Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-01-23
The COlOred People.
Letter from HenGli cks on their stat,

Letter from Heni, icks on their Status.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 1.-Some time
since Edwin f.. HON, editor of the
Coiorcd EorId and the FIRST Alter
nate Delegate to the Republican
National Convention from this State,
addresses a letter to Mr. Hendricks,
asking him what would be the pro-
badly policy of the incoming Admin.
istration toword the colored people
Under date OF the 18th instant,
Hendricks sent a reply, which is to-
day made public. He says: What
ever any OF Us may have thought of
of the propriely of the adoption of
the later Constitutional amendments
at the time and under the circum-
stances of their adoption, they are
now to be regarded rs part of the
fundamental law of the land, never
to be questioned or disturbed. The
liberty and citizenship of the colored
man are held by the same right and
guarantees as those of the white man
and can no more be taken from him
nor impaired, than they can be taken
from the white man. | would not
concede that apart or whole Of the
people could by any action or any
form Of law deprive me of my liberty,
except for crime committed, or strip
me of citizenship SO | regard the
citizenship of the colored man as
inviolole. 1t was a cruel thing
at the last election day to play upon
the credulity of the coloied people
and subject them to a groun4le S
fear OF return to slavery, and thus
control their action rs voters. | had
occa sion, some years since, to ey.
press my views upon the subject of
NEGRO suffrage and then | said: |
am not able to sec why the subject
of negro suffrage should be discussed
1t must be known TO all that the late
amendments will not be, cannot be
repealed. There is but the one duty
upon all, TO make the political power
now held by the enfranchised race,
the least evil and of the greatest
possible good to the country. The
negro is now flee, and is the equal
of the white man III respect to his
civil and political rights. He must
now make his own conduct for posi-
ton and power. BY his own con
duet and success he will be judged.
1t will be unfortunate for him if he
shall reply upon political sympat by
for position, rather than upon
duties well and intelligently dis
charged. Everywhere The white race
should help him, but his reliance
must mainly be upon himself
SYSTEM OF APPRENTICESHIP
Is recommended to b, established
in pursuance of which American
merchant vessels engaged in the
foreign trade might receive certain
fixed sum from the Government for
the support and instruction of APP
prentices carried on board for sta
ted term of years. Such a system
would, it is thought, do much to i'm
prove the average standard of Amer.
lean seamen an6 repay the national
expense, in atfording an available
corps of loyal seafaring men, who
could lie relied upon in case of an
emergency to help man the Navy.
Further legislation is suggested IN
the direction of making more eff
cient the laws for the protection and
punishment OF sailors. The insti-
ution of Courts of Inquiry in this
country is recommended, and also
investing them with power to punish
officers and seamen WHO, by care
lessness or incompetency, cause
collisions at sea.