Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-06-07

BUTLER TO THE CoLoRED PEOPLE.
The Vicksburg (Miss.) Herald pub
fishes the following letter from Gov.
B. T. Butler, Of Massachusetts,, to q
colorsd politician in that State. and
says it contains Sound advice" and
isfrom zone Of the brainiest men in
America" Whatever the Governor 8
other shortcomings, it may not be
denied that he has ever been found
on the side Of the laboring man and
has ever shown himself a firm friend
and staunch upholder Of the rights of
the colored race. He advises them,
it will be seen, to look out for them
selves and to subordinate politics in
the future to the lettering of their
condition. At the best, there are
only q few Of the race that can hold
Office. the great majority having to
hoe their own rows. 1t is this latter
class that we understand Gov. Butler
to address and advise -
BosToN, Mass, April "a. 1888.
Fl. G. Carter, Vicksburg, Miss:
DEAR SIR--You are mistaken in
supposing that | have any special
knowledge Of the condition Of politi-
cal affairs in Mississippi, as | only
see them at a distance strained through
the medium of the different political
papers; therefore / caanot speak with
particularly about Mississippi.
You ask me what line of conduct
] would advise the colored men of the
South to pursue in political affairs.
%TO that | answer frankly, look out
for yourselves. That is to say, vote
fer the best men. whose life and con-
duct You know well, and who have
shown thereby their desire that equal
justice and equal rights shall come
TO all men under the law. No mat
ter what promises are made by polit-
ical orators, or what inducements are
held out to obtain your votes, look to
what men have done and been, and
not to what they say they will do or
will be. If a candidate for Office
whom you can trust is in favor of
the education of your children, the
equal taxation of your property, and
the protection of your persons by law,
vote for him, whatever he may be
called politically. It is a mistake
for the colored voters to vote for one
party solidly, even in localities where
they have the numerical majority !;
but it is equally their duty to vote
for men who will best represent the
interests of all. You live in a COM
munity composed Of both white and
colored men, and you want to have
a peaceful. quiet life in that COM
munity. There are good men in both
parties, and you will obtain the re-
spect of every good man if you will
pursue the course have indicated.
By SC doing, you will lull the passions
and the lard feelings engendered by
the war, and the disappointments
and regrets. if any, produced by the
emancipation of the colored man will
die out. 1t is of more consequence
to the colored man that he shall have
peace and prosperity in the commu-
nifty where he lives than who is pres
ident or who is senator or represen-
tative to Congress. In a word, vote
Tor all good, honest and true men
who are now your friends, and vote
against all men who, by their conduct,
have not shown themselves your
friends, however loud or persistent
their promises may be. Remember
that the Holy Scriptures say by
their fruits We shall know then" "
/ am, very truly yours,
BENJAMIN T. BUTLER.