Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-16
OUR OWN AND OTHER LANDS.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRp-uSIos.l
DOMESTIC NEWS.
An Open Letter to Prominent Democrats
from a Colored Man.

An Open Letter to Prominent Democrats
from a Colored Man.
New YORK, January 15th.-The Freeman,
the colored peoples newspaper here. will
publish tomorrow an open letter to the
Democratic party, written by George I.
Downey, a well-known colored man. Fol
lowing is the text:
To Hons VIM E. Dorsheimer, Dudley D.
Field, Algernon S. S,tliican r. 4. Prior and
Joseph Ptltzer-GENTLEMEN | take the
liberty to address to you this open letter,
because you are Democrats, and have in
1iuence with your party, and because | be-
lieve your devotion to pure Democratic
principles will admit of your advocating
| that the Democratic party shall henceforth
| favor the recognition of the colored ele-
ment of the land as it has not heretofore
done l refer with some pride to the fact
| that my better judgment prompted me to
| efforts toward bringing about such con-
dition of public affairs as would warrant
the division of the colored vote, and that
| they have not been fruitless. l regard the
| election of Hon. Grover Cleveland to the
Presidency a happy event 1t affords an
opportunity for the Democratic party to
encourage a consistent and just policy
toward the colored man, which l
believe Will be taken advantage of
This belief arises from the expressions
already made by the President-elect; from
the encouraging declarations unexpectedly
given by Hon. Thomas A Hendricks !;
| from the significant stand taken in Congress
| by such number of Democrats on O Hara'S
amendment to the Reagan interstate COM
merce bill from the position affecting the
civil rights of the colored man taken by
Mr.. Cleveland as Governor of the State of
New York and of similar just stand
| taken by number of other Democratic
Governors because material interests
prompt such a line of policy, and because
! it is Just a number of circumstances are
having the effect to arouse the colored peO-
pie from the intoxication as to party that
has been upon them. They will be enabled
in future to discriminate and use more judg-
ment as to men, partisan politics and acts.
| Encourage them. There are Democrats
who are as much disposed to deal fairly by
| the colored man as are others, but who
have been, unfortunately, hampered and
restrained by an clement within the party
which has caused the party to be disturbed
and passed by for at least twenty-iour long
years by majority of our people. This
! element of the party cannot IN good faith
expect a more liberal division, further
sacrifices, or adhere to policy Of the past
not suited to the present state of affairs.
that wars with the declarations of a party
nationally made in 1872, and emphatically
repeated in its national platform
only few months ago in obedience
| to the demand of public sentiment.
| This advance is made to you,
gentlemen, not to concede any right, but
| because you are a representative portion of
the Democratic party, which is a power. I
| feel warranted in appealing to it. | do SO
| because crisis is upon parties, because the
| Democratic party is in 4 more mellow
mood touching the interests of the Colored
| man than has exhibited itself within my
day because | have never been a slave to
party The colored vote may be won,
which is better than to intimidate it. That
which is necessary 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-
coded to be just. 1t involves no disregard
Of vested interests, proprietary claim,
invasion Of any private or domi-
ciliary rights What is necessary is
respect for common or public
| rights, a regard for merit, intellectual at
| tainment, respect, irrespective of color, for
| proper feelings, including natural and just
aspirations. 1t does not involve domino
| ton. because of color, by the white or col
1
white fellow citizen, who has had the adj
| vantage of centuries of culture and domi-
nation, and who is wealthy will not be
! restrained from acting justly through amy
| thought of the black man, in a free and
| equitable field, becoming master of the sit
uation. The distrust Of the Democratic
i party has been felt by the colored man,
| and not by him alone. 1t threw that
party out Of power in 1860, on issues in
| volving the colored mans rights 1t is
about to he restored. May its new advent
to power be for the best.
Therefore, may We not hope, among
other things, that few competent colored
persons may be appointed 10 some promi-
| North? 1t would have a happy effect. 1t
would have a modifying influence upon
| the whites Of the South tending toward a
fuller acceptance of the results of the war
| 1t would elevate, attract and feed the pat
riotism in the colored man.
Gentlemen, believing that the incoming
administration may revive the country
from this embarrassing and exciting ques-
ton, leave the colored peopIe more free to
consider material and likequestions of pub
lie policy, may beg of you TO give your
enlightened influence i'll that direction,
United States Senate.
| SAN FRANCISCO. January 15th.-Hale,
from the Committee on Naval Affairs, re-
ported favorably a bill for the relief of the
sufferers by the wreck of the United States
steamer Tallapoosa. Placed on the calen-
dar
Miller Of California introduced a bill to
increase the pension of the widow of Gen
eral George II. Thomas from $3.50 to 81 900
year. Referred,
| Upon the motion of Miller of California,
the Senate went into executive session.
When the doors were reopened the Sen
ate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, January 10Th. - Henley
gave notice that he would on Saturday
press the Northern Pacific land grant bill
for action.
The Speaker laid before the House the
estimate from the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia for an appropriation
of $4,000 to enable them to maintain pub
| lie order during the ceremonies attending
the dedication of the Washington monu-
ment and the inauguration of the next
| President. Referred.
The House then, under special order,
proceeded with the consideration OF the
| Mcpherson funding bill.
! \ long discussion followed, participated
in by wilkins, Cook, Brumm and Hender-
son of Iowa at the close OF which Wilkins
demanded the previous question on the bill
and amendments, pending which Mills
moved that the House adjourn, and pend
| ing this that ii adjourn to meet on Satur-
day next, which latter motion was loSt-51
| to 1874
Mills then pressed his motion to adjourn,
stating that the Democrats wished to hold
| Il caucus.
The motion was carried-yeas $50, nays
112.
While this was in no sense a test vote on
the Mcpherson bill (many members voting
in the affirmative in order that a caucus
might be heidi it operates as virtual de-
| feat of that measure, as a special order IS
not u continuing order.
Buckner Chairman of the Banking and
| Currency Committees, said 10 an Associated
| Press reporter That settles the bill.
| We will never again be able to get it be-
| fore the House
| Pending the announcement OF the vote,
| on motion of Randall, the House non-con-
CURED in the Senate amendment to the six
months naval appropriation bill, and Ran
| dali, Holmes and Long were appointed
| cOnierees.
| The House adjourned, and a Democratic
caucus was announced to take place i'm
me,latcly.
y California Burglar Captured in New
York.
| NEW YORK January 15th-One of the