The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-14

Democratic majority was sweileo "
the negro vote. II the colored brother
will post himself in regard TO the re-
lection OF James O. Matthews by the
Republican Senate, he will find
abundant reasons for voting the DEM
ocraiic ticket in future elections. IL
will be remembered that Mr.. Cleveland
nominated JAMES @. Matthews,
colored man OF marked ability, resi-
dent in Albany, whose fitness Tor the
place is not questioned. The office is
a lucrative one, and naturally enough
the selection OF negro to NIL
it YVES exceedingly distasteful to the
many white applicants. But, OF course
Republican Senate would care moth
ing for such objections, and it was 10
have been expected that the nomins-
ton would be promptly confirmed.
Instead OF this, the committee to which
IL was referred delayed action upon
the case for many weeks, and when 1t
was finally brought to q vote, almost
all the Republican Senators refused to
vote in favor OF Mr.. Matthews. 30
soon as Congress adjourned, President
Cleveland commissioned Matthews
and he will fill the Office in spite Of
the Republican Senate. 10 discussing
this matter the New York Post says
"Thsre could not have been q more
forcibe demonstration OF the hypoc
risy OF Republican professions abou
the negro than this action OF Repub
lican Senate. To every right mindec
person the fact that a Democratic
rresident is ready to appoint a negro
TO 30 high a station in the capital o
the nation is cause for rtjoicing, al
remarkable evidence OF the decay Q
prejudice. But the Republican poll
tician, 70 far from congratulating thu
negro that both parties are ready Il
recognize his ability, is filled with dis
may, because he fears that his owl
party is going to lose its hold on tn
b ack man il the black man finds tina
he fares tolerably well with the othe
party. II Is plain that the best thin
which could befall the colored rae
would be the breaking down oil To
old Democ attic pIejud ce againet II
the Republican politicians see tina
the bres king down OF this prejudice
would evidently split the neegr
, vote in halves, and he does bis bee
TO maintain the ancient wall. 1t
only when such an incident as thi
happens that we realize the odiou
tyrauny over the negro which the ~
: publican politicians have established
a The black man has never been treate
by the Republican managers, he Is nj
treated by them now, twenty yea
3 after emancipation, as a free man
z his political relations. He is regarde
q simply as the political property oil th
Republican party. 1t has actual
', been the custt m OF Republican pol
u ticians TO consult the census In ord'
o 10 find out how many men with blac
A skins there were in Congreesion
district, and then to question the Ia,
n ness of the election II the count d
= not show as many Republican vot
n as there were colored rnen.'
- ingalls, let the secret out when, wi
Il his cynical frankness, he admits
Q that the reason why he and his par
d colleagues were against the confirm
o ton Of the negro Matthews, was /
ir cause they thought the occupancy
of an important Office bya negro q
70 pointed by q Democratic Preside
le would tend to weaken the hold OF
le Republican party upon the mes
W vote. The rejection OF Matthews
Il. colored man, by the vote OF Reput
10 can Senators, is one oil the most for
ID nate things for the colored race Il
~ could have happened, 1t cannot
OF to open the eyes Of negroes to
es hypocrisy OF the talk with which
&c publican politicians have 60 long
is luded them. They will see that
or inter, SITS Of these politicians in the
81. gro is as Republican voter; that WI
as he casts his ballot with the other pal
n they have no further use for him.
lis is a go,d thing to have this fact mi
H. plain. 1t will hasten the day wi
ny negroes will divide the two par
10 precisely as white men do, and wi
lar the odious color Inns shall be tins