Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-19
THE BROTHER IN BLACK.
How He Defeated the Republicans In
Virginia.
From tie Chattanooga Times


The following letter was received last
week by Hutchins n Patten, colored at
torneys of this city, from II. G. Smith an
intelligent colored clerk in the Treasury
Department, and gives thorough analy-
sis OF the result of the recent election in
Virginia:
"You desire me to state to you the
causes which lead to the defeat of Hon.
Jno. S. Wise, the Republican candidate
for Governor of Virginia. From careful
observation of the affairs In that State, |
would say that his defeat may be attri-
buted to three things. First, 'bosssm'
was the main, II not the chief cause
which led to it. The Republican leaders
inthat State, like those in the other
manner of ruling and treatment of the In
telligent colored men, that the negro be-
longed to them when it came time for him
to vote. II any cOlored man would ques-
ton the right of any Of thesewhite bosses
doing anything that would not be agreea-
BILE to the cOlored people, he would be
branded as one OF those negroes who want
10 sell their race 10 the Democrats for
mess of pnttage' he would also be called
a 'sOrehead.' a traitor and everything
would be said about MIN, in order that his
own people might get against him. So
know that there were several cOl0red men
who never lid vote any ticket but the Re-
publican. who voted the straight Demo-
Grated ticket against John $. Wise, and
on account of unjust treatment OF colored
men in conventions when candidates were
TO be nominated, Malone was defeated
for the United States Senate.
"The second cause, was. that in 1882
when Mr.. Wise was elected Congressman
from the State-at-large, a number Of
prominent cOlOred men-members OF the
Legislature-cal'ed on him at his home
Tin Richmond; but Mr.. Wise, instead OF
receiving them in his parlor or private
study. received them in his kitchen. A
great number of this delegation took the
stump in this campaign against him, and
carried $4,000 negro votes against him I;
| but don't think, that upon close calcu-
| latiOn there was over 10000. This, YOU
know. would make a difference OF 10000.
| For the State is Democratic anyway by
| 1000, and the Democratic majority Is
| about $4,000.
"And third, Senator Malone did a great
service for the cOlOred people OF that
| State; but he kicks it over by his actions
afterwards. He sent secret circular TO
/ bis white bosses, to the effect that the
| party should be made as much a white
mans party as possible, and that no ne
gro should be nominated for the Legisla-
ture where a white man were available.
BY some means or other this secret got
out among the eOlored people, and the
matter was substantiated by the fact that
| there we're all Except one) white men
nominated for the Legislature; and after
this election only one colored man was
sent or elected. whereas. heretofore, there
were always from s to II coloTed men
| in the Legisture. This very fact gave
the Democrats no less than 5000 votes.
BY ignoring the negro, caused greater
defeat than II he had been recognized.
"All these causes gave rise to the late
| Lyncbburg convention Of colored men, in
renOunoing their allegiance TO the Re-
pu blican party of Virginia. A great many
people here put too little stress upon the
conventions; for It was said that the men
who composed this convention were men
of no infuence: they were also called
whisky kegs 'soreheads,' traitors and
every other name that was thought of.
| But you see these names only gave
strength to them; for they defeated the
Republican ticket, as they said they
would.
''No attention was paid TO the negroes
in the New York campaign, and the re-
suit was that 5000 negroes voted the
straight Democratic ticket. SO again, you
can see that the hand Of the negro was
seen in the Republican defeat OF that
State. The Mugwumps amounted to
nothing. tell you, the negro is the nam
cause, gentlemen, and the Republican
party will find IL out or see II sooner or
later; Il rather think that they see 1t
now). r. r. Fortune, OF New York, car.
ried The negroes with him. He is negro
who knows where TO strike. In cOnclu-
sion, l would say that the Lynchburg
Va, convention defeated the Republican
fgobat Il, fhaf State aud don't VIM forVaf
II; and the 5000 negro votes in New York
made a difference OF 10000 and gave the
State TO the Democrats. Where were the
MugwumpsY