The Russellville Democrat., 1885-10-08


times may be seen from what FOL
lows. The attention Of the eoiored
people ali over the southern country
will doubtless be arrested by this
meeting and the deliberations Of
their brethren in Virginia. Il is &
significant fact indeed when 9 con
xention Of eolored men deliberately
cut loose anu reneunce allegiance 70
tie party they have been blindly
following since The war.
It Is their atsestation OF republi-
can deception and hypocrisy. But
here are the utterances
LYxcHBURG. sept 30.-The cor
veBtlon reassembIed al & .. "a. z
B. Breckly was elected permanent
chairman and n. z. Backus secre
tary. Tie following address was
presented amid great cheering
10 ~ Celorea People 81 Virginia;
" nereas, We, the colorea people
Of Virginia, believing as We do that
the same las come for Us 10 CAL 3
halt il he unqualified support We
have given tue republican party, do
here 10 convention assembled sol
emmy declare ourselves politically
independent 10 ali matters which
( pertain 10 us as citizens and voters
81 this common easth.
We have for twenty live years ad-
hered 70 our former political assoc
ates Eith unparalleled fidelity, be
cause in those dark DAYS Of recon
sxnetIou the republican party pror-
cd thai it was the only party with
which the coiored MAJ Of the south
could ally himself To that end the
colored voters nobiy responded, and
iaised TO power and place men who
grew wealthy while administering
/ the laws o. the United States govern
ment 10 the southern states. We feel
ever grateful for what has been done
Cor ne.
z Now the time has come Tor us TO
think, act. vote and speak for our
selves. and especially since the re-
publicans have practically abandon
ed ns 10 former campaigns ana il ali
mattsrs where The negro ought to
have hal recognition 10 proportion
70 his voting strengh and intelli-
Z genee.
We kBow that many o. our race
have been murdered in the southern
states, but the causes which led 10
4 these sad occurrences, which have
4 spilled our blood and created Bit
ter race antagonism, which now re-
tards our progress and makes it diff
ficuit for US to live in the land OF our
birth, are largely traceable 10 the
mismanagement Of the federal Office
4 holders IN our section. The forego-
ing reasons lead as 70 adopt such
methods and SO to demean ourselves
as 10 make friends with those whose
interests are identical with our own.
We therefore appeal 70 the color
ed people Of our native state, to look
well 20 the altered condition Of af-
fairs, and in the future TO make such
4 political alliances as must advance
& their interests educati0nally, finan-
cially and politically
We fee sure that there is through
out the broad limiis o. the common
wealth q general disposition on the
Z part Of the white people 70 accord US
all our rights before the Law, and 10
meet us heartily on every advance
we make for the upholding Of our
4 people. 1t behOoves us then 70 So
use our ballots that we may drive
out ali dlscordant elements Ia yir-
ginia, whether they are beaded ~
natives or aliens b the state.
We also condemn the raising Of
I the race issue by any class OF men
who essay TO lead the masses, be-
cause it can do nothing but prove
T detrimental 10 our cause and our
interests. We therefore ask hear
~ cooperation Of our people IN Wiz
GINA
We have cause 70 be thankful for
tue linerality 81 the present aduin
istration 70 our people 10 the south.
We believe our relations to the
state debt are such as to justify us
in hoping that Virginia will be re-
lieyed from her present financial en-