The state journal., 1884-05-10
Blaine-The Republican Party
And its Disregard Of their Col
ored Allies.


The time comes on apace when in
convention assembled we are soon to
select another candidate who will be
expected to carry the "Grand Old
Party" to victory, and thereby avoid
the trailing in the dust of the flag of
liberty and the free. / use the word
we suggestively. 1t must be remem-
bered that the important factor and
principal key to Republican success
in this State, $4,000 colored voters
will practically have had no voice in
said selection. Deprived of represen-
tation in the State Convention, abso-
lutely ignored in the composition OF
the delegates to Chicago, are facts
freiehted with no encouraging ele-
ments. To whom are we to charge
this last unkind cut? To none other
than the Blaine Republicans. They
in their over jealous efforts to aid the
"Plumed Knight" have overlooked
the fact that should they succeed "a
gery, gerry remote probability, that
they could no more carry the State OF
Pennsylvania without the aid OF their
colored allies than could Jefferson
Davis be elected President of the
United States. The faithfulness of
the colored man to the Republican
cause has been constant, consistent
and effective. What is or has been
our reward? To be deprived of re-
presentation in conventions; to be
snubbed on important political occa-
sions, and to be, in general, ignored,
except on the eve of some election In
this State. To day, Notwithstanding
We helped elect every Republican
Office holder, not one OF the many has
had the manhood, the courage, nor
the gratefulness to give colored man
any position higher than that OF
messenger, this too in the face OF the
fact that many of them possess Gull
tured fitness and morality, and other
commendable traits. The Blaine ele-
ment, on the surface, appears strong,
and have given us to understand that
they can do without us. Now, gen.
tlemen, you pay your money, now
take your choice. II in the initiative
you deal from the bottom as regards
us, what are we to expect should you
succeed? You would expect US to
swallow the pill, whether coated or
otherwise. The time has come, when
like men, we prefer little coating
on ours. The Republican party has
not outlived its usefulness, but in
many instances it has outlived Its
honor and so far as the Presidential
question goes, any other candidate is
preferable to Blaine, because we be-
lieve there would be no Improvement
or cessation of these injustices with
him at the head of affairs. AS to
protection, or any other kind of tariff,
we have no concern, and that We have
not, is the fault of the party that we
have supported and abetted for a term
of years. They own majority OF
the mills, manufacturing. establish
ments and rolling stock, and have not
seen fit to employ Except as menlals)
any of the colored men or their sons,
who have continuously kept them in
power. We feel aggrieved at this
treatment, and when Democrats, who
for wears have been our avowed enc
mics, for a little political favor will
appoint colored men to lucrative po-
sitions, we are compelled to ask our
selves the question (since politics is
all for pottage) whether it would not
serve our interests better to pay a
little attention to them. In Philadel
phia there are numerous manufactur-
ing establishments, some of which are
owned and controlled by Democrats.
and in some of the same are to be
found colored mechanics, while in
those controlled by Republicans not
a colored man is to be seen, Thus it
is plain, we have no material concern
as to the tariff question, and as things
now are, we are forced to have little
worry as to the Presidential outcome
Some speak Of sacrificing principle
We have been constant; we have adj
bered to what has been termed Re-
publican principles. We find there
is nothing in it for us; and to continue
this course we can leave only an
empty legacy for those who are to
follow us. In '76 and 80 it was said
that James G. Blaine was found to be
IL. lao.o Cor Prnsidnnt 1t Is to be