Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-01-22

n COLORED MAN b APPEAL,~-Jeo
7. Downing, a representative eolored
man of New York and the talented
editor Of The Freeman, the newspaper
organ of the colored racein the North,
has written en- open letter to the dem
ocratic party, which he addresses to
VIM. Dorsheimer, David Dudley Field,
Algernon s. Sullivan, R. A. Pryor and
Joseph Pulitzer, honorsd and distin-
guishsd members of that organization
in New York and all men of high
character and national reputation.
No reply has as yet been made, or at
least published. of the gentleman
named to Mr.. Downing's appeal, butt
is being looked forward to with great
interest Oy the colored race Of that
section ofths country, which, it seems,
is in transition state at present and
posing between the old policy Of vot-
ing substantially en- maasse the repub-
lican ticket, as it has hitherto done
in the North and in the Border States,
or adopting new policy, which in
wolves a division and distribution of
the colored vote with something like
equality between the democratic and
republican parties. With this expla-
nation, we give the appeal of Mr..
Downing, promising, however, that
though his proposition that Mr.. Oleve-
land should appoint competent COL
ored persons to some prominent posi-
tons of honor and trust in the North"
meets our sincere concurrence, we in
sist, all other things being equal, that
the preference of the President should
be expressed for colored democrats who
supported. him as against "colorsd
persons" who did not. If this be
treason to the Civil Reform rules,
everybody who thinks fit is at liberty
to write us down traitor. And now
to the letter of Mr.. Downing:
II take the liberty to address you
this open letter because you are dem
ocrats and have influence with your
party. | regard the election Of the
Hon. Grover Cleveland to the presi-
dency as happy event. It affords
an opportunity for the democratic
party to encourage a consistent and
just policy toward the colored man,
which / believe will be taken advan-
tage of. This belief arises from ex-
pressions already made by the Presi-
dent-elect; from encouraging declara-
tions unexpectedly givenby Hon. Thos.
A. Hendricks; from the significant
stand taken in Congress by such a
number of democrats on O'Hara's
amendment to the Reagan interstate
commerce bill, and from the position,
affecting the civil rights of the colored
man, taken by Mr.. Cleveland 40 Gov
srnor of the State OF New York.
IA number Of circumstances are
having the effect to arouse the colored
people from the intoxication as to
party that has been upon them; they
will be enabled in future to discrimi-
nate and use more Judgment as tc men,
partisan policies and acts. Encourage
them. The colored vote may be won,
which is better than to intimidate it.
That which is necessary thereto does
not call for change varying from
what has become, may say, to some
extent crystalized into custom or law,
beyond what has been conceded to be
just. Tt involves no disregard of
vested interests, proprietary claim,
invasion of any private or domiciliary
right. What is necessary is respect
for co:nmon or public rights, regard
for merit. intellectual attainment re-
spect, irrespective of color, for proper
feelings. including natural and just
aspirations. 1t does not involve dom
ination because of color by white or
colored.
at is the earnest wish of those who
are persuaded that broader democratic
views shall prevail in parties that
there should be a division of the col
ored vote. The colored vote may be
divided. Colored men are broadening
daily they are considering more and
more the influence of moral character,
Of education, Of industry and frugali-
ty in begetting respect, and the con-
sideration that goes along with the
occupancy of places of honor and trust.
Therefore, may we not hope, among
other things, that o few competent
colored persons may be appointed, to
some prominent positions of honor
and trust in the Northp 1t would
have a happy effect.
Believing that the incoming ad-
ministration may relieve the country
from an embarrassing and exciting
question, and leave the colored people
more free TO consider material and
like questions of public policy, may |
beg Of you to give your enlightened