National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-18
MIR. MATTHEWS IN A1nANY.
a Coiored Leader There Says Some
Hard Things About the New Recorder.

Hard Things About the New Recorder.
Mr.. VIM. II. johnson, one Of the leading
colorcd men Of Albany and q recognized
Republican leader among his race, told an
Albany Journal reporter last week that
james G. Matthews, who has been nomi-
mated for recorder Of deeds for this city,
was an offensive Democratic partisan, aud
MS such, well deserved the honor and should
be supported by the rank and file Of the
Democratic party, for whom he has worked
so hard. Mr.. johnson said further that the
Jeffersonian Democratic Club OF Washing
ton, the Democratic newspapers OF New
York and throughout the state ought to
sustain the President by earnestly support
ing his nomination of Mr.. Matthews, and
Democratic senators ought to vie with each
other In their zeal TO confirm his appoint
ment. The southern and bourbon senators
ought to be the first to lead in his conflrma-
ton, and in that way justify Mr.. Matthews's
offensive theory and practice, for he has
made IL boast that the true friend OF the
negro was the Democratic party and that
Republican protestatlOns OF friendship for
the poor blacks were but mere shams.
al am n Republican and Politician
said MIR. johnson, 81 believe In politics,
and I believe that to the victors belong the
hOnors and emoluments. Hence believe
that II the Democratic party is the sole APP
pointing power It should appoint Demo
Gratis and not Republicans to Office TO fill
vacancies when terms Of Office expire. Be-
lieving thus think that Mr.. Matthews as q
Democrat above any other colored man In
the United States ought TO receive the will
ing, earnest, and unbrokon support Of the
Democratic party. He has been faithful
and untiring In its interest. He has FREE
quently declared that he regarded the Re-
publican party as the enemy of the negro
n,t11 tVn IN. 81, ,,N, a
that under no conceivable circumstances
would he vote for Republican be he white
or black. In this city he has done more
than q score OF other men to demoraliZe the
colored voters, being the power behind
the throne and the go-between. At the
state capitol he has manipulated the APP
pointment of almost every colored porter en-
gagged upon that public state work, and has
inst sted upon II that every colorcd man ap.
pointed to q position thereon should vote
first and last at every election the Demo-
cratic ticket. So far has he allowed his
offensive partisanship and zeal to run that
he caused the removal Of n woman who was
serving as a maid in the ladies' gallery of
the senate because, as he said to me, she
was making herself offensive by her impru-
dent Republicanism. All these things, in
my judgment, highly commend Mr.. Mat
thews to the favor of the Democratic party,
and that party should see to it that he is
confirmed.
"On last Friday morning the Arg,s con-
tanned highly colored eulogy upon the
birth, character, and public services of Mr..
Matthews. In that article the following
language occurs One of his first profess
sional efforts was to proceed by mandamus
against the board Of public instruction of
Albany 10 compel them to admit to the
public schools In 1872 the children of w.
A. Deitz, of African descent, 1t having been
refused by the Republican members of the
board, the Democrats voting being in favor
OF the admission. In this ne was successful;
the children were admitted, and Mr..
Matthews had settled the question for this
city forever The mandamus proceedings
were not successful. Mr.. Deitz's children
were not admitted to the public schools,
and the question Of the admission was not
settled by Mr.. Matthews or anybody else at
that time. And when it was settled in 1879
by the passage Of Gen. J. w. Husted's civil
rights bill, which became law April 0,
1873, 1t was without Mr.. Matthews's assist
ance in any way. The school fight for the
rights OF colored children began in earnest
in 1870 and eliminated in 1873. During
that time almost every colored man in Al
bany did something toward forwarding the
interest Of the colored children. During
tho struggle for civil rights he was as dumt
MS Il clam. All this ought to commend hin
10 the kind, considerate favor Of his party
But every Republican that supports hin
uses n club to crack his own head, and
stand from under the club,D