The Osceola times., 1885-09-05

the gratuitous revelation to the
democrats of Mississippi county that
this was not "the candidates year,
was at all necessary, as they are full
ly apprized of that fact, but because
it furnishes us text to supply the
compositor's hook with copy. The
author of the above is evidently
republican, and no doubt has been
voting that ticket ever since eman-
cipation was proclaimed, and always
in opposition to the democratic par
ty. If correct in this supposition, 1t
is also evident, therefore, il the dem
ocrats, who have SO long been play
ing a thimble-rig game, snow you
see it, now you don't" should now
organize and select their can
didates by primary elections, he and
others of his color, who claim much
influence with their colored brethren
would no longer be in position to
bleed the numerous candidates, who
as a rule, are the easiest set OF peo-
pie gulled in the world. With on
ly one candidate in the field, by each
party, for the various county Offices,
no trlckery need be resorted to, and
every voter would be compelled to
toe the mark and show his colors-
no more buying and selling;no more
claiming republicanism to republi-
can, and democracy to democrat.
If man is a true democrat he will
choerfuHy, for the sake Of his demo-
cratic neighbor, who may be a can
didate, endorse any movement cal
culated to harmonize the party and
strengthen it. On the other hand,
ike the author of the above, if he is
afraid of the result of harmony and
unity of action among the democrats
he will squirm and kick, and the
more he kicks the better for the par
ty, and the more the democrats will
enjoy the sight. The history of the
voting material of the republican
party in Mississippi county for the
past fifteen years might be summed
up thus: sect all you can, in the
way OF money and red liquor, for
your influence among your color,
but don't, at your peril, forget to
vote against the democrats" If, as
our correspondent says, we stand in
the calm, clear light of peace, and
they, (the colored voters) would pro-
mote the best interests of the whole
country, let them show by their vote
and political alliliation that they
themselves are not antagonistic to
every interest of the people among
whom they live, public and private,
and upon whose success theirs equal
ly depend 1t was natural that the
colored people, from sense of graf
itude, if no other sentiment could
have actuated them, should have vo-
ted with the party, which, by cir
cumstance of war, liberated them.
But now, after quarter of centu-
ry Of fealty to republicanism, and
ever faithfully assisting in keep
ing their Professed benefactors in
positions OF honor and profits, upon
the strength of oft-repeated promis-
es of political crumbs, forty acres
aud mule, without ever receiving
either. Hope long deferred, seem to
have no Dauseating effect upon their
political stomachs, aud will as conf
IDENTIFY rely upon the next set of
campaign promises as at first. Isn't
it about time they were beginning
to realize the fact that they are free
men, that all obligations to the re-
publican party have more than been
discharged, and have the full right
to act and vote with that party,
which without any specious promises
from its individual members, guar
antees the broadest liberty of action
and the right to further and foster
individual interest.
Statistics show that there were
more democrats IN the Union army
that set the slaves free than repub-
licans. 1t will be hard to make the
colored people believe this, but it is
a fact, nevertheless.
The democratic party has borne
the grim humor Of the Republican
Shylocks for quarter of a century.
and if the democrats of Mississippi
county, who, with their brethren
throug ghout the Union, have stood
by defeat so often, see proper now to
organize for better protection and
concert of action, we don't see why,
and upon what ground they should
be charged with prejudice to the
colored people. The party existed
long before the colored people were
set free, and if they (the coiored peo-
pie saw proper to array themselves
against the democratic party, they
have nobody to blame but them
selves. The doors leading to the
democratic fold is, however, always
open, and new converts are receiv-
ed without money ana without price.