to be scored
az q recreant nuisance almost to the
entire government. Those who have
led us and now advise us thus, are
no less our friends now, than they
were in 1868. An old servant that
I knew many years before the war,
left his masters premises without
leave from the overseer, and at night
oversight himself. He was satisfied
he could not make the distance, and
borrowed a mule of neighbor,
free colored man, and thus reached
home just at break of day. The
question was then, what should be
done with the mule. After due con-
sideration that it would not do for
the mule to be seen there after day,
he told his son to carry aim off and
knock him in the head, to kill him,
do anything he pleased with him
Just so he was not to be found on
that plantation after day break. The
mule, during the conversation, as if
it almost knew the impending dan
ger, broke loose and went home
itself. These gentlemen have rode
you inte Office, from president down
10 justice of the peace, many, and
since they think the party is SO large
they can do without you. the advice
is to knock you in the head or do
anything to get you out of sight by
day break. They advise you to have
nothing to do with the democratic
party; and they have SO far succeed
ed in disorganizing you among your
selves, that il one of you is seen
talking to democrat, and it is not
understood what about. you are ac-
ccsed of an intention to sell out;
still they will kick out these colored
republicans to get in one democrat.
Now if democratic cain is at such
premium, why do they advise US not
to study the utility OF dealing in it
ourselves? say, This party that
lnows not its constituents, should at
.ot ce lie treated ss the Pharaoh that
2nen not Joseph. We are not at
all angrateful to some few of the
leaders Of our party who have had
our interest. As we'll as others, at
heart, but the old ark is too much
impaired TO risk ossrseives in it upon
tho ocean of 1884, after tie food is
Orer. She must show isdest;ons of