Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-31
EQUAL RIGHTS.
Mr.. Hendricks Reply to Letter
From cOlored Editor.
An Assurance That Doubtless Wgl Set
OoloTed Msps Minds at Rest.
The Amendments Part Of the Fun.
damental Law, Never to DO
Questioned.

INpIANAPoLIs, IND., Dec. e7.-One
day this week heeditor OF the Col5r,1 Z,
World addressed an inquiry to the
vice-president-olect relative to the
probable policy OF the incoming adj.
ministrstlon toward the colored PEG.
pie. MI Hendricbs' reply was made
public to-day as follows;
Edwin ?. Horn. llsq.
Dear Sir Your favor OF the nth
ult. was duly received, but absence
from home aud engagements which
could not neglect caused the DELAY lu
the answer until this time You ask
me what will be the probable policy OF
the incoming administration toward
the cOlored peupc2 The inquiry
seems TO he ma "a that the answer may
allay the fears of many who think that
"the cOl0red man will be shOfn OF
many rights guaranteed to him M
common with all citizens, and that he
VIII gradually be subjected TO "A spe.
cies of slaveryn
The convention that nominated the
national Democratic ticket adopted "A
platform for tho candidates 10 stand
upon that so clearly and fully stated
the principles and purposes OF the
party that no voter could be mistaken
or mIsled IN casting his ballot. It has
never occurred TO me TO
question that the success of the
party would be followed by the
adoption and maintenance OF the prin-
ciples aud purposes 80 declared. The
following is paragraph OF the plat
form:
Asserting the equality Of all men
before the law, we mold that IL "a the
duty OF the government, In It's deal.
ings with the people TO mete out equal
and exact justice to all citizens OF
whatever nativity, race, cJlor or per
observation-disclosures or political
Can 1 use language that will give
stronger assurance 10 the colortd peo-
pie that their rights, legal and consli-
tutionM, will be respected aud upheld
by the Incoming administration? This
pledge was made by the greatest pnlit-
zeal convention ever held In the
country perhaps In the world That
convention represented more than bali
the people. But stronger and frmcr
than the pledge Of any party are tiic
constitutional provisions that prohibit
slavery, confer cltiZenship, aud guar.
Untee equality OF civil aud political
rights. These provisions have become
a part Of the machinery Of organized
society, and, being Ia support 81
natural rights, are practically irre-
vucable.
Whatever any OF us may have
thought Of the propfieiy OF the ndop-
ton OF the later constitutional amend,
ments gt the time aud under the
circumstances OF their adoption,
they are now to boz regarded as part
OF the fundamental law Of the land
never TO be questioned or disturbed.
The liberty aud citizenship OF The coll
ored man are held by the same right
and guarantee as that OF the white
man, and can no more be taken from
him nor impaired than they can be
taken from the white man. would
not cOncede that part or whole Of the
people could, by any action or IN any
form az law, deprive me OF my liberty,
except for crime committed, or strip
me Of citizenship, so / regard the lib-
erty and cilizenEhip ofthe colored man
AS inyiolable.
II was cruel thing Ia the late eloc.
ton TO play upon the credulity Of the
colored people, and subject them to q
grOundless fear Of q return 10 slavery,
and thus control their action as voters
/ had occasion some years since to ex-
press my views upon the subject Of
NEGRO Suffrage and la lhut discus
sion ] said; II am not able 70 see why
the subject OF negro suffrage should be
discussed. II must be known TO all
that the late amendments will not be.
can not be, repealed. There isbut the
duty upon All 20 make the politl-
cal power now held by the enfTanchised
race the cause OF the least evil aud the
greatest possible good to the country.
The negro is now free, and Il the
equal OF the white man Ia respect 10
his civil and political rights lie must
now MAKE his own conteet for position
and power. BY his own conduct and
success he viii be judged. II will be
unfortunate for him II he shall rely
upon political sympathy for position
rather than upon duties well aud Ia.
diligently discharged. Everywhere
the white man should help him, but
biz reliance must mainly be upon hlm-
self. am very respectfgllyyours,
4. A. HRsDRfcRs.p