Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-17
A COLORED CONVENTION.

Washington next September, put
forth by certain negroes claim
ing to represent their a If this
meeting is numerously attended and
properly conducted, it will be COM
posed of delegates from all the States
having colored populations, and may
have q beneficial effect; but, whether
that be the case or not, its temper
and behavior, the speeches addressed
to it, and the resolutions adopted by
it, will indicate the aims and condi-
ton of a portion of the country, that
is attracting unusual attention.
The callers of this Convention are
possessed with the idea that the ma
ton is Oh the eve of political revolu-
ton, and that 1t behooves the black
race to give organized expression to
its discomfort with its social and po-
litical condition, and formulate such
a policy as shall be paramount to
party and sect, and secure for it,
when the expected revolution is over,
full enjoyment of its rights of citizen
ship-all of which, stript of verbiage,
means that control Of government is
passing into Democratic hands, and
that if colored people are to get what
they claim, they must cut loose from
the Republican party.
Little surprise need be manifested
over colored disgust with Republican
ism. That party has long success.
fully fooled the negro. While ex'
pressing sympathy for him it ha:
misled him, taken advantage of hin
on all possible occasions, and as oft
en- disappointed him, and it is vel
that he is beginning to find this GU
and cut loose from such a one-sidet
alliance. But what is mainly com
planned of is, that labor at the Soutl
is not fairly r~emunerated, and tha
everywhere the negro's social anG
political equality is unrecognized
Just how the colored laborer expect
to advance his wages by a Conven
ton, Or how, through change of part,
relationship, his social and politica
condition is to be promoted, is pas
ordinary conception; and, if the con
vention is not swift to preceive how
grave a mistake its callers have made
nothing can come of it but turtle
unnecessary exhibition Of colore'
imbecility under negro manipulation
and guidance.
The white races IN countries wher
every avenue to social and politics
advancement has been opened b,
legislation, universally acquiesced i
as in this, do not look to parties t
advance their wages or secure pos
tions for them; and if wages are to
low at the South, nobody is to blam
for it but those that seek employment
where they might be themselves the
own employers. But in point of fac
such is not the case. For what the
do, southern negroes 1T the bes
paid laborers in the world, and wit
an almost helpless white populatio
dependent on them, it could not b
otherwise. The white races secur
social and political ~prefermer
through increased industry, moralit
and intelligence. and negroes will IT
main unworthy Of position until the
initiate their methods. If negroe
would command respect they mu:
pay strict attention to what is due I
the relationships of family and vicir
age, and also of political organization
They must become faithful husband:
wives, parents, children, neighbol
and partisans they must cease to b
inconstant and superstitious, an
become reliable and religious !; the
must not, as has been done, any Ions
er bring their professions of chris
lanity ami ~partisanship. into conteml
by arson, perjury, murder, and b
holding their power and votes /.
elections for the highest bidde,
whether that bidder be a party NAL
ing pledges in return for them, or a
individual o~fice-seeker expected t
pay for them in specific cash; the
must be sincere, too, in their col
tracts, and in their performance
them, and turn in their evidence
courts concerning themselves an
others, and to be worthy of the rigl
of suffrage they must rise above raj
considerations and faithfully upholt
by their votes, their individual col
ceptions of what will promote IL
general welfare.
If this convention, when it assem
bles, shall comprehend the grave mi
takes that have been made by thos
who have called it together-perhap
with no higher motive than the pr
motion of their personal important
it may do good, and open up a wa
to solve the important question
whether the negro is w to be C.
pable of self-government and worth
of citizenship in a free country" 81
if 1t shall only give renewed and mo
emphatic utterance to reproach'
everybody is already as familiar witt
as with what causes all that is con
planned of, it had better never
held.
All of our readers are acauainte
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