Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-02
rHg ooLoREp oonYENFIoa AGAIN..

The proposed Convention of negro citi-
zens to be held in Washington is exciting
considerably more of interest than was an
ticipated. Tae politicians have turned to
it now with a view of controlling it. The
New York Globe, a representative organ OF
colored voters, gives the politicians fair
warming however, chat "taGy" is NOT
what is now wanted. The Democratic
newspapers have been prolific of advice
also to the colored people relative to what
the Convention should do. Bat the Globe
very positively rejects, in behalf of its con-
stituency, any and all advice. For once,
according TO it, the colored voter proposes
to do his own thinking. It is of the opin.
ion, however, that the suggestion of Gen
eral Butler has wisdom in is-that the
0olored voters sprinkle" themselves
among ali parties. That ia the advice of
the demagogue, and 8. F, Butler il nothing
less, nor greater. All the negro voters
the Batter Democracy can secure will be
nettsd only by such "spriDkling" process
The advice is cut from the same piece Of
cloth as the call for The Convention. 1t
proposes that colored voters shall "go"
for loaveH and fishes. Principles are to be
ignored for party rewards. Ii the ambi-
ton of the negro in America is measured
by no higher standard, then indeed has
civilization done little for him. This Con.
vention, and all the debate favorable to it,
means, as we have already shown, q oulti.
walton and Ierpetuation of olannishness !;
one thing, among others, that endangers
American institutions This converting of
classes by nationality, rsce, and color dis.
tinctions, is harmful to the classes, degrades
citizenship and tends to greater corruption
in politics, TO say nothing of the effect it
has upon the American sentiment. Since
the subject of the Convention has been 80
much debated, it is gratifying to note that
some of the leading men among the colored
race have lifted their voices in protest
against the call for the meeting. Among
the latest is Rev. J. w. Menard, of
florida. The spirit of his letter is
that the assembly viii be viewed
simply as a "bid to parties. AS
to the specific purposes set forth in the
call, he declares that the price paid for
labor at the South is regulated by the law
of supply and demand, and no convention
can change it 10 secure to the colored
laborer a higher wage. As to educational
advantages, he shows that the Federal
Government cannot require of the States
any particular school system to be main.
tanned By taxation, As to deprivation Of
civil rights, ne fails TO comprehend how a
convention can advance the civil status OF
the negro, if Congressional Acts, as the
call reoites, have not succeeded in doing 30.
BE believes that the only way for the negro
in the South TO advance his class, is to ally
himself with the better elements that de.
velop in local party divisions. As to any
complaints against the Republican party
for not giving out enough pap" he sug.
gests that the place to lay such grievances
is in the next National Republican Con-
vention. In no light can he see benefit to
accrue to his people by holding class con,
yentiou-and he is right,