The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-27
S Something abyur soothiog svrun

1essf's Editors I'm last weeks Vlaai,
cdfor there is Il request or petition from
several colored citizens to Hon. A. Fl IT.
Stuart for his views as to what will be the
political status, &c, of the colored neople
OF the south under Mr.. Cleyeland's adj.
mlnlstratlon, and the request expresses
confidence in Hon. Mr.. Stuart s views
upon all public questions.
ms IS a remarkable case of inconsist-
ency. NO one can question the siqEt of the
gentlemen who signed the petition to ask
the advice OF any one, but other citizens ems
VIII certainly question the 1ropy1etv of a
mans fighting party until defeat comes
and then expressing conf ence in one of
tthe leaders views upon. all public aues
lions, and seeking particular inforglation
from the opposite party.
III the gentlemen voted the Republican
tlcket. Tie expression just quoted contra
diets Itself, for they could NOT have had
confidence i'll Mr.. Stuart's views in regard
to the great Presidential question RECENTLY
decided 10y the people OF the United States.
OF they would have voted for Mr.. Cleveland.
But Mr. Stuart passes over this iuconsist-
ent part OF the petition, and proceeds to
answer the question asked in his own be-
cullar way. He first speaks of the signers'
ihteillgence, and immediately shows that
ne does not consider them intelligent by
recltlng the Differentiated ghost story thai
they will not bereturned to slavery. What
colored man of any degree of intelligence
believes he will ever be slave agai:,?
Surely 1t will not be one who Can read MIR.
Stuart S views in the indicator. 1t may
De fact that the Republicans have used
such on argument as the slavery scare
crow, put lt would have no effect upon
SUCH men as those who signed the petition
in question, unless the writer is very mncl.
mistaken in regard to their intelligence
The truth is, Mr.. Stuart falls into the
same error that nearly all white men fail
into, when discussing the negro problem,
lhat is they take the most ignorant colored
mans views as the measure by which they
guage the whole race. There never was 4
more fatal error,
No Democrat in existence can make any
sensible colored man believe that the Re
publican party has not been his friend II
was our friend before we had a vote. and
by continuing to advocate our cause it only
proved its consistency. The colored voters
having the principle of gratitude as deeply
engrafted III their nature as any other men,
nave voted the Republican ticketbecanse of
the past history of the Republicar arty. I
nave no doubt that it will be ~, sidered re
sumptuous for me to say al ythingin rgal d
to the letter of Hon. Mr.. St al Init |
shall, nevertheless, say few words in an
sWer tc the central idea that he seems to
express. The whole argument in Mr..
Stnart's letter seems to be this when the
colored people OF the South come to the
conclusion that they will vote the Demo.
cratic ticket. there will be absolute good
VIII between The races, for after stating
sne relation OIL labor to capital, he con-
ciudes that there will be peace between
the races when 1--WE live together. work
together and cote together = That is the
whole controversy in the South between
the races. The Southern Democrats do
not want to give the colored people politi-
cal liberty. They want the CAPITALIST to
determine for whom the laborer Shall vote.
put Inc laDorer wishes to decide for him
sell. The Southern Democrats cannot
come up to the idea that in Republican
government every man has perfect right
TO vote us he pleaseS. whether it suits his
employer or not. This is their especial ar
gument to colored man: lyon work for
us. and you ought to vote with us, We
give you work, and you ought hot to vote
against u.s." But if capital is as depend
ent upon labor as labor is upon capital. one
IS as Independent as the other, and thank
800 That as ignorant as the coored race is
considered. they have when they dared tol
voted their sentiments without regard to
future consequences. No coored man
with the least claim to be considered in
telligent has any fears in regard TO his per-
sonal liberty because of Mr.. Cleveland
election. but no one that rejects at all
upon the past history of the two parties.
and has the interests of his race at heart.
desired the success of the Democratic
party. In conclusion, we are proud of our
past fidelity to the Republican party, and
the great majority OF us will not 50 to our
lie question. I've prefeT the advice of our
friends. n.