The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-26
6sUUUECau TvUIuiuauiuu.
views of Well KNOWN Representative
Man of the Colored Race, and of the
Congressman from Gen. Garfelds old
District.
,orresnondenca OF the Press !

Special Correspondence OF the Press.l
WASHINGTON, March "a.
"what do the colored people of the doubt
full States think Of the Presidential question:"
your correspondent asked Geo. w. Williams,
formerly member of the Ohio Legislature
and now resident OF Boston. Mr.. Williams,
who is a graduate of Harvard College, is ono
of the most observing of the colored men in
political life.
''I do not know how it is," he said, "that
the colored press of the North speaks so loudly
in favor of Logan. do not know whether i
is subsidized. or what the reason of it is, bat
do not believe 1t expresses the general senti-
ment of the colored voters in shouting for
Logan as it does"
care you for Blaine, then?'
'sIf Blaine ia nominated" he said, II shall
bolt the Republican party and do everything
in my power to defeat it, Blaine is brilliant
man, but would be dangerous one as Pres-
dent. No. am not for Blaine"
'How about Arthur"
IL hardl, know what to think Of Arthur"
he said. "He has made modelbPresident and
has pleased everybody by his very wise and
judicious and safe course. l am not pleased,
however, with his course toward the colored
race nor are the representative oolored men of
the North or the culored voters pleased with
him Mr.. Arthur is the only President in
twenty yeaIs who has not done something for
the colored race aud who has not recognized IL
in some official manner. / think very highly
of President Arthur and the colored people
would so think were it not for this fact that he
of all the Republican Presidents has omitted
10 recognize the Negr, in any way. He was
friend of the negro in earlier days. He ar
gued and won the Lemmon case in New York,
In which Southerner had brought his slaves
there aud attempted to hold them there and
force them back into slavery, and he also ar
gued and won ths case which gave to the coi-
ored people the right to ride in public convey
ances IN the State of New York, which had
| been denied them. Indeed he was SO highly
regarded in this line that his office was looked
upon as a sort OF underground railway station,
aud it Is the more remarkable under these cir
cumstance that he should have now forgotten
the race for which he fought SO nobly in his
earlv days.
SIS Arthur popular in New Eugland?"
eyes, probably more so than any of the
candidates mentioned. OF course there is the
| first feeling OF local pride in favor of Ed
munds, but he is cold as the granite OF his ma
tive State, and his nomination Is an impossi-
bility Next to him the feeling, / think is IA
vorsble to Arthur. Logan coald not carry
New England Blaine could not carry New
| York. Sherman is as cold as Edmunds The
| feeling in our section of the country is that
| Arthur is probably the most available candi-
| date that the party can nominate, and that he
would carry New York and the country gener-
| ally.
JUDGE TAvLoR's oPINIoNS
Representing the district from which the
late President Garfield came, your views as to
| Arthur's popularity in Ohio would be very in.
teresting just now" your correspondent said
| to Judge Taylor, the representative from the
| 10Th Ohio District, SO long represented by
| Gen. Garfield.
"I should be very glad to give them," he
| answered ''The psople OF my district think
well of President Arthur. They thiuk that
| his administration has been q wise and effi-
cient one, far beyond their expectations in its
results. They are surprised and gratifed at
i the display OF abilt- and wise and conserva-
1 tive Judgment aud craftsmanship which have
characterized President Arthur's course. and
he Is much more highly thought of there now,
than he was when he became President"
"Could he carry Ohio do you think, Mr..
Taylor?"
6Yes," he replied, 81 have no doubt he
could or will, IL nominated. do not say that
he is the strongest man that could be nomi-
mated for Ohio, bat think that ne Is sumo
ienty strong there to carry the State"
"Who would be the strongest man IN ONO,
in your opipion?"
"i think that Blaine Is the choica OF larger
number of people than is the case with any
other one man, at least think that Is the
| fact IN nv own district and vicinity.
"You think then that Blaine would be
stronger than Arthur in Ohio?
eyes, think SO. do not think that Ar
thurs nomination would create any consider
able enthusiasm in Ohio; indeed doubt if i
would cali out the full Republican vote
though the percentage OF Republicans whC
would not vote would be extremely small.
imagine that Blaine or Sherman or Edmund
or Logan would be stronger in Ohio, vet / !,
satisfied that he could carry tho State il nom
mated"