National Republican., 1883-05-04
THE coLoRED CONVENTION.
A Couple Of Earnest Protests.
A MIssIssIPPIAN's PROTEST.
To The Editor.

TO utc Edftor
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2s.-I notice in your
issue of this morning the call of committee
of gentlemen of Washington for q national
convention of colored men, to meet in the city
of Washington on tho twenty fourth of Sep
tember next. That there ought to be con-
vention held by the colored men of this coun-
try no one will deny. But, sir, are these the
men to call such convention2 Is Washing
ton the place to hold national convention
What influence would it have on the people
in the south2 answer by saying none what
ever.
And Furthermore, Mr. Editor, think the
call would sound much louder and be an
swered with much more enthusiasm were 1t
issued by some of our political leaders of the
country who have the interest of the people
at heart, know their needs, and are trying to
better their condition. Who are these men
composing this committee? Mr.. Douglass we
all know, and know him to be recognized
leader of men. But l think, with many
others, that he is in the right church but tho
wrong pew.
Some of these gentlemen are men whose
names we never saw in print before. Others we
know to be Office hunters, who have no in
fluence, not even in the District of Columbia.
No, they have not even a vote, and yet they tell
the people when and where they must meet
in convention. They must come to Washing
ton to be controlled by q set of political
sharks.
No, my friend, you are too fast. The peo-
pie do not hear your call. You must cry aloud,
for your gods are asleep. When there is n
call issued by such men as the Ecn. J. r..
Lynch, of Mississippi Hon. p. B. s. Pinch.
back, of Louisiana; Hon. r. B. Elliott Of
South Carolina, and many other such men
then will the people listen and harken to the
call. am sure also, they will not be called to
Washington but to assemble in some one of
the great cities of the south, where the peo-
pie are. We do not need so many leaders up
here. Go south, boys go south and then
you can advise the people when and where to
meet. j. r. HARRIS, of Mississippi.
A LoUIsIANIAN OBJECTS.
TO the Editor.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May 2.-Please allow
me small space in your valuable paper to
answer q class of so-called leaders of the col
ored people of this country. Twill say, before
proceeding any further, that the people of this
country may understand me, that those men
do not represent the colored people of this
country. They do not even represent the
sentiments Of the colored people. We, tho
colored voters of this country, are not ae in
timidating class of people, and we do
tend to use any intimidation. You will
please notice, as / will ask the question,
Who are these colored men who
Cdll themselves UH6 lcduBTSI IL may
be rightfully answered that neither one
of them have vote, and they do not vote in
any state or territory of this country. They
attempt TO use the phrase mot being fa.rly
treated by the republican party" They
complain of not being given equal protection
nor receiving equal educational advantages
from the hands of the republican party down
south or in the country at large or even in
securing tho trifling pittances for which we
toll. That l will say they are strangers to
the fact, and 1 will say, furthermore, that
those men know nothing of the condition Of
the colored people down south. There is a
place where forbearance ceases to be a virtue,
and we are tired of being imposed upon by
such class of men. When we feel any
grievance or unkind treatment from the rel
publican party we have our leaders in the
persons of Hon. b. X. Bruce, p. b. S. Pinch
beck, James Lewis, and many others who are
able to present our case properly before the
republican party. II. p. II.