The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-11-28


Breaking the Colored Line.
Blaine's reckless attempt to alarm the
colored people of the country and embitter
them against the Democratic party seems to
have failed completely The uneasness felt
by the colored race, at the impending change
in the condition of affairs was natural. The
Republicans, in order to keep the colored
voter in line and prevent him from voting the
Democratic ticket, worked upon his fears by
telling him that if the Democrats were sue
cessful the privilege ofvoting would be taken
away from him, and, what was more alarm
ing to him, that the colored people would be
re.enslaved.
They have seen that the Democrats have
been successful, and without their votes, and
that there is no disposition on the part Of
the Democratic party to reduce them to
slavery or to deprive them of any right
guaranteed to them by the constitution. They
are, therefore, beginning TO take heart, and
many of them are willing now to cast their
political fortunes with the Democrats, in
whom, outside of politics, they have always
found their best friends.
AS an evidence of this rather singular re-
suit of the late election, prominent colored
men in different parts Of the country are
reassuring their race that the election of
Cleveland means no harm to them, politically
or otherwise.
w. A. Pledger, the colored chairman of the
Republican Executive Committee of Georgia,
last Friday, in speaking Of the attitude of the
colored race towards the incoming Demo
cratic administration, said he believed Cleve-
lands administration would be characterized
by conservatism, and that while the colored
people had made every effort to elect Blaine
since his defeat they "have been more
than gratified at the course of our white De-
mocratic friends. Nothing but the kindest
words have been spoken for us. We recog
nize the fact that the white Democrats of the
South are those among whom our fortunes
are cast. can safely say, in speaking for
myself and 100000 colored people of the
South, that ifGov. Cleveland s administration
carries out only half of the promises which
colored vote will be equally divided between
the two parties. There is no reason why the
colored vote should be solidly Republican,
There is every reason why it may become
largely Democratic. I number among my
friends many of the most prominent Demo-
Gratis of the State, and their kind expressions
towards our race when harshness might have
been expected assures me that among them
are to be found the true friends of the color
ed man. This silly sensation about negroes
being put back into slavery has, l am sorry
to say, been spread among the colored people.
They now find that they have been imposed
on, and they have already become thoroughly
reconciled to the election of the Democratic
ticket"
Pledged is the leader of the colored people
in Georgia, and is the Collector of Customs
in Atlanta.
Prof. d. A. Straker, colored, late Repuhli-
can candidate for Lieutenant Go yernor of
South Carolina, declares that Cleveland's
election gives the Democrats their great OPP
portunity, and thai perhaps it may be the
means of celebrating party distinctions In
the South and insuring the highest pros
perity of both the white and colored races
lie cannot see that anything but good can
come of the removal of the Federal office
holders who have been the stirrers-up of
strife between the races, and he thinks that
the Democrats can, by moderation and wis.
dom, unite the colored people with them on
one line of political policy,
Senator Brown, of Georgia, one of the ablest
and most conservative of Southern Demo-
cratic politicians, scouts the suggestion from
Republican sources that the liberty and legal
rights of the .colored people of the South are
endangered by Democratic triumph He says
every intelligent person knows thatthe color.
ed race in the Sonth will be just as secure in
all their rights under Democratic admins
tration as ii could be under Republican adj
ministration n1o 3H. r..