Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-25
USpKR WHICH BOSS .
Tho Questson Threatening serieus
Asftaafon Among Colored Voters.

The QueBttom Threatening 8erf0us
Asitaiisn Amosg Colered Voters.
As each campaign comes round and cleo
ton agitation increases, the colored people
Of this city grow more jealous of their
rights and less tolerant of the idea that
they are the mere goods and chattels Of the
Republican party to be bargained for and
handed over to this candidate or that
Within the past week, or since the manouv.
sring began for the Republican primaries,
there has been more or less caucussing
among the brethren and open talk of q re-
volt, under certain circumstances. Last
night Q REeIsrKR reporter met q we'll
known colored man, whose opinions have
great weight with his race, and asked him
If any important move was in contsmpla-
ton. He seemed reticent on the subject,
and was disposed, at first, to conceal what
ever skeleton might lark in their political
closet. The reporter asked:
which one Of the Republican bosses is
manipulating the colored vote, just now"
This struck tender spot. He looked
uneasy and almost WINGED under the lash
of this intimation. Finally hs'said:
'If any Of the bosses, as you call them,
are going to control the colored vote this
year don't know it. We've had, or at
least, I've had enough of it and hereafter
we propose to run ourselves"
us anything wrong? Have you been i'll
treated by any body"
"You may not. call it ill-treated, unless
il is ill.treatment to be not recognized.
Maybe you've noticed how q politician al
WAYS recognizes and speaks to a man when
he is a candidate and wants his vote, but at
other times never knows hun. That's the
way we are treated by the Republican
party, They vote Us and at election time
talk sweet to us, but that's all. Soon as
elections over they re done with Us"
well, what are you going to do? Come
over to the Democrats"
mo sir That won d be out of the fry
ing pan into the FIRE Tie Democrats don't
need us, and the Republicans do, and II we
demand il they've got to recognize US
What could they do without us? How
meny States would they carry without the
colored vote? Leave out the colored vote
and the Republican party would be moth
ing No, SIR, we hold the balance OF power
apd they must respect us"
"You speak Of recognize. What do you
mean?'
"simply this: We want representation
We want to participate in county, State
and national conventions and we want our
share OF the patronage and the elective
offices. The colored people have been
murmuripg for some time. 1t is deep and
low, but 1t is destined to become louder
and fercer. We want leader and when
we get him, that murmur will be changed
| to roar that will reverberate over the ma
ton and shake even the presidential chair
| itself. Now do you understand me? am
not alone in my views. They are held by
every colored man who dares do his own
thinking and who has the courage to speak
his convictions. We are Republicans,
both by traditions and from choice and We
will support the Republican ticket; but
we must no longer be regarded as cattle 10
be driven about to suit the mind of every
| white Republican. We ask very little and
we've waited very long for that"
What are you a candidate for?'
Nothing al all. But what am most
| interested in, just now, is seeing colored
man in the West Virginia delegation to the
hicsgo Convention
DO you expect iIg'
Hardly. We could get it II some o!
| iEese town black fellows would show lit
lie nerve; but they are afraid to call their
votes their own, so it may be Il lOng time
cefore we csn declare ourselves. There are
now too nfsny white hands pulling tEs
wires among the cclored voters to suit me,
but the trouble is that yet awhile too many
of our fellows cant do their own thinking
But an emancipation day will come yet
We were freed from physical bondage by
Abe Lincoln but We are not free yet, and
won't be until we cen do our own voting"