Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-01
THE ADDRESS TO THE COLORED
PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

The colored men of Virginia held
State Convention at Lynchburg yester
day, and adopted an address to be pre-
sented to the negroes of that State. II
many respects il. is remarkable docu
ment. 1t is remarkable as being indie
pendent and treating the situation il
Virginia as it Is it is remarkable as be
ing an able address and one that doe!
credit to the intelligence and politica
capacity of the negroes. Such an address
is most healthy and hopeful sign, ant
one that augurs well for the salts
factory solution OF the race problem
at the South. The address gives the rea
sons for the adherence of the negroes to
the Republican party during the period
since the war. Those reasons were
natural, and were such as to warrant po
litical fidelity to the Republican party
They do not cast any reflections upon the
white men whom they raised to power
during the days of reconstruction and
subsequently, and the only reference to
them is when the address says that the
"colored voters nobly responded and
raised to place and power men who grew
wealthy while administering the
laws of the United States Government
in the Southern States" All the services
which have been rendered the negroes
by the Republicans are duly acknowl-
edged, but they declare the time has
come when they should think, and act,
and vote for themselves. The reason
which prompts them to so think and act
is the fact that the Republican party has
abandoned them in former campaigns,
and has not given to the negroes the
political recognition due them on account
OF their strength and intelligence. That
statement is the recognition of the fact
that the negroes in the South have merely
been tools i'm the hands OF unscru-
pulous adventures. The abolitionists
of post-bellum days were as different
from..the abolitionists of ante -bellum days
as the darkness is from the light. The
valiant band OF abolitionists OF whom
Gainson was the leader, were a band of
heroes, through whose veins coursed the
blood of freedom, the blood that grew
hot and furious when the wrongs which
one portion of humanity imposed upon
another were thought of. What were the
men who went South after the war to
control and dictate in Southern affairs, to
control and dictate in the political affairs
of States where those who had been
slaves were made masters, and those who
had been masters were made political
outcasts? The majority OF them were
adventurers of the worst class, whose
naturally bad instincts were made worse
by war. They looked upon the States
which had been in rebellion as legitimate
prey, and they used the negroes as a
means for comprising their prey. That
the negroes were ignorant and supersti-
tious, and proved plant tools, was the
fault OF those who, for generations, had
held them in bondage. Those who were
in bondage are coming to knowledge of
their responsibilities, and this must be a
matter of congratulation to all who desire
the advancement of the negro race, and
the peace and prosperity of the country.
The negroes in Virginia recognize the i'm
portant fact that much of the bitter race
antagonism at the South is largely trace
able to the mismanagement of Federal |
offlceholders in the South. This shows !
great advancement in political knowl- |
edge, and shows a true appreciation of |
where the danger has been heretofore.
The address makes this appeal to the
colored people of Virginia, and if by them
it is needed and the good advice which it
gives is followed, there is brighter and |
happier day in store for much-wronged |
and downtrodden race. Here is the ap-
peal:
"These reasons (the ones to which we
have referred above) lead us to adopt such
methods and so to demean ourselves. as to
make friends with those whose interests are
Identical In every way with our own. We
therefore appeal to the colored people of
our native State to look to the we'll altered
of affairs, and in future to make
such political alliances as will most advance
our interests educationally, financially. and
politically. We feel sure that there is
throughout the broad limits of the Common
wealth general disposition on the part of
the white people to accord us our rights be-
tore the law, and to meet us heartily in
every advance we make for the upholding of
our people," p
The Administration is heartily EN-
dorsed, thing in very strange and happy
contrast with the fears of some of the
negroes last year that the advent to
power OF the Democratic party meant
bondage to the negroes. They ask aid
from the General Government for Vir-
slnia in the matter of her debts. This. ,
Of course, can never be granted, but it is
rs wise request as the proposition of
Mr.. Blaine to distribute the whisky tax 4,
among the States. Both parties in Vir-
yinia are filled with heretical financial :
Views, and there it is almost looked upon Z
oy all as treason to the State not to be in
avor OF reputation, so that the negroes +,
lot being sound on the question of pay
ng Nirginia's debts is not surprising. q
Way there be colored conventions in all {
he Southern States with as broad and +
LIBERAL views as the one in the Old
Dominion. =
THE MASSACHUSETTS REPUR- :
fke LICANS.