St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-16
THEY ARE COMING.
The Election of Grover Cleveland
Completes the Colored Mans
Emancipation.
Letter from Geo. T. Downing Expressive o
the Attitude of His Race Regarding Their
Escape from the Thraldom of the
Republican Party.

New YORK, Jan. 15.-The Fireman, the
colored peoples newspaper here, will publish
tomorrow an open letter to the Democratic
party, written by George T. Downing. well
known colored man. The following is the
text:
To the Honorables Vim. Dorsheimer, Dudley
D. Field, Algernon s. Sullivan. r. a.
Pryor and Joseph Pulitzer.
Gentlemen: take the liberty to address
you this open letter because you are Demo
Gratis and have influence with your party, and
because believe your devotion TO the pure
advocating that the Democratic party shall
henceforth favor the recognition OF
the colored element of the land
as it has not heretofore done.
I refer with some pride to the fact that my
better judgment prompted me TO efforts
towards bringing about such condition OF
public affairs as would warrant a division of
colored vote, and that they have not been
fruitless. l regard the election of Hon.
Grover Cleveland 10 the presidency as a
happy event. 1t affords an opportunity for
the Democratic party to encourage a con-
sistent and just policy toward the colored
men, which believe will be taken advantage
Of This belief arises from expressions
already made by the president elect; from
the declarations unexpectedly given by Hon.
Thomas A. Hendricks; from the significant
stand taken in congress by Such a mum Der
Of Democrats on Mr.. O'Hara's amendment
to the Reagan interstate commerce bill;
from the position affecting the civil rights of
the colored men taken by Mr.. Cleveland
as governor of the state of New York
and of similar just stand taken by mum
Der OF other Democratic governors, because
material interests prompt to such a line
of policy and because it is just A number of
circumstances are having the effect to arouse
the colored people from the intoxicatIon as
TO party that bas been upon them, they
will be enabled in the future 10 discriminate
and use more judgment as to men, partisan
policies and acts. Encourage them. There
are Democrats who are as pch disposed 10
deal fairly by the colo-ed u aAFas are others,
but who have been, unfortunately, hampered
and restrained by an element within the
party which has csused the party to be dis
trusted and passed BY, for at least twenty
four loug years, by q majority Of people.
This element Of the party cannot in good
faith expect more liberal division TO make
further sacrifices, or adhee % a policy OF
the past not suited TO the present
state the affairs. 1t cannot be expected at
such cost. A policy that wars with the dec
larations Of the party nationally made In
1872, and emphatieally repeated in iis ma
tiohal platform only few months ago in
obedience TO the demand Of public senti-
ment.
This advance is made 70 you, gentlemen.
not TO concede any right, but because you
are representative portion of the Demo
cratic party, which is power. l feel war
ranted in appealing to it. DO so because a
crisis is upon the parties, because the Demo
cratic party Is in more mellow mood touch
ing the interest Of the colored man than has
been exhibited within my day, because
have never been slave to party. The
cOlOred Vote may be won, which is better
than to intimidate II. That which is neces-
sary thereto does not call for a change
varying from what has become.
may say to some extent, crystallized into
custom or law, beyond what has been con-
ceded 10 be just. II involves no regard of
vested interests, proprietary claim, invasion
Of any private or domiciliary right. What Is
necessary is respect for common or public
rights; regard for merit, intellectual attain
ment, respect irrespective OF color for proper
feelings, including natural and Just aspira-
tons. II does not involve Nominations be-
cause of color by white or colored. ! hope
for fair play. Certainly my white fellow
citizen who has had advantage of centuries
Of culture, domination, and who Is wealthy,
will not be restrained from acting justly
through any thought of the black man, in a
free and equitable field, becoming master Of
the situation.
Distrust of the Democratic party has been
felt by the colored man, and not by him
alone. II threw the party out OF power in
1850 on issues involving the colored mans
rights. II is about To be reinstated. May
its new advent TO power be for the best.
Ii is the earnest wish of those who are per-
suaded that the broader Democratic views
shall prevail in parties, that there should be
division Of the colored vote, that all rem
nants OF the past distrnst be DESTROYED. May
our worthy incoming president be cncour-
aged on all sides in the deierminat so
far as the power within..him lay, to see to it
that no mans rights and privileges shall be
Disseminated against, as at present, because
Of his color. The colored vote NAV be di-
vided. The colored men are broadening
daily: they are considering more and more
the influence Of moral character, Of educa-
ton. of industry and frugsiify, in begetting
respect, and also observe the influence be-
gotten Of being cared for by their fellows
they observe daily the con sideratiou that goes
along with the occupancy OF places OF honor
aud trust, and OF other rscognitiors. There
Is something beyond soriid consideration
involved. Therefore, may We not hope
among other things, that few
competent coloTed persons may
be appointed 70 some prominent
positions Of honor and trust in the northl
II would have happy effect Il would nave
a modifying influence upon the whites Of the
south, tending towards a fuller acceptence OF
the results OF the war. i would elevate, al
taeh aud feed patriotism in the colored nan
To secure life. liberty and property. inelud-
ing the right 70 select Law makers and rulers,
Is not cOnferriug 4 gift- It is simply shOE-
Ing respect for rights con stitutiOually aft med
as belonging TO a citizen Equality before
the Law eomprehends more than this. Il
embraces recognition, as character shall
warrant ia all considerations in which
equality before the law is invOiyed.
Gentlemen, believing that the incoming
administration may relieTe the country from
an embarrassing and exciting question, and
leave the eolored people more free to eonsideI
material and Ike questions Of public policy,
may beg Of you 70 give your enlightened
iufnenee in that dircc;iont Your obedieui
servant. fSiguedi Gov. I. DowS1SG,
NSwpors. r l.. jan s, 1SS5.
'sT0u -ant 10 ain very loE when ron are
hEntiug the btsou," said the Old hunter.
.-E0r lo~t'' asked the teucerfoot. ..Bu9Alo, y
replied the old huntsr. sithoui q struggle.-
a >