The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-05

had got possession Oh the relns. VI course ne
referred to the negro Let us occupy what
ever position we may, so long as it is not be-
tween the plow handles, we are considered
loafers, and are entitled to no respect by the
majority of our white population.
elf the Democratic party would put their
most conservative men in office, we could
readily believe they meant to treat us with
fairness, but they send their bitterest men to
the most important places. We don't care
whether we have colored representatives in
| the congressional and Legislative halls or not,
since we have somebody that sympathizes
with our condition; but does Colonel d. Wyatt
Aiken or General NJ c. Butler care anything
| for us?
| 81 said that we cared not whether we were
represented by our own race not, but in
one thing particular we do care, and that is on
the boards of school trustees We are denied
this privilege, and in many cases, teachers
| holding certificates and selected by the pa
irons, are rejected by the trustees on account
of some prejudice of theirs. Under Repub-
lican rule the boards generally consisted of
| two whites and one colored man, and we
think we might be allowed one man on each
board now"
Mr.. Robertson makes all plain as far as he
goes. The colored men are not afraid of be-
ing returned to slavery, nor has any Repub-
lican newspaper or public man stultifed him
self by saying they would be. That is not
the point, and no one better than Democratic
papers North and South knows that this is
not the ground of complaint on the part Of
colored men, and made by Republicans in
their behalf. The negro is free-that is, ne
is not in slavery; but he is re-
fused many of his privileges, denied
his rights, as Mr.. Robertson shows
The same prejudice that stands between him
and position on the school board stands be-
tween him and the ballot-box. 1t is folly to
argue that if race prejudice is so strong that
negro is not allowed to act as a school
trustee, it is not strong enough to keep him
from electing himself to the Legislature and
to assist in electing representatives to Con-
gress
In replying to the letter in question, the
News and Courier compliments the author as
well it may, for its moderation and good sense,
and then goes OF in the following fashion:
ut is true of the colored people, as it is, in
| a less degree, Of the whites. that the majority
of them are not likely to rise above the level
of the agricultural laborer, but this is an hon
est and an honorable calling. There is no loss
of manhood, no degradation, for white man or
colored man, in standing between plow-
| handles. From the broad fields where the
powman walks in the furrow comes the
wealth which makes this land so strong. A
smattering of education will oftentimes cause
white boys to think that blowing is beneath
them, anu probably it has the same effect
upon colored boys. 1t will take time for these
| to reach their level again; but there is not
any disposition to keep the colored people
down"
What possible connection can this have
with the question? 1t is not whether farming
is an honorable profitable calling, but
whether the colored man has his rights be-
yond the narrow bounds of pillow handles if
he is able to make his way beyond them. Is
he allowed to vote as he plelsesG Can col
ored man go to Congress from South Carolina?
Can man like j. Z. Robertson run for Gov
rrnor and hope for fair election and honest
COUNT The News and Courier practically
admits that such liberty would not and could
not Dc TOLERATED DY oOulH CstFOllNh DemocIdtS
when it says
"These men 1.-THE Democratic State officers1
are thoroughly liberal and, while they recog
nze the necessity of the supremacy of white
influence. are honestly DESTROYS of securing to
the colored people, as to the whites, every
right and privilege that citizenship should
confer upon them"
What is 'the necessity of the supremacy of
white il 1uence" but the very wrong COM
plained off What is the kid glove utterance
of the News aud Courier but the cry "this is
a white mans country, aud by the Eternal
none but white men shall rule iti" The Jour
nal in common with the North in general. is
quite certain that the negro is practically dis
franchised in the South. Our Charleston
contemporary enters no denial, but rather
seems TO glory in the determination that no
party shall control that State by legal and
undisputed majority if it be made up of votes
cast by colored men. 1t says:
fThe whites are determined that whatever
the cost, they will not be the political slaves
of their former slaves; but, because Of the
election Of Democratic President, they can
give more latitude TO the colored people than
could be safely given them before. Instead
of being the signal for repressve and re-
strictive legislation and action. the election of
Cleveland will pave the way to the repeal or
dsuse of those protective measures which
were necessary as long as it was probable tse%+
the colored people would be arrayed soldiy
against the whites"
The solid South, now creeping up to the
White House, purrs only when strOked the
right way. When its swindling aid infamous