The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-29
rho I0iOred i1au IN pGjltIcs.

Frederick Douglass intends to be present
q! the Colored Meu's Convention to be
held in Pittsburgh, lie Is no: in sympathy
with It's object, and his purpose in going Is
to give his views on the colored man as an
Independent element in politics. He TN.
derstands the programme to DO tho lorna.
ton Of an independent colored Municipality,
which Is to stand aloof until 1t can see
where It can make tho best bargain 10
s.cure q nhare OF the loayes and fishes"
mud Mr.. Douglass u.ters these striking
thoughts:
Howevar lGudable may be Tho ambition OF
thess'young men to ente, public lie, | think
that TO accomplish their desire BY ouch
methods 10 10 make deplorable exhibition
Ci ingratitude. For all tuAt wo. nrs and all
iha. We have we ara indebted 10 the Nepub-
lioan party. Whatever. may be lacking In
tho treatment OF ts by that party, 1t Is folly
10 imagine THAI The Democratic party would
do better, or that 1t would wen attempt to
bestow on us any OF the privileges which are
not ours. but which We should possess. Tho
colored voters caunot honorahly occupy mid.
die ground. Whatever 1t Is that Is not ofthe
Republican party tsnds toward tho Demo-
cratic party with It's pro:slavery traditions
md sntiphathy against the colorsd race. We
are bound to me Republican party by the
strongest ties OF honor and gratitude, aud |
canno. see how We can decan,ly do otherwise
than 10 g,ys 1t unwhyefiDs loyalty. Assur.
edly I can taks no other course. I canno,
clasp hands politically with members Of D
party by whose rule men were protected 10
stealing the fruit OF my labor, In selling me
from tbs auction block, In tearing me from
my family. and IN blowing my back with III.
lash. Tbs young men say that AN an old
fogy; that l sm supsrannuatsd; that l do not
k %. pZue with the times; but / think evsn
this will prove thatI am right and that those
Who II 4vocats cutting loo, 9 from the Rspub.
licnu party are TroIg. Does 1t not look also
ns II Independence Ii merely u cloak under
which dishonest colored politicians may put
themselves into tho market md sell out TO
the highest bidders? 1t certainly does.
Colored men mGy overlook entirely the
consideration Of gratitude to the Republi.
can party; let them, for the cake Of argu.
ment, forget all tnat the Republican party
has done for them-which is all that ever
has been done for them; and let them sink
out Of sight I'LL that the Democratic party
las done sgainst them. There remains
then the promise OF the Democratic party
that il the co!orsd voter will vote their
ticket in States, or cities or towns where
they are the balance Of power they will do
better for them in the matter OF Offices than
the Republican party has done.
Observe that in the Southern States they
make no bid for the colored voter; there
they take care OF him ms way which is en-
tirely satisfactory to themselves. Instead
Of office they give him the tissue-ballot and
the aho..gun, and these answer all their
purposes. 1t is farther north, where these
tactics can not be resorted to, that they arc
trying to excite the co!ored voter with
promises-men who would have given him
neither freedom nor the ballot.
Can the colored man trust tho Demo.
cratic party? 1t doesn't keep its promises
to white men-is it likely to treat colored
men better? This is IN important thought
for colored voters to keep in view. An.
other thought 10 that if Nh. Douglass ia
right about the independent colored mems
party, it is to be set up as Il mere political
machine, with no higher aim than to en-
able the leaders CT the movement to get
office, while the followers give them come
thing to trade on. There are many white
men employed in this business, but their
day seems 10 be drawing to Its sunect, for
the country ia putting its great foot down
on political machines and trading poli,i-
clans without regard to party.