The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-05-06
From the Colored Mans Point Of View.

From the CoIored Mans Point of View.
Prof. J. G. Price Principal Of Zion
Wesley College, Salisbury, \. G., (the most
eloquent cOlored man III the State) in an
swer 10 the question What has thus far
| been the effect Of the Cleveland Admins
tration in the South as it touches the race
problem in politics. and the feeling of the
colored populationf writes as follows;
SALISBURY, n. c., April 30, Sc.
The time covered by this Administration
is yet too short to allow very definite esti-
mates as to its effects, either upon the
whole country or any particular portion
of it. Besides this, Mr. Cleveland repre-
sents wing of his own party that is not
entirely congenial to all his surroundings.
| | think this is strikmgly true in regard to
the much needed and desired Civil Service
Reform. 1t appears that the most of the
first year. has been given to the cOnsid-
| Grafton OF the claims of the ''inOffenSlve
! partlzans' for Office and the remainder of
| the time IN withholding reasons why of
| fensive partiZans' should be removed from
Office. In many of the changes during this
year there is no little trouble in ascertain
ing whether they are to be ascribed to the
outs going or the incoming Administration
Prior to the recent change in the Nat
iOnal Administration the Southern States
! turn in National affairs did not make such
a marked difference in the political, social
and educational interests of North Carroll
! ma as it might have done under different
| circumstances.
There has been no great political change
resulting from Mr.. Cleveland's first years
administration, as far as | can observe in
this State. North Carolina was Demo
| cratic before and is certainly sol the same
opinion still. :" The chief result, politically
has been in tho removal of many of the
colored revenue and post-office officials
In the eastern part of the State the oondi-
tion of things is about the same as before
SO far as the new Administration goes
| Under Mr. Cieveland's Administration
there has not been that clean sweep of
colored men from Office which was expect
ed. On most of the railway lines of the
State many of the colored postal clerks
have been retained in their positions
Further when we remember the large
number of colored n-op in Government po-
| sitions IN Washington accredited to and
representatives from North Carolina, we
can but say that the first year of Mr.. Gle
velands Administration, as far as the col
Ored voter is concerned, has been more
favorable than ardent partisans of a diff
ferent political faith We're allowed to eX-
pect-for nearly all the cOlored men hold
ing office there have been retained. In
this State, as well as in other portions of
the South, the ''color line" is very dis
tinctly drawn IL State politics, so strictly
that pNp party has been denominated the
.twhite mans party" and tie other the
negro Cor more vngarly) the ''nigger
party" This latter expression has been
used to deter white men from atiiiatIng
with it. 1t is true there is no Republican
party South il We leave out the negro voter.
This is to be deprecated. The more
thoughtful colOred men are decidedly of
the opinion that the colored and white
vote should be divided. This has been ex-
pectcd several years. The old parties as
organized could not do it
The movement best calculated to wipe
out tie color line" in Southern politics
and Southern customs is the Prohibition
cause. am of the opinion that the Op-
position of the Cleveland Administration
to all action, having i'll view the prohibi-
ton of the liquor traffic and the significant
Indifference or fear of the Republican
party, has t.pae MUCH 60 give renewed
impetus to the prohibitionists in this State.
1t is the thought Of prominent colored
men, not only in North Carolina but else
where throughout the South mot inclu1
ing the politicians and office seekers thai
the sooner the ''a0lOr lno' can be wipcc
cut the better it will be for whites ali,
blacks-for the South in particular anC
the country in general. Thus far prOhI
bitIon has done more in that direction thar
any movement tha, has played its part il
the politics Of the South.
A light Democratic vote may be looked
for in Southern States where the question
, of prohibition Will enter politics for the
double reason that the cause of temperance
in any form finds ready support in The
Christian element of the community anl
the general dissatisfaction OF radical Dem
ocrats to the policy of the present Nationa
Administration in not making a clear
sweep of all Republican officials in The
States and especially in the various depart
ments il Washington, and they are pre-
pared to go into an independent movemen
to defeat the end and aims of the leader
ship of their own party. This will result
. in a benefit 10 the colored man as th'
! party will be organized on new basi
5 and the prohibition movement will, in al
probability, be that basis The fact tina
$ Mr.. Cleveland appointed Mr, Matthews t.
4 be Recorder OF Deeds of the District o
z Columbia and invited Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
5 Douglass to be his guests at a recent di
9 plomatic dinner given at the White Hous
J has been great satisfaction to the coloret
I people throughout the country and to tn
:, same degree such acts have produced equa
Il dissatisfaction among many of his Owl
= party in the States. But such policy i
e calculated to have a most favorable i'm
5 preston on the colored people pf Mort
I Carolina.
e While the colored people have conf
} dence in the Cleveland Administration
u they have not the same confidence, as vet
e IN the party of which he is the chose
e head; for the reason that i. is still intolel
! ant to the extent that it refuses to SUP
port negroes for honorable positions Thi
q was shown in the opposition to the confir
e nation of Mr.. Matthews, as we'll as j
'r their zeal to have Mr. douglass and MI
q Bruce ra,Iayed
2 The relation between the races is as hal
e mOnious as in any State in the South
e fact more so. We have no difficulty i
n riding in first class cars IS wa nave eSpt
It rienced IN many other Southern State.
Neither is there that deep-seated bite
IF hatred and opposition to the developme1
,e of true negro manhood. But this is nc
d altogether the result of Mr.. Cleveland
a Administration though it has been slim,
le lated by it. The greater credit is due I
Id the State itself
W During Mr., Cleve.and'a first year. tt
e, educat tional results in this State, thoug
O. marked, have not been without some sigI
e. of encouragement, so far as the State p,
is Sc is concerned. The school system
Month CarOljpa iS NOT what we desire