Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-01
ATTENTION, SHERMAN, FORAKER, ETAL

Listen to What the "Poor, Suppressed
Coiored Man Has to Say About 1t,
LYSCHBURG, Va, September 30.-The
evening session of the celored convention
assembled at 8 p. m. R. R. Beckley was
elected permanent chairman and N. B.
Backlus secretary. The following address
was made amid great cheering:
"To the Colored People Of Virginia:
WHEREAS, We, the colored people of
Virginia, believing, as we do, that the time
has come for us to call halt in the un-
qualified support we have given the Re,
publican party, do here, in convention as
sembled, solmemnly declare ourselves po-
hticslly independent in all matters which
pertain to us as citizens and voters
of this Commonwealth. We have for
twenty-five years adhered to our former
political associates with unparalleled fidelity,
because in those dark days of reconstruc.
ton the R publican PslJy proved that it was
the only party to RElIthe colored man OF
the South could coIIstently ally himself.
To that end the colored voters nobly re-
srondsd and raised to power and place men
who gr wealthy while administering the
laws OF ths United States government il
the Southern States. We feel even qualified
for what has been done, but now the time
has come for usto think, act vote and speak
for ourselves and especially so siuce the
Republicans have practically abandoned Us
in former campaigns sud in su matters
where the negro oDght to have recognition
in proportion to voting strength and in.
teligence. We know, too, that many OF
our race have been murdered in the South
ern States, but the causes which led to these
sad occurrences which hayGSs 'Qed our
blood and crea e1 BIZ y . feeling
of antagonism which ,etards our
progress and makes 1t difficult
for US 10 live in the land Of our birth are
largely traceable to the mismsnsgement OF
Federal office holders in our section. These
foregoing reasons lead US to adopt such
methods and so to demean ourselves as to
make friends OF those whose interests are
identical in every way with our own.
We therefore appeal to the colored peo-
pie OF our native State to look well to the
altered condition Of affairs AMI in future to
make such political alliances Ss will most
advance our interests eduCationally hnan
cislly and politically. We feel sure that
there is throughout the broad limits Of this
Commonwealth a general disposition on
the part of the white people to
allow all our rights before the
l,~ and meet US heartily in every advance
We made ipr the uphoiding of cur people
Ii oehooyes US then 70 so use our ballots In
that We may drive out all di5cordant ell
mentJ in Virginia. whether they be headed
By natives or aliens to the State. We ais
condemn the raising OF the race ISSUE
by any class OF mea who essay
TO lead the masses, because it can
do nothing but prove detrimental to orr
cause aud our interests We therefore ask
hearty c o e'srign Of our people in Vir-
ginia 10 The success OF our movement. We
have cause to be thankful for the liberslity
OF the present Na'ioual Administration to
our people in the Sonth. We also beisve
our rebtiors 70 ths. State debt are
such as to Justly us in hoping
that Virginia win be relieved from her
present fnsnisl embArrassments by aid
from the Federal government which will
ems bic be e provide or the material inter-
es's other ciii9 ems AID briug s1ont t'st uni
veIsal good fe, ling which should exist be-
twsen the two races
The adGres was adopted and the couven-
tinn adjourned