The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-02
Thoco-p. and the Negroes.

since, the SUMNER Independents htpuph''"
marty OF Massachusetts, represents the latest
phase OF rebellion against the "granu OLD
[Republicanl party" The Massachusetts
organization Is composed principally OF ne
grocs Of the Bay State, who are not con-
tent with the crumbs that fall from the
Radical fable, and who have come through
sad experience to regard Radical promises
In the light OF pie-crust--intentionalIy
unstable. Hope OF Office deferred
hath made their hearts sick, and
in their address, after arraigning
the G.. o. =. for treachery towards the
negro ally, they threaten TO affiliate with
the Democracy. Our own opinion Is that
the SUMNER Independent Republican party
does not amount to much as political fac
tor. We are used to negro revolutions OF
this sort. They generally go of with all
the noise and tcldt OF au artillery salute on
n Fourth-of. July parade. but peter out
like a two-cent pin-whoel in DcceE-
Der mist. However. the comments OF
our Radical contemporaries on this par
ticulnr revolution are suggestive, 10
saw the least. Some deal m soothing
syrup and few more promises; others
threaten, and others still try to dodge the
question; but all justify the Inference that
the G.. D. y. does not intend to 90 any
more for the negro than Is necessary to Sc
cure his vote. The Philadelphia Erening
JeIeqraph, which is one os the fairest OF
Republican papers, dovotes considerable
space to the work OF harmoninzing its re-
ealcitrant Massachusetts brethren OF color,
and its article is a strange mixture OF TACT
and fancy, OF truth and error. In reply to
the allegation that the &. o. u. uses the
negro's vote and gives him nothing in re-
turn the Telegraph says:
"The contention is not true. IL gave
him for his votes life, liberty, and the
right TO the pursuit Of happiness. But 1t
did not give him Office. That is not always
true; for il did give 10 fit and representa-
tive men offices OF trust and responsibility,
and IL rave TO others offices to which their
abilities entitled them. 1t did, in fact, for
the coorcd people all or more than II
should have done; for it is serious ques-
ton in the minds of the wisest statesmen
and politicians whether it was wise to take
q race out OF bondage, stepped in two hun
dred years OF ignorance, and by stroke
OF the pen, as il were, make them sove-
reign citizens with full power TO help
make the laws Of the land. The wisdom
OF that nav well be questioned, not, now
ever. because they were colored men-Ior
color is no bar, should be none, to any man
in anything-but because they were steep
ed in ignorance to the very lips, and knew
no more of governing than they knew OF
the grapes OF Canaan"
And where, pray, did the G. o. L. give
the negro officer In the South. And IN
every instance in which Office was given TO
him it was tub thrown to the whale by
wing of the Radical party, itself unit TO
rule. The instances in which the negroes
have been gwen offices in the North are SO
few that they are not worth mentioning,
and when the Telegraph, further on in its
article. says that education, energy, and
thrift will eventually "break down the
BARRIERS" and that color does not keep
back the race, il speaks the firm determI-
nation of the G.. O. y. to keep the golden
apple lust low enough to tempt, but just
too high TO be reached. When also it adj
vises the negroes that, ''if they we've wise
they would keep out of politics, for it is
not within our observation that office
holding or political pursuits elevate any
man or men," it is with the mental reser-
walton Of its party. except in the matter
of voting. TO keep the white leaders in
office" In fact, the Telegraph, as fair
and fearless representative OF the G. o.
p, pleads guilty in general terms to every
charge the Massachusetts, negroes have
brought against that party; while in
admitting that the party has done
for the colored people more than
il should have done, 1t shows up the
arrant hypocrisy OF the so-called negro
lovers so plainly that he who runs may
read. To summarize the 7eiegrdpPS po-
sition, the G. O. p. committed a crime
against good government in giving the
negro the right of suffrage; it never did
care jack-straw for him except to use
his vote against the Democrats; anditnever
expects to have any use for him except as
a dupe and tool. Therefore he would as
well take a back seat and only come when
he Is called.