The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-09
The Lynchburg Convention.

The members of the colored State
Convention which met at Lynchburg,
Va, last week, issued an address to the
colored people of that State, which we
publish below. The address knocks the
last prop from under the house of Ma
hone and his candidate for Governor,
John s. Wise:
To the cOlOred people of Virginia /:
Whereas we, the colored people of Vir-
ginia, believing, as we do, that the time
has come to call halt in the unquali-
! fled support we have given the Republi-
can party, do here, in convention assem-
| bled, solemnlv declare ourselves politi-
| cally Independent in al! matters pertain
| ing to us as citizens and voters of this
| Commonwealth. We have for twenty
! five years adhered to our former pOliti-
| cal associates with unparalleled fidelity
because in those dark days of recon-
struction the Republican party proved
| that 1t was the only party to which the
cOlored man of the South could consist
! emily ally. himself. To that end the col
ored voters nobly responded and raised
to power and place men who grew
wealthy while administering the laws
of the United States in the Southern
States. We feel ever grateful for what
has been done but now the time has
come for us to think, act, vote and
speak for ourselves, and especially so
since the Republicans have practically
abandoned us in former campaigns and
in all matters where the negro ought to
have had recognition ~ proportion to
voting strength and intelligence. We
know, too. that many of our race have
in ha
but the causes which led to these sad
occurrences, which have spilled our
blood and created a bitter race antagO
nism which now Tetards our progress
and makes it difficult for us to live in the
land of our birth, are largely traceable
to the mismanagement of the Federal
Office holders in our section. The fore
going reasons lead us to adopt such
methods and to so 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 we'll 10
the altered condition of affairs, and in
the future to make such political ALI
ances as will most advance our interests
educ9tiOnally, financially and political
ly. We feel sure that there is through
out the broad limits of the Common
of the white people to accord US all
our rights before the law, and to meet
US heartily in every advance we make
for the uphoiding of our people. 1t be
hooves us, then, to so use our ballots
that we may drive out all iiscOTdant
elements in Virginia, whether they be
headed 10y natives or aliens to the State
We also condemn the raising of the race
issue by any class of men who essay to
lead the masses, because it can do moth
ing but prove detrimental to our cause
and our interest. We therefore ask a
hearty cooperation of our people in
Virginia to the success of our move
ment. We have cause to be thankful
for the liberality of the present Nation
al Administration A to our people in the
South. We also believe our relations
to the State debt are such as to Justify
US in hoping that Virginia will be re-
lleVec from her present financial embar-
rassments by aid from the Federal Gov
ernment, which viii enable her better
to provide for all the material interests
OF her citizens and bring about that uni
versa good feeling which ought to exist
between the two races.
The address was adopted. and the
convention adjourned sine die.