Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-22
The Negro and the Democratic Party


Our esteemed Floridan contempOra-
nv the Jacksonville Times Union sug-
gests that a great many southern ne
groes can be comfortably provided for
by the Democratic Administration by
giving them Federal offices in the Re-
publican States of the North, We do
not know whether our contemporary
makes the suggestion in spirit of
leyity, but it is to be hoped not. for the
matter it embodies is worthy of very
serious consideration. Indeed, we may
90 further. and, without violating con-
fidence, say that it has already been
seriously considered by the Democratic
leaders. Moreover, it is matter which
the Constitution proposes to press with
such earncstnesS and vigor as it can
command upon the attention Of. Mr..
Cleveland's administration.
Mr.. Cable and the Republican party
both contend that the Democratic peo-
pie of the South are not according to
the negro the treatment he deserves,
and some Republican organs even go so
far as to claim that the Democrats of
the North are opposed not only to the
recognition Of the negro as a political
factor, but to his progress as a race.
TO all these charges and reflections the
best-informed and most thoughtful
leaders of the Democratic party deem it
necessary that some fitting reply should
be made-not in the way of discussion,
but in the shape Of definite action.
While the Democratic party was out of
power no action was possible, and even
discussion was found to be unnecessary
as well as inconyenient.
But the Democratic party in power
is very different affair from the Demo-
cratic party out of power. 1t must
meet the issues of the day; and its
treatment of the negro question must
represent some broad and well-defned
policy. 1t is this necessity that has set
the leaders of the party to thinking,
and the result Of their deliberations,
for the most part informal, is the policy
limited at by our Floridian contem-
porary, and which we propose to more
definitely outline here.
That policy is very simple. 1t is pro-
posed TO recognize the negroes, or such
of them as have developed any unusual
capacity or intelligence, by giving them
Federal offices in the Republican States
of the North. This policy will be more
fruitful of results than might at first
sight appear. 1t will be endorsed not
only by the Democrats Of the South, but
all right-minded Republicans. 1t will
convince the latter that the Democratic
party has no real prejudices against the
negro. In Maine, in Vermont, and in
Rhode Island, there are numerous fat
Federal offices that can be capably and
intelligently filled by negroes whose
names will be brought to the attention
Of the Democratic Administration.
From Federal judgeships down to mail
agents there are in the States we have
named enough offices to provide for
several hundred worthy negroes, and it
is these places they will be appointed
to fill.
This policy is broader than it might
seem to be at first glance. In the first
place, it is directly in the line of Re-
publican precedent. The war had
hardly ended before the Republican
party commissioned an army of carpet
baggers to represent it in the South, and
to these disreputable persons were given
the most important Federal offices.
Some Of these offices are held by them
to this day, and it will not do for the
Republicans of Maine and Yer
mont and Rhode Island, when
negroes are appointed to Federal
offices in those States, to complainsthat
the Offices are filled by aliens. What
ever else he may be, the negro is not a
carpet-bagger. The Democratic Adj
ministration will see to it that no dis
reputable colored person is appointed to
Office in these States. On the contrary,
only negroes Of known intelligence and
respe liability will be named for ap-
pointment. There are hundreds of wor-
thy negroes in the State Of Georgia
alone whom it would be unjust to men
ton in the same breath with the car
pet-baggers.
Moreover, it is only fair to the ne
groes, in appointing them to responsible
Offices, to send them where they will b.
most thoroughly appreciated. 1t is
freely admitted that the appointment Of