The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-02-23

lit1cal paupers ana 1mDeclles, Wnere they
can be supported at the public expense;
but they are created for the public bene-
fit, for the dispatch of business, in which
the people are interested, consequently
putting VIGOROUSLY incompetent men in
Office is fraud and an insult to the pub
lie. Mr.. Nelson's own letter shows him
TO be n sorehead, and to be offended be-
cause he is not put in office, n fact, which
demonstrates that he loves office much
more than Republican principles. The
concluding portion of his letter seems to
have been intended as an intimation TO
the Democrats that Mr.. Richard Nelson
is anxious to sell out to them for an
office. and we hope they will
throw him sop and take him into their
fold. Republicans will be strengthened
by getting rid of men, white and black,
who merely act with the party for the
hope of obtaining Office and pout and
sulk when they fail TO receive teat.
Camp followers and mercenaries weaken
any party. The LIGHT hopes Mr.. Rich
ulh Ntl0oil WIN ohb'NGN III thN'hih6 a.
trade with the Democrats and will for
mally take leave of the Republican par
ty, as he has plainly shown that If he
does not get Office he is not to be counted
upon as Republican and Republicans
of that mercenary kind are less harmful
when they join the Democrats. The
letter of Mr.. Richard Nelson, apart from
its undisguised exhibition of mercenari-
ness and soreheadism might have been
composed by a 10 year old white boy,
yet its author sets himself up as n leader
and representative of the negro race,
and complains that his race does not re-
ceive a large enough slice of the public
offices. As we have said, no incompe-
tent person of any race should be placed
in office for the reason that every office
is for the public benefit, and it concerns
the public to have its duties properly
performed, just as we choose the best
carpenter, shoemaker, blacksmith, etc.
in private matters. Men are not born
ready qualified for office, nor are they
wise by intuition nor inspiration, as
many negroes evidently suppose to be
the case. Our public school system is
worse than useless, If education is not
an essential qualification for the proper
performance of the duties of public
Office and negroes are wrong to seek to
obtain an education. The fact Is, the
negroes demanded Office before they ac-
quired n semblance Of qualification, and
their self-consttuted leaders con-
tinue to bawl and below for
Office and to splutter about
being treated unjustly, when the
truth is they are without qualification.
Let the negroes first become qualified to
fill offices and then seek them because
they are qualified, and not merely be-
cause they are negroes. We have no
idea that Richard Nelson himself, though
he sets up'for leader, possesses qualiil-
cations for an Office of any consequence
or could make n proper bond in case he
was qualified. A majority of educated
white men are unfit TO fill public offices
on account of their lack of system,
method, assiduity and order, and yet
they far surpass Richard Nelson and
most of his race in the matter of educa-
tion and training. We speak plainly
and pointedly from a conviction that
the better class of negroes, those who
are honestly and earnestly endeavoring
both IN inn fhafr condition nd
to raise their race to higher plane of
civilization and dignity, will appreciate
our advice and give it due considera-
ton. 1t is time enough for man to as
pire to any public office when he has be-
come qualified to discharge its duties,
and to aspire to it before is the climax
of impudence. The negroes will be
damaged, not benefited, by putting per-
sons Of their race in Office who are de-
void of the necessary qualifications, and
1t behooves them to lay this fact to heart.
Being in a minority in the United
States, as well as in all the States, ne
groes should understand that any at
tempt at drawing the color line, which
some of the self appointed leaders OF
their own race are prone to attempt
solely to enhance their market value
when they want to sell out, must arouse
prejudice against them and postpone the
time when perfect harmony will reign
| between the two races and unity of in
terest will prevail. Negroes should
avoid magnifying mole hills into noun
tains in the matter of grievances-trust
to the softening influences of time, and
strive to improve in morality and in.
| telligence.