The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-11-01
THE SAME OLD PARTY.
THE VERY FOUNTAIN HEAn
or Information of tho COlorOd Voters
Speaks In TsFmI That Are Not Equiyo-
Cal-Th0 Ohio and West Virginia
CUlored Men are Spoken To,

TO The Editor Of The Cleveland Gazette,
Mr.. II, O. Smith; DEAR sIR:-In the
midst Of hurried preparations for long
tour in Europe, ! snatch my pen and
few moments to tell you how completely
sympathlse with your political attitude.
Your political trumpet, sounded through
tho Cleveland Ga:stls, has never yet given
an uncertain sound, While we must all
in charity conoeds honest intention to the
few colored men inside and outside Of
Ohio who chose to cast their lot with the
Democratic party, we can not, in view oil
the history Of that party, bat be saddened
and amazed at their declsion. Instan.
taneous conversions may possibly occur
in the case Of indlyiduals, but
no such miracle ever comes to
political party, Large bodies move
slowly, The Democratic party to-day ia
the same party as In 1879, when General
Grant was candidate for the Presidency.
1t was the great anti'Negro party then,
aud 1t is the same now, II Is the party OF
the Solid South, made solid by midnight
raiders; by the suppression oil the Negro
vote; by shooting down brave Negroes
who refuse to surrender their political
rights; by 'lynCti law that refuses 9
q trial by Jury to Negroes only when &C.
Cused Of crime; by systematic robbery OF
this Negro OF his hard.earnsd wages; by
ostracising and driving out CT the South
all while men who openly advocate
the rights OF Negroes to an equal par
ticipstion In tho government under
which they live; by teaching its chill.
dren that this Is the white mans country
and the white mans governments by Gre.
sting artificial crimes and inillcting unu-
sual punlshments upon negroes; by sell.
ing alleged negro criminals into slavery
and working them In chain'gangs, and
thus disgracing the negro race In every
way in lts power. There ls not q single
midnight raider or so.called Regulator at
the South who does not hate, with the
blsckness aud darkness OF EXTREMIST hell,
the Republican party, and dread Its as.
CendRnCy in the councils OF the nation.
How can you, how can l, how can any
Colored man who claims to love equal
rights aud fair play for the negro do other
than side with the Republican party, or
cease to expose the reasonable policy OF
those among US who would lead us into
tho ranks oJ the Democratic partyP
My word then to the colored voters OF
Ohio, aud to the Colored voters Of the
whole North, at parting, Is against all
temporary and local advantage; against
all perauas!ons and inducements, stand
by the Republican party. have not
been slow to recognize the Just and
generous words OF President Cleveland
In respect OF the rights OF colored citizens,
but Mr. Cleveland is not the Demo.
cratic party aud In nothing Is he less
a representative OF the heart OF that
party than in his words and acts con-
Cernlng the appointment OF Colored men
to Office. All this is exceptional
and 1t Is the rule and not the exception
upon which colored mon should act. Men
die, parties live on; men retire, but
parties never. 1t Is Mr.. Cleveland to-day,
but 1t may be very different man the
next time. Besides, the party is master,
the President Is servant, and II Ia not his
will, but the will Of the party which must
ultimately prevail.
need not tell you personally TO stand
firm, for that am sure you will do, but
do exhort your readers 10 stand by you In
your effort to lead the colored citizens OF
the State OF Ohio to wise :political action.
Truly yours, FREDERICK DOUGLASS.