St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-14

"T7se Negro and the Republican Party"
To the Editor of the Globe
Of the many issues growing out of the late
civil conflict between the north and the
south, none has been more difficult to deal
with, and one has had more direct bearing
upon the welfare of the country, than that of
endowing the emancipated negro with citi-
zenship.
History both ancient and modern presents
many phases of human life and action, but
affords no similar spectacle, it produces no
appropriate precedent as guide to the con
summation of this act, the greatest in the
political drama of the country.
Statesmen were taxed to their utmost in
its solution; political philosophers were in a
quandary and congress as if con scious Of its
magnitude and portance considered it with
the greatest care and elaboration.
But under the leadership and before the
almost Divine wisdom and foresight of Sum-
ner, all opposition was borne down.
The negro was citizenized, and the dreams
of his most ardent friends were in fact real
lied. This measure, the wisdom, success
and justice of which are too apparent and
self evident to be disputed, threw upon the
country upwards of three hundred thousand
citizens, who, although unlearned and unac,
quaintcd with the art of government, were
| yet to form an important factor in this land
and government.
| AS you would naturally expect, and as they
haI avin ~ off
| principle, they east their lot with the Repub
lican party, the party who had stood by them
| in times of deep distress, made them free
men and citizens, and that had proven itscl
worthy of their support
Then followed political consistency and
| steadfastness to principle almost incredi-
BILE, as the fifty thousand black martyrs in
the sunny south, victims of the political as
sassination will testify.
But has not the debt of gratitude been
paidl Have not they served sufficiently
| long apprenticeship! Is it not about time
for them to emerge from the political viii
J derness where they have followed with blind
devotion almost every within and caprice Of
tue Republican leaders, and is tt not time
for them to assert their manhood and polit
ical independence Are they mere political
serfs, or are they in reality citizens.
A typical Ohioan Immediately after the
last election in that commonwealth remarked
that he was surprised at the stand taken BY
| the colored voters against the Republican
party.
And, indeed, so low an estimate is placed
| 4
frequently mater of surprise whenever We
exercise our franchise as conscientious citi
zens, whenever we express disapprova at the
polls of corrupt Republican candidates when
ever we attempt to throw off the shackles
which bind and hinder our free politica
actions.
Politics and patriotism it seem are com
panions of each other. Show lis man that
takes no interest in political affairs and well
show you a man who possesses no public
spirit of patriotism, and the history of this
country plainly shows that the men who
have been most patriotic are those who have
been prominent in regulating and governing
its affairs. So that if you systematically
dulsar the negro from holding public offices,
as The Republican party does, If you allow
him to be ruthlessly and wrongfully deprived
of his political rights, as the Republican
party allows TO be done in the south, car
Son look for a full measure of patriotism
from him?
Necessity and the public veal de
mahd that the negro should ascend
to higher plane of manhood
and citizenship, that he should be an i'm
placable enemy to every form of corruption
AID fraud and jealous preserver Of hi:
own political rights.
| Just let an American citizen be NAL
treated or injured in some foreign country
aiYd a howl of indignation is heard every
where. Let some pioneer be shot down by
the Indian on the western prairies and this
whole army is sent in pursuit Of them. bu
let an negro be shot down in he south fol
/ his stubborn adhesion t; political conyic
tions and scarcely murinur OF disapprova
is perceptiblc throughout this broad land.
And the party that allows such state O
things, that permits the prejudices and prin
cipes of the constitution to be set aside witt
| impunity is not worthy of the support o
those who suffer from its misrule.
Indeed the negro should be regarded
as any other nationality, as tbs
irish, german or american, and he should
cease to be thought OF as former slave ans
the portege OF the Republican party
We may have convictions on the temper
ance question more or less radical than
those of the Republican party. We ma
have conflicting views on the Sunday law
but would it be right, would it be manly fo
us TO throw aside these convictions an'
follow the directions of the Republican lead
ers as slave would his master.
Let US aid in removing that which tend:
to stop the progress of right.
Let Us aid in removing public abuses AM
in instituting needed reforms. In view o
these facts If the negro is to be auythir!
more than mere cipher in politics as he i
now in some portions Of our country. if h
is to gain and command the respect OF a.
classes irrespective Of party, If ne is to de
velope into patriotic citizenship, he mus
throw OF party restraint, scorn political serf
dom, grapple and master the more impor
tant political issues of the day. and all tn
powers can not hinder him from taking ths
position in this country to which his mum
erical, strength and intelligence entitle
him, notwithstanding the various decision
that have come forth from the suprem
bench Of this our land and country.
LEO.
The worst thing yet said about Genera
Gordon is by the Newark Daily Advertise
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