The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-01-17
An Open Letter u Democrats

An OpoA Letter - Oem0cfetss
NEW York, Jan. 15.-FFeemen,
the colored peoples newspaper here,
will publish tomorrow an open letter
to the Democratic party, written by
Geo. T. Lowry, q well-kuown colored
man. The following is the text:
To Hons. VIM E. D%orsheimer, Dud-
ley d. Field, AIgernon s. Sullivan.
r.. A. Prio- and Joseph Pulitzer.
Gentlemen: l take the liberty to
address you this open letter, because
you are Democrats and have in
fuence with your party ; and because
Ib l,eve 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 hereto
fore done. I refer with some pride
to the fact that my better judgment
prompted me to efforts to forward
about such q condition Of public
affairs as would warrant the division
of the colored vO. 9 aud that they have
not been fruitless. I regard the
election OF the Hon. Grover Cleveland
as q happy event. 1t aff0rus an
opportunity for the democratic party
to encourage a consistent and just
policy toward the o0lOred man which
I believe will be taken advantage of.
This belief rises from expressions
already made blythe president-elect;
from eucOiraging declarations un-
expectedly given by Hon. Thomas
A. Hendricks; from the significant
stand taken In congress by such a
number of democrats on O'Hara's
amendment to Reagan's Interstate
commerce bill; from the position
affecting the civil rights Of colored
men taken by Nj. Cleveland as Gov.
Of the State Of New York and Of a
similar just stand taken by a number
of other democratic governors; be-
cause material interests prompt t.
such q line Of policy and because OF
the just number Of circumstances
which are having the affect to arouse
the col0red people from the int0xi-
cation as to the party that has been
upon them. They will be enabled
in the future to discriminate
and 8 judgment as to
men, partisan policies and
acts to encourage them. There are
democrats who are as much disposed
to deal fairly by the colored people
as others but who have been unfortu-
n.k.1ev hn m sn0wnA and wonfW~fnod hvy
ar element within the party, which
has caused the party t. be distrusted
and passed by for ut least twenty
four long years by a-majority of the
people. this element of the patty
cannot, in good faith, expect a more
liberal division, to make farther sac
ritice or to adhere to the policy of the
past not suited to the present. state of
affairs. 1t cannot be expected at
such a cost. A policy that wars with
he d scl Ara tions of q party made in
1852 and emphaticaliy repealed in
the national platform only a few
months ago Is in obedience to public
sentiment. This advance is made to
you gentlemen not to he considered
as q right but because you are the
Va . ROAsSOA - wv
democratic party, which is q power [
feel warranted in appealing to. l do
so because q crisis ia upon parties,
because the democratic party il in =
more mellow MOOD touching
the interests of the color+d
man than 1t has exhibited
itself in my day, and because I have
never been a slave to q party. The
colcrsd vote may be won, which Is
better than to intfmidate it. That
who ! Is necessary thereto does not
call for q change varying from what
has become, l may say. to some ex~
tent, crystAIixed into custom or law, !
beyond what has been conceued to
b. just. %Itinvelyes no. disregard of
interests, proprietary, claim,
il INVASION Of any private or domicil-
larry right. What is necessity is
respect for common or public rights,
# gard for merit, intelltc ual attain
ments, respect, irrespective of color,
Tor their proper fet lings, including
natural ana just aspirations. 1t does
not involve domination because of
I0lor by white or col0red. I hope
fair play. Certainly my white
FellOw-citlzens who have Lad the ad-
vantage of centuries of culture and
and who are wealthy,
Will not be restrained from acting
through any thought of the
black man, in a free and equitable
1eld, becoming master Of the situa-
ion. 3 strust of the Democratic
party has been felt by the colored
nan, and not by him alone. 1t drew
party into power in 1860 on issues in
colOred mems rights. 1t is
bout 10 be reinstated. May its new
ldvent to pow er be for the best.