Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-08-28
Cleveland and tho oolored Vote.


= New York Herald representative IL
the Adirondacks some reasons for hi,
appointment of Matthews, the colored
lawyer, Of Albany, New York, Regis.
ter Of Wills Of the District OF Oolum Dis
Matthews, 1t will remembered, was ap-
pointed to the office and was rejected
In the Senate by non.partisan vote OF
chat body. Mr.. Cleveland does not
state his reasons for reappolntlng
Matthews after his rejection and thus
precipitating war with the Senate,
for it is reasonable to suppose that the
same reasons exist now against Mat
thews' appointment that before existed
and that the Senate will, when the APP
p0tntment comes up again for con-
drmAtion, aos as 1t did before.
1t Is evident, however, that Mr..
Cleveland has looked upon the action
OF the Senate ~ being partisan, that Is,
that Matthews was rejected because he
was colored man and chat he Is de-
termfned that % Q colored man he shall
ill the office to which he In appoi ted.
The President In the interview is rep
resented a. saying:
every fouf years these parties (the
Democratic and EepublicAn) have q
wrestling match It's . net hght
throughout the campaign. But when
the fight Is over then we forget tie figat
and settle down good naturally to san.
port the administration in every honest
effort toward good government. Well,
the colored people Of the South are lust
a nf
they begin to recognize the duty of
citizenship that moment they will be
gin to form convictions and to be gov
erned by them. Does any reasonable
man suppose that when the white peo-
pie OF the country divide themse Yes
between the Republican and the Demo
cratic parties the colored people will all
ehink alike AND join the Republican
party? This is an insult TO the colored
mans brains. 1t is the sheerest nom
sense, and, more than that, it would be
great political calamity. Difference
ofoptnion is not only the charm Of the
Republic, but It 10 also its safety,
and have NO doubt, neither has Any
thoughtful man, that when education
does Its effective work the colored race
or the South will partly wheel into line
with the Republican party and partly
In line with the Democratic party. 1t
cannot be otherwise so long as human
nature Is what IL is now. have great
respect for the colored people. Again and
again have told the delegations which
have visited me that they must have
nvictions OF their own and act on
them; that they must choose their poll
tics with thoughtful care and personal
independence. In that way alone can
they become worthy citizens O! the best
government in the world"
This oil sounds very prsttily and
looks we'll on paper, but the President
must laugh In his sleeve when he
thtnks with what avidity such appar-
emit non-parisan talk Is accepted by
the people as truthful and sincere.
Were everything else equal his reas
suring would be sound but his idea
that colored voters should divide of
and part vote for one party and part
for another, when all the circumstan ces
are taken into consideration, is more OF
an insult to them than to charge the N
with a want Of knowledge and good
political sense for voting solidly on the
Republican side. Mr.. Cleveland may
affect to see reasons why colored men
should divide their votes, bat there are
many others, intelligent as he is and
we are sure gifted with more political
honesty, who Bee strong reasons why
the colored vote should be solid for the
Republican party. Aside from the &C
oepted fact that the colored people o,
the Soath would still have been in
slavery yet but for the Intervention OF
the Republican party, is that other tacv
that the colored voters Of tine South are
to-day practically disfranchised from
the right of suffrage simply teoause
they voted intelligently for the party
that gave them their freedom. Thew
would still be voting solidly for ths,
party II they were permitted to exer
else q freeman's choice None know
better than Mr.. Cleveland that no
oolored men are Democrats from an
unbiased choice. Many Of them are
compelled to vote the Democratic
d,ket from the force OF circumstan oes.
Dut not from their own free will and
choice. 1t would be unnatural as we'll
as ungrateful in the colored voters TO
voluntarily vote with their enemies
who are IS much their enemies to-day
rs when they had them by the throa.
and compelled them to be slaves. The
promise Of office may buy . few OF
them, and In all probability the colored
man Mr.. Cleveland has found to taxa
the Registers office Of the District of
columbia, Is colored man who ia a
Democrat for revenue only. There ia
nothing sincere and honest In Mr..
Cleveland's appointment of Matthevs.
NOR Is there anything sincere and hon :
est In Matthews being Democrat. II
Mr.. Cleveland Is 30 solicitous for the
welfare Of the colored people Of the
South rs he represents himself 70 be- hs
should prevail upon his party to hold
fair elections In the South and give the
colored man chance to vote withou.
having his life endangered and to vot.
for whom he pleases. There is not tht
least doubt that there would be O solid
colored vote for the Republican party
but this would only be an evidence oil
good, sound sense In them for voting
Tor their friends. Mr.. Cleveland will
remain disappointed politician IL be
expects the colOred people OF the South
10 fly enmasse to the Democratic party
IN gratitude for the appointment OF
Matthews.
HARVEST HOMES are becoming pop