Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-24
THE coLoRED NAN.

An Open Letter TO Leading Democrats Of
4 Ha influence. slfaa4 OfN =
NEW YORK, Jan. I5--The New
York Freeman, the colored peoples
newspaper here, will publish to-
morrow an open letter 10 the Demo-
cratic party, written by George IT.
Downing, u well known colored
man. The following Is the text,
TO Hons. VIM. Dorsheimer, Dudley 7. Field
JOS. Pulitzer: p"
iGENTLEMEN take the liberty
TO address you this open letter be
cause you are Democrats and have
influence with your party, and be-
cause believe your devotion to
your principles will admit OF your
! advocating that the Democratic
party shall henceforth favor lhe rec
Ogniiion OF the cOlored element Of
the land as Ii has not heretofore
done. refer, with some prize, Ia
the fact that my better Judgment
| prompted me to efforts toward
bringning about such condition OF
public affairs as would warrant a
division OF the coiored vote and
that they have not been fruitless. i
regard the election Of H0u. Grover
Cleveland to the Presidency. as q
happy event. Ii affords Opportu-
nifty for the Democratic party to en-
courage consistent and just policy
toward the colored man, which /
believe will be taken advantage OF.
This belief arises from the express
ions already made by the President
elect, from the encouraging deciar-
ations unexpectedly given by Hon.
Thomas A. Hendricks, from the
significant stand taken In Congress
by such number Of Democrats on.
O'Hara's amendment TO Reaganis
interstate commerce bill, from the
position affecting the civil rightso(
the colored man taken by Mr.. Cleve-
land as Governor of the State OF
New York, and OF a similar Just
stand taken by q number OF other
Democratic Governors; because ma
terial interests prompt TO such q lice
OF policy and because 1t Is just. A
number OF circumstances having
had the effect 10 arouse the G0lOrssd
people from their intoxication as to
party that has been upon them,
they will be enabled In the future
to discriminate and use more judR-
ment as to what men, partisan poll
cies and acts encourage them, There
are Democrats who are as much dis
posed to deal fairly by the colored peo
pl0 as are Others, but who have been
unfortunaty hampered and restrain
ed by AN element within the party
which has caused the party to be
distrusted and passed by for at least
twenty-four long years by a major
ity OF the people. This element OF
the party cannot, In good faiths ey-
uect the more liberal division to
make further sacrifices or adhere TO
the policy of the past, not suited TO
the present state OF affairs. II cam
not be expected at such a cost that
a policy that wars with the declara-
tions OF the party nationally made
in 1872 and emphatically repeated I
in its national platform only a few +
months ago,in obedience 10 the de-,
mand Of public sentiment. !. This
advance is made to you, gentlemen,
not to concede any rights, but be-
cause you are representatives. OF a
portion of the Democratic party,
which Is power / feel warranted
in appealing TO it; do so because
crisis is upon the parties, because
the Democratic party Is in a more
mellow mood touching the interest
OF. the colored man than. has exhibit,
ted itself within my day; becausesI
have never been a slave TO party.
The colored vote may be won,
which is better than. to intimidate
1t. What is necessary thereto does
not call for change varying from
what has become, i may say, TO
some extent crystalized into CUSTOM
or law beyond what has been con-
ceded to be Just. 1t INVOLVES no
disregard of vested interests, pro-
prieiary claim, invasion OF any.
private or dOmiciliary right What,
Is necessary Is respect for common
or public rights, regard for merit,
intellectual attainment, respect ir-'
respective OF color for proper feel-i
ings. including natural and just as.
pirations. 1t does not involve dOmi-
nation because of color by white OF
by colored. / hope for fair play
and certainly my white tellow-citi-
zen, who has had the advantage OF
centuries OF culture and domination
and who is wealthy, will not be re.
strained from acting justly by the
thought of the black man, ina1ree'
and equitable field, becoming mas,
ter of the situation. Distrnst of the,
Democratic party has been lelt by
the cOlored man, and not by him
alone. IL threw the party out OF
power In 1860 ON issues involving
the cOlored mans rights. III Is
about to be reinstated; may Its new
advent to power be for the best. IL
Is the earnest wish OF those who are
persuaded that broader democratic
views shall prevail in the parties
that there should be disuniOn OF
the colored vote that all the rem
nants of the past distrust be destroy
ed. May our worthy incoming
President be encouraged on all SIDES
/ by the determination, so far as in
| him the power shall lay, to so DO IL =
that no mans rights and privileges
shall be Disseminated against as .at
present, because of his color. ms
colOred vote may be divided. Col
ored men are broadening daily they
are considering more and more the
influence Of the moral character OF
education, of industry and frugaliiy
in getting the respect, aud observe
that the influence begotten OF being
cared for follows. They observe the
consideration that goes along with
occupancy of honor and trust and
other recognitions. There Is some
thing beyond sordid consideration
involved; therefore, may We not
hope, among other things, that q
few competent eolored persons may
be appointed 10 some prominent po-
sitions OF honor and trust In the
| North? IL would have a happy
effect. IL would have a modifying
influence upon the whites OF the
South, tending toward fuller ac-
ceptance of tie results OF the war.
| 1t would elevate, attach and feed
patriotism in the colOred man 20
secure lite, liberty ard property, ill.,
cluding the right to select law.malx-
ers and rulers. IL Is not eonierrirIg
a gift; II IS simply showing respest
fer the rights consiitutionally afirrn.
ed as. belonging TO the citizep.
Equality before the law compre-
hends more than that; u embraces
the erecOgnition,s as character snail
| xvorpant In all considerations In