The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-03-27
GIVE THE NEGRO a CHI ANCE.
letter Of a Colored Man to Representative
Democrats.

People s newspaper, puDllSneS an Open
letter to the democratic party written
by George I. Downey, a well known
colored man. The following is the
text:
To HoNS. WILLIAM Z. DoRSHEIMER,
DUDLEY ID. FIELD, ALGERNoN S. SULLI-
VAN, r. A. PRYOR, and JOSEPH Pull
TIER Gentlemen: / take the liberty
to address you this open letter because
you are democrats, and have influence
with your party, and because | be-
lieve your devotion to pure demo-
cratic principles will admit of your
advocating that the democratic party
shall henceforth favor the recognition
of the colored element of the land, as
it has not heretofore done. / refer
with some pride to the fact that my
better Judgment prompted me to eff
forts toward bringing about such a
condition of public affairs as would
warrant the division of the colored
vote, and that they have not been
fruitless. Iregard the election of Hon.
Grover Cleveland to the presidency al
a happy event. 1t affords an opportu-
nifty for the democratic party to en-
courage a consistent and just policy
toward the colored man, which l be.
lieve will be taken advantage of. This
belief arises from expressions already
used by the president-elect; from en-
couraging declarations Unexpectedly
given by Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks;
from the significant stand taken in
congress by such a large number OF
democrats on the O'Hara amendment
to the Reagan interstate commerce
bill; from the position affecting the
civil rights of colored men taken by
Mr.. Cleveland as governor of the state
of New York, and of a similar stand
just taken by a number of other DEM
ocratic governors; because material
interests prompt to such a line of pol
ICY, and because it is just. A number
of circumstances are having the effect
to arouse the colored people from the
;ntoxication as to party that has been
upon them. They will be enabled in
future to discriminate and use more
judgment as to men, partisan policies,
and acts. Encourage them. There
are democrats who are as much dis
posed to deal fairly with the colored
man as others, but who have been, un-
fortunately, hampered and restrained
by an element within their party which
has caused the party to be distrusted
and passed by for at least twenty-four
long years by the majority of the peo-
pie. This element of the party al not
in good faith expect a more liberal di-
vision to make further sacrifices, or adj
here to the policy of the past not
suited to the present state of affairs.
1t can not be expected at such a cost
a policy that wars with the declara-
tons of the party nationally made in
1872. and emphatically repeated inits
national platform only a few months
ago in obedience TO the demands of
public sentiment.
This advance is made to you, gen.
tlemen, not to concede any right, but
because you are a representative por-
ton Of the democratic party, which is
a power. / feel warranted in appeal
ing to it. | do so because a crisis is
upon the parties; because the demo
cratic party is in a more mellow mood
touching the interest of the colored
nan than has exhibited itself within
my day; because / have never been a
slave to party.
The colored vote may be won, which
is better than to intimidate it. That
which is necessary thereto does not
call for a change varying from what
has become, / may say, to some ex-
tent, crystallized into custom or law,
/ Lz-1~J ,xL.k lAn L1ar -anIDI 80 L.
just. 1t involves no disregard of vest
ed interests, proprietary claim, inya-
sion of any private or domiciliary
right. What is necessary is respect
for common or public rights; regard
for merit, intellectual attainment;
respect irrespective of color for proper
feelings, including natural and just as
pirations. 1t does not involve domin-
alton because Of color by white OF
colored.
L hope for fair play. Certainly my
white fellow-citizens who has had the
advantage Of centuries of culture, do.
mination, and who is wealthy, will not
be restrained from acting Justly
through any thought of the black man
in a free and equitable field, becoming
master of the situation. Distrust Of
the democratic party has been felt by
the colored man,and not by him alone,
1t threw the party out of power in
1860 on issues involving the colored
mans rights. 1t is about to be rein.
stated. May its new advent to power
be for the best.
II is the earnest wish of those who
are persuaded that broaderdemocratio
views shall prevail in parties; thai
there should be a division in the color.
ed vote; that all remnants of past dis
trust be destroyed. May our worthy
incoming president be encouraged on
all sides in his determination, so far as
in him the power lay to- see to it thai
no mans rights and privileges shall be
descriminated against, as at present,