The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-05-28
THE NEGRO IN POLITICS.
A Letter 10 Frederick Douglass on
the ColOred Vote OF the United


A Letter 10 Frederick Douglass ON
the COlored Vote of the United
States.
Mr.. George It. Downing, a well.known col
ored man, low residing at Newport, II. l., has
addressed an open letter to the Hon. Fred
etick Douglass, in which no says:
1--WE have sci yed tho cause Of justice, out.
ragged In the colored man, too faithfully for us
TO now question each other as to our devotion
thereto, still we, like othors, may differ as to
policies. There is, at least, a seeming diner.
es ence between :, US. May we come 70 an under;
say we indorse In common those declarations
OF the Republican party that affect the race TO
which VIC arc allied by an unholy American
creation, prejudice directed against color But
DO We diner as to tho amount OF manllness and
indignation We should express at the want OF
sincerity manifested by Republican leaders and
believe that to be respected l must respect
myself; that II i allow myself to be struck,
Iwill be; that tho Republican party Is Goa
tinually manifeeting lack OF respect for the
colored man, and Is continually striking him.
~, as you know, denounce both Republicans
and Democrats for their treatment Of the col.
ored man. would have my friend Douglass
convince me that Republican directors and ad-
ministrators do for the colored man anything
from principle, with the colored mans benent
as governing fact In vlew, other than rs y
policy. Would not Democratic directors, II
made 10 feel that II was polite, do rs much
and more than 10 being dono by the Repnb.
iitdnb lOI tnb COlOTeu man IS IL WlSo W LOo-
ter continued antagonism between tho col
oIed people as a claes and any political party
May not any such party come into power, and
what would be the fato OF the c0lored people
under such continued antagonism7 Is not tho
Democratic party committed through Its ma
tionnl platform as broadly as Ia the Repub'
lican party to all We demand Have not come
OF our wisest and truest friends been advised
to look hopefully toward the Democratic pprty
when 1t was committed less practically to n
recognition OF our rights than is true to-day ?
"Are not the circumstances so changed as TO
warrPnt the hope that the Democratic direct.
ors may, because Of thoae eclrcumstanc 8, ,ch ango
their action as to tho colored mann Do we not
nnd them modifying their policy very ma
terially2 May we not attribute the same, TO q
great extent, TO tho Independent sentiment
lately expressed by the colored people, and TO
the belief being created that that party, despite
Its past record, which shall henceforth respect
the colored man most shall receive support at
his hand? Is not the late asserting policy OF q
respectable portion OF the colored people hay
tps Its effect uron Republican manageref Is
III not wiso 10 encourage competition as TO re-
spect FOR us between political partlesp Is not
the balance force OF the colored vote being con.
sfdered as never before? Should Its force be
destroyed by committing 1t too soon 10 any
party that does not manifest proper re.
spect therefor2
"Friend Douglass, much respect is felt for
your opinion. It would not only crafty me, bu,
the public generally, for you TO answer the
above queries specifically, not generally. To
do othcl wise might conceal and confuse"