Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-09-10
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPT. 10, 1886
FOR CONGRESS
FOR THE TENTH DISTRICT,
JAMES BUMGARDNER, jr.
OF AUGUSTA.
REVIVING AN OLD ISSUE

was a noticeable feature-as there haG
been at the Staunton convention which
nominated Mr.. Tucker two years before
the Negro was not even named. The refer
ences to the opponents of the Democratic
party were made to Republicans, whether
they were black or white was not made E
subject of comment or distinction. The
Republican party of this State and district
has kept up continuous protest against
the use of the name of "white mans par
ty" by the Democracy, and it would ma
turally be supposed that when this hae
fallen into disuse, the color question would
hardly be revived by the protestants them
selves. To our surprise, therefore, W,
! GO M two of the fnr,r Republican orators a
the convention in Staunton which nomi
mated Mr.. Yost, make the Negro the bur-
den of their song. Ex-Auditor Allen made
this prominent point in his speech. and
after regretting that come of the Negroe:
had gone over to the Democracy, told al
anecdote to show that it was only the
s'dirtiest, meanest, and lowest" Negroes
in the world who would vote the Demo
cratic ticket, and that the decent men OF
that race were obliged to be Republicans
His position was loudly applauded by the
colored Republicans in the gallery and this
part Of his speech was clearly addressed
to them to secure their votes as Negroes. He
was followed by Mr.. E. W, Hubbard of
Buckingham, who tickled the fancy of the
gallery, by asserting that man who re-
fused to vote for Republican principles
and men simply because colored men
voted for them, was traitor to the good
of the country, and that sit was no parti-
cular disgrace:to be black man and NO
particular honor to be white man. The
Democratic convention was held in Lex
ington and heard at least twelve speeches
without single mention of race in them;
Bumgardner since opened his campaign
With a lengthy speech in Highland with
out a single mention Of race in it, and it is
eft for two out of the four speakers in the
Republican convention to introduce the
question of color. We should like some
whether this appeal to the Negro race is
10 be kept up during the CANVASS, and, if
30, upon what ground his party expects to
protest hereafter against appeals made by
The other side to the white man. They
eannot for moment think that the Dem
acrats will allow them to appeal to the
Jack men on race, and then protest
men they in turn appeal to the whites.
The Democrats would like to have some
Information Oh this point. They do not
expect to hear any such appeals from Mr..
cost, but they want to know if those who
IRE to canvass the district for him, are co
pursue the line already begun. And in be
half of the Democratic party of the 10Th
district We protest in advance against any
such campaign, even with the tremendous
advantage it will give our own candidate
for the preponderanee of white men in
tae district is such as to leave no doub,
bout the issue.
And, just here, another protest. To i'm
pute that a Negro who votes the Demo-
.atic ticket is the "dirtiest, lowest, and
aieanest of his race" is an outrage, and is
art of a system of bulldozing by the
hite Republicans, of the colored men, to
sep them in their ranks that they, the
whites, may reap the benefit of their votes
Il is spirit of bulldozing that would not
- attempted with white voters. and is
u5ed in Virginia, particularly at this june
ire, to keep men ia line who are break
out and asserting their independence.
The colored men have served notice On the
8epublican party of the Second congress
sional district, that the time has come
when the men that do the voting must
81 are the honors. The coiored men of
Elizabeth City county, the home of the
ION. Harry Libby, Republican member of
c9ngress. informed him that as they COM
posed the party in that district they want
man of their color to represent them.
nd Mr.. Libby recognized the situation
nd withdrew from his candidacy for re-
q animation. In the convention which
tollowed, Eighty votes were cast for
s. eolored man, and though he was defeat
ed by the shrewder management OF the
q aite Republicans, it may be safely assert.
Cd that the Second district has seen it's last
" ate Republican congressman. Its next
Till be black man. In the Fourth, which
ia also Republican district by virtue OF
the colored vote, the colored Republicans
awe defeated Gen. Stith Boiling, Gen
Mahone's favorite in the nominating con
gsntion, and completely Gchanged the pro-
anime and nominated Senator Gaines in.
Ataad.
1t is therefore clear that the colored man
Eot only has power in that party, but has
found out that the only way to get recog.
zion, is to exercise that power indepen-
d9ntly of the white Republicans who have
zen voting him and who set him down
as the "dirtiest, meanest, and lowest OF
hia race" when he refuses to vote as they
djrect. One result of that exercise of
p0wer will be seen liz the few white Re
publicans that have heretofore controlled
nose two districts. but whose number is
800 small to make them necessary to vic
Tory over the Democrats. They will soon
be discharged from active service at the
tie front by colored Republicans, take a
modest place in the rear, or seek place of
le-reat in the Democratic party, which
5hay left. With this independence in two
aistricts in this State there should be some
iucreasing independence of the colored
g0ters in all the districts. The Democratic
pal'ty of the State and Nation has right
to expect that this independence will add
90 lored men to its ranks. We say has a
hit, because party which tas elected a
I esident who has appointed a col
olad man to prominent FedeSal office,
IS salary of 81 800, and who after that
celored man is rejected by the vote OF Re-
publican Senator'S, reappoints him and