Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-11
- I.oui.rtIIe Conrentton.

The convention Of cOl0red men. which
Is expected to meet at Louisville on the
oath Of this month. promises 10 attract
great deal more attention than anybody
had any idea Of when the call FOR the
convention was issued. At that time
neither political party paid any particular
attention % IL. II was looked upon by the
Republicans as an effort by a few colored
men 70 bulIdoze the Republican party into
giving them a larger share Of patronage
The Democrats did not feel that they had
an interest whatever in II. Vow, hoT-
ever. the situation IS somewhat changed.
The Republicans are beginning
70 fear that steps will b.
taken that viii ultimately
deprive them Of a very large part Of the
negro vote. The Democrats see that the
heroes are dissatisfied with their Repub-
Iican allies and that they are disposed 70
sever their connection with a party which
has held them in q sort n political bond
age. The negro vote is an important fac
tor in al least four Of the Northern states
The proceedings Of the Louisville COnyen-
ton. therefore. viii possess more than an
ordinary degree Of interest. The Repub-
iicans would like the convention 10 meet.
pass resolutions laudatOry Of their party
and adjourn. This it viii not probably
do. All the signs indicate that there
Will De a pretty full and free discus
sion Of the various questions which
affect the negro race in this country, and
that tie Repub lean party win be called
% account for denying its negro members
a fair share Of the sp0ils Of Office after get
ting into power by the aid Of the negro
vote The negroes are shrewd enough 10
see that they have not much more 70 eX-
pect from the Republican party. because
the chances are thai it will soon become
the minority party. The question, there
fore. which presents itself 10 them. i
whether the present is not a good time 10
take an independent stand and make the
best terms they can for them
selves. In fact. one Of the
resolutions, adopted by those who
called the convention. recites that
according 10 the signs Of the times the
country i OH the eve Of a political revO-
luton. and IL beh0Oves Us as a race 10
make our interests paramount 10 those Of
any party or sect. II Is our duty 70 unite
and strike out some bold political line Of
action which viii bring Us nearer 70 the
estate OF full citizenship and power when
this great revolution j. over" This looks
very much as if there were a purpose
~ make the negro vote bring
all that it j. worth. While IL i probable
that it viii De worth considerable IN the
next national contest. il Is altogether
improbable that the Louisville COnven-
riOn viii be able % control il. The most
that the convention can do Is TO take such
action Is viii lead 10 discussion among
the negroes. II j. true that discussion may
result in an independent movement.
When that point j. reached. which may
De very soon. the negroes viii De in a
position 10 talk Of looking out for their
own race interests, and TO make such
alliances a. viii best promote those in
terests. II is probably safe TO say that
the Democratic party viii make no con-
cessions 10 obtain the negro vote. 1t
recognizes the negroes as citizens. and if
they ci@se 10 cast their votes with the
Democrats they viii be guaranteed only
such treatment as i accorded 10 other
members of the party. 1t is a fact worthy
0f note. however. that in the south the
negroes have received far better treat
ment from the Democrats than they have
received from the Republicans IN the
North. There Is one thing that must not
1T lost sight Of, however, and that is that
the negro viii have to work out his own
future. The place he viii occupy viii not
depend upon concessions that any pOliti-
cal party may make him. but upon what
he may make out Of himself He Will be
permitted to advance just as rapidly as he
tits himself l0T advancement.