Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-09-03
The COlOred Man as Democrat.

At conference of the African M. E.
Church which was in session last Novem
Der, the Rev. Andrew j. Chambers, a col
ored minister in charge of a church at
Wilmington, N. c., offered resolutions in
respect to the dead statesman's memory.
This brought s orm of reproaches upon
the head of Mr.. Chambers from his rever
end brethren of the church, hut his own
immediate congregation fully sustained
and defended him. An effort was made
by some of his brother clergymen to de-
pose Mr.. Chambers from the ministry and
for the purpose of disposing of the charges
a special session of the North Carolina
conference was assembled at Raleigh on
The 4th instant.
Mr. Chambers, who is a Democrat and
a man of intelligence and ability, defend
ed himself in masterly speech before the
conference, in the course of which he SAID ::
az fear we are too often misled. Brethren
! have been induced to regard the men in author
| ity as enemies because they were of opposite
politics, and that the law is partial in party
mems hands that it is not the same law unto
all the inhabitants Of the same land, hut is
rather an instrument ct a party to crush It's an
| tagonsts. When the truth is, the law is the
same and its purpose the same. 1t is the same
guardian Of virtue and Nemesis of vice, who
ever may apply it, There was some little
cuse for colored mans dread of democratic
ascendancy previous to the Inauguration Of our
present President; but since that auSpicious
event every excuse has gone. Lie, liberty and
/ the pursuit of happiness are AS sacred todsy-
nay more sacred-they have n frmer hold upon
the public conscience than at any previous
period in our history because public sentiment,
the only recognized law of mankind, snst.ins
the right, while force OF every form vanisses
away
II will not turn an enveuomed tongue on
/ the white man of the South, nor do think the
real friends of nv race would sanction such a
policy. Had we striven half as bard to win the
good will of our neighbors, albeit they were ex-
save-owners, as we did 10 win the good will
of strangers, the whole phase of affairs among
US would be brighter than it is and in spite of
all mistakes there is no section OF our land in
which we are so welcome. In no place are W.
more trusted than in Southern homes. Every
industrial station is the legItimst prize of am
bition. Tax levie, for learning Sitter through
Southern fingers like crystal dew drops. In
want the same fingers feed US. In time OF
/ trouble they betriend Us. In sick they
minister unto US. In old age they comfort US,
ana in death they bury US. Oh that justice
may be done by Christian ministers TO mer-
eilessly maligued people"
Mr. Chambers was fully sustained in his
position by the bishop and by large ma
jori'y of the conference. We commend
/ his manly defense Of his freedom of pri-
vate opinion to our colored readers and
to all those who preach the doctrine of
hatred toward their white neighbors to
the CO o'ored people of the South. 1t is truly
said by him that no true friend Of his race
would encourage an envenomed tongue or
a malicious feeling on their part toward
the white people of the South. The de
signing white men who preach that bad
doctrine to the coored people are actual
ed entirely by selfish political motives
and are The worst enemies tn the black
race.
/ That the black man throughout the
South has a. las bzgun to assert his man
hood a,d to deny the right of other inter.
ested men, whether white or black, Ia
martial him as a unit in any one political
party, is clearly perceptible. The case oi
Mr.. Chambers and his triumphant viudi
cation is but one conspicuous eSampe oi
which there are many others in different
sections of the South. The ilir and jus,
treatment they have received ST the hands
of the first Democratic administration has
served 10 dispel all the dis,rust Of the
Democratic party put in their minds by
their bad advisers and they have learned
to know who are their best friends and
are acting accordingly. The black man
will no longer he a unit in politics