The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-08
Republican Gratitude.

Jul D1Ido opOClol CuuuoJ hlOi hihS
brought intelligence of the organiza-
ton of the white republican party
Of Texas, the blacklist piece of ingrati-
tude ever perpetrated in any country |
or in any age. The logical result of |
the practical equality taught by reput-
lican modes during and after the re-
epoch, is coming home to |
the white arbiters like well cursed
to roost. The negro begins
to feel himself. He is no longer a
cipher, an 90" in the sum political,
at least in his own eyes. He
manifests this newly developed
personal political existence in
a very natural way. He
wants share of the offices, and there
are not enough to go round. Here
we have all the conditions of a first
class row. Weight, numbers, color and
odor on one side. and audacity, check,
nerve and experience, together with
possession on the other. 1t is a beau
tiful situation. 1t promises music,
and in large, long and loud strains.
The country has spent, all told, over
three billions of money to free the
negro, and nearly as much more to
make man and brother of him, and
here is the upshot of the matter.
The great republican party of Texas,
the federal Office holders and the i'm
mediate personal representatives of
the government of the God-and-Mor-
atty sentiment here, who could never
have made ripple on the surface of
politics without the help of the negro
in his bent-back, stepping-stone rela-
ton to republicanism, "going back
on"him in this way is indeed the black
est of black ingratitude. The negro
has been little FESTIVE all along since
the forty acres Of land and mule
dodge failed him so terribly. He don't
feel right about 1t. and small wonder,
too. Naturally and properly he has
come to regard himself the cornerstone
of republicanism in the south. Ac-
cording to his early teachings and
his later observations, corner-stones
generally, or at least occasionally, get
share of the good things of politics.
He doesn't, and he proposes to unload
the relationship or share the offices
1t is wise conclusion so far as the
negro Is concerned, but 1t will play
the very deuce with republicanism
That party holds the negro with an
awful slight tenure anyhow, and this
weakening of the bonds is threatening
indeed.
Recall a few of the facts, and
thus gather some idea of the turpi-
tude represented in this move tt
draw the color-line inside of the
republican party. Tracy and John
son, of Houston, would have
been printers at the case yet, or pea.
nut vendors, and the merest of mere
subordidates in the ranks, of it haG
not been for the broad 9gis of the
black banner of Africa. The same
can be said of Mallory Patrick Haz
well Clifford, and the band generally
They have got through with the darl
browed voter. He is no longer use
full either as chattle or voting ma
chine, and he must be unloaded. Thi
simple move will settle the doubtful
southern states matter. There vii
be no more of that sort, and it ma,
come to be an affair of Florida, Lou
isiana or South Carolina in the race tt
be decided next fall.
The negro will never forget this tn,
cruelest blow he has yet received, tn
most dreadful snub-this awful back
handler delivered with such force ant
effect. 1t will never be forgotten b.
the negro that this caress was give1
in the household of his friends. 1t wa
done by no ex-slave-holder, by no nigh
riding, murderous ku-kluX-klan. How
bitter How utterly unprovoked wa
It'll The patients voting machine, tn
loving man and brother. the trusting
dependent and power of repuDlicanisn
white and immaculate republ1canisn
absolutely abandoned by the Negro
lovers, and he is left to his fate be
cause there are one hundred thous
and white men who will come over Il
the ranks if the negro is expungel-
wiped out. Was ever baser ingratitud'
exhibited? Was ever crueller aban
donment seen in politics?
If this circumstance does not opeI
the eyes of the negro as well as O
those well-meaning, but purblinC
philanthropists up at Boston, ant
elsewhere, then we know nothing O.
political effects, or Of the things which
move men to indignant re
sentiment and the lightning
stroke action which such causes i'm
pei. 1t is none of our funeral, and al
we have to do with the affair is, is tC
give it such direction as will make il
cut for general democratic advantage
But aside from all of this the thing
represents such a mountain of the
very blacklist and cruelest ingratitude
and abandonment, that, that circum.
stance alone fully warrants its ex
tended notice by all newspapers, and
especially by democratic papers which
have always taught that republican
regard for the negro was jibe and a
| ieer, a myth and delusion.