The bee., 1883-08-18
THE NEGRO AND REPUBLI-
CANISM.
DENYING THAT THE COLORED VOTE
Is SWINGING AWAY FROM THE
PARTY.

per, OF tnlS Clbys dld ot SoioiSu iiie''h "
standing and influence, assured the
correspondent of The Times to-day that
what is known as the Independent fac
tion among the colored people is insiS-
nificent in strength and shows no
symptoms of growth. He said he knew
Mr.. Hamilton, formerly of Washing
ton. but now of South Carolina, whose
letter appeared in The Times of Aug.
I, and could say he was not known
among coloIed people and had no fol-
lowing. AS to the abstract question,
he might admit that it was not wise to
have large solid bodies of voters in the
community, whether negroes, German
or Irish, whose votes could always be
depended on. But he did not think it
safe OF wise for the negro vote to split
at the present time, nor was this view
held by any considerable portion of the
race.
WHO may be called the leaders of
the independent colored movement" ?"
was asked.
81 will name them," replied Mr..
Chase, They are the editor of the Sa-
vannah Echo, in Georgia; Mr.. Fortune,
of the New York Globe: Peter Ii. Clark,
of Ohio, who is supporting Hoadly;
William Still, of Pennsylvania, and
George T. Downing, of Rhode Island.
DR.. Purvis has been classed among
them, and has acted with them in the
past, but has recently renounced allie
glance TO that faction and claims to be
once more an orthodox Republican,
On the other hand are maSSed all the
great and recognized leaders of the col
ored race, such men as Douglass, Bruce,
Elliott, Lynch, Gibbs, Langston, and
many others. The cOlOred press Is
almost unanimously against the move
ment. There are now 100 newspapers
in the country edited by negroes. Out
of all these only two, the New \ 1ork
Globe and the Savannah Echo, support
the independent ide, and the Echo only
so far aS relates to local politics. On
national issues that newspaper is re-
liably Republican. Mr.. Fortune, of
the Globe, is an able writer, but his
influence is confined to his readers.
He does not affect public opinion at
large among our people to any great
extent. | think | know colOred SEN
timent on this subject pretty well,''
continued Mr. Chase. Il meet repre-
sentative colored men here constantly
and talk with them freely. Register
Rruce'S house is kind of centre where
prominent men meet and discuss ques-
tions, and often exchange views with
them there. And as a result of these
discussions l can assert confidently
that the negro has not weakened and
will not weaken in his allegiance to the
Republican party. and that desertions
are mainly due to spite or the desire
and hope of office"
Mr.. Chase was asked if kindred
feeling of antagonism to white Repub-
lican control was not manifesting it
self in sentiments of opposition to
those in charge of colleges for the high
er education of the colOred race. On
this question, which has recently been
very actively agitated among colored
people in this city, Mr.. Chase said it
was true considerable feeling existed.
General Armstrong had aroused a good
deal of hostility by derogatory remarks
on the capacity of the cOlored race for
advancement, and his removal from
place of authority was called for 10y
many. The President of Wayland
Seminary, a Baptist institution for the
education of colored preachers and
teachers, had also made himself obnox-
ious. There had recently been some
friction also at Howard University,
owing to acts of President Patton.
Mr.. Chase did not sympathize, how
ever, with those who wished for his
removal, as he believed no colored man
in the country could be of as much ser
vice to that institution as its present
head. "Dr. Patton" said Mr.. Chase
lis somewhat prejudiced against the
negro. He does not believe, for in
stance, that we should aspire to be
represented in the Cabinet. In some
such matters we differ Still, DIR. Pat
ton, as L have said, is an excellent
President. and the college prospers
under him."
Recurring to politics Mr.. Chase said
cit was nonsense to talk of the negro
swinging away from the Republican
party. No one could appreciate the
deep feeling that exists in the colored
people on this point or their devotion
to the memory of Lincoln. 1t was on
account of this grateful reverence that
Secretary Lincoln would prove in his