The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-08
CLEVELAND AND THE COLORED

We are not reading in the Republican
prints of the day any accounts of the at
tempt to return the colored race in the
South to slavery, which six months ago they
prophesied would follow the election Of Mr..
Cleveland. We have not read sincs election
day of one southern outrage" We recall
no post-election complaints OF q single
colored person being denied one civil right.
So far az heard from the colored brother in
the South Is cheerily singing speed the
plough" behind the languid mule, or pursu-
ing the tonsorlsl art, or waiting upon the
hotel table, or sitting in the Legislative hall,
with no indications OF being the less Pros
porous. contented or free because OF the
ascendency of the Democratic party. IN
deed, what reports we do have from the
ooloZed race are of a complexion indicating
positive satisfaction with the change of sd-
ministIation-this from the race in the North
as well as in the south. IN Texas, Rev. w.
r. Carson, colored man OF acknowledged
influence among bis race, and who was for
several years Secretary of the Republican
State Executive Committee, has just issued
the following appeal to the people of his
color:
This Is 10 certify that |, W. r. Carson, do this
day sever my connection with the Republican
party, after having been member OF the party
and served It truly since 1877, and have never
voted for Democrat since the time mentioned.
have watched the Republican party, and find it
a fraud, judging By such men as A. B. Norton,
Arch Cochran, Judge Mckee, ana Others | could
mention, who have fooled US for ten years.
this day bid them farewell, and ask all colOred
men to follow me in this resolve. II any white
man wishes 10 know who am, ask Messrs. Cobb
q Avery, So Elm street. who have known me from
a child in old North CarOlns. where slave
and true TO my master until the war closed, and
from that time till this day have been faithful to
election have considered the whole matter, and
ask the colored people to change their political
views and come over to the Lords side.
The position Mr.. Carson has held in the
Republican party proves him familiar with
the sctuating spirit OF that party. He is
evidently speaking from the book. Since be
Is asking no fsvors from the Democracy it
must be supposed that he has uttered his
convictions. Mr.. T. Thomas Fortune,
colored journalist of New York and man
of ability, whether measured with black or
white men, writes his views to the New York
Evening Pest. He finds that the colored
men are just as eager to accept office under
a Dem ocratic administration as they were
under Republican one and that, too,
without regard to their former attitude or
present claims. al 90 not know" he writes,
''that Mr.. Cleveland intends to appoint any
colored men to offics or to continue in place
those now holding efiice who do not come
within the puryiew OF the civil service regu-
lations; nor does the matter give me any
great deal of concern. 1t is thing which
Mr.. Cleveland and his advisers will regulate
as they may deem wisestfor the general good
and the good of their party. 1 am con-
WINGED that they are eminently capable of
deciding in either case for the best"
1t does appear time that the colored race
should understand that the colored people
should appreciate that the Republican
party has used them deceitfully and solely
for sinister purposes. How significant OF
this is the fact that the Republican organs
never indulge in expressions OF interest in
them-never discover any wrongs done them
to pirate about except during political CAM
paignsl No wonder the prominent ccloTed
men, North and South have awakened to
the frauds that have been prsctlced upon
their race by the Republican party and begun
to appeal to those of their race TO turn from
those who have falsely pretended disinter-
ested friendship for them while really only
psndtring to their votes for partisan
strength, the benefits of which have never
been shared with the colored race.