The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-04
THE FUY5RE OF THE NEGRO.
Prof. LangSton Talks in an Interesting
Manner About the Colored Man.
The Race Has Begun to Read and to Think,
T and Will Try to Make the Most Of
Both These Advantages.

As spending the holidays with his son-in-law, ex-
Couneiman J. c. Napier, and family. He re-
eeived an ovation from the colored people on his
arrival here, and has since been the recipient of
many eourtesies both from the blacks and the
.whites. He has been daily and nightly enter
zainsd by hundreds Of his race. while large
number Of the first people of the city have called
20 pay him their respects He has also, by invi-
Aation. visited all the prominent educational in
stitutions of this, the Athens Of the South.
Aware of the fact that he has thoroughly
studied all questions concerning the social, polit
acai and moral status Of the colored man, both
IN our own and foreign lands. your correspond
ent went to see him this morning, and asked him
30 give his views regarding the future OF his race
jn America, especially in the South. He said
From day to day, as the colored American is
brought directly face to face with affairs in his
new life OF freedom and enfranchisement, he Is
Becoming more and more conscious of the fact
that he is no longer slave, no longer mental,
mo longer simply negro or a colored man, but
3iks others, native and naturalized, he is citl-
zen upon whom rest the responsibilities and
duties. political and other, common to such
rank.
AS he gains knowledge and wisdom he learns
very naturally, as do other American citizens,
all about those grave and important national
questions which command the attention and
force themselves for settlement upon the judg-
Tnsnt and vote of the American people. He
learns steadily, after this manner, the present
differences which distinguish the leading polltl-
cal parties Of the country of views entertained,
yboth in the North and the South; and with the
questions of freedom and enfranchisement settled
and accepted, no differences as regards such
matters existing between the Democratic and
Republican parties; he finds himself forming
opinions and making judgments upon questions
OF legal Importance and national significance;
putting himself in relationships as we'll with one
party az the other, so as to be able, by his VOTE
70 give effect in the success of the one party or
the other in the administration of the govern
ment. Thus, he is dividing, North and South,
changing his views as rapidly and as naturally
as other men, some in this case going to the
Democratic party, and others, the great body of
his class. remaining with the Republican. On
the great questions which to-day command the
attention Of our national Congress-the silver
question, the tariff, civilservce reform, our for
eign policy, not to name others-the colored
American, North and South, is forming his judg
ment according to his business interests, his per-
sonal inclinations and his connections. With re-
gard to the advancement Of the special section
of thecountry in which he resides he is prepar
ing to vote with the one or the other Of our po-
litical parties.
It Ia impossible for the President of the
United States to present his views in his inaugu-
raj address Or message, for Senators Sherman
and Logan Senators Beck and Butler TO present
their opinions in their great speeches now. with
out instructing and moving the colored as the
white Americans. AS he reads in tho leading
journals of the day, the colored American is in
structed and advanced. In reading daily and
studying, not only the reasons presented in our
newspapers and periodicals. but those of leading
publications and books of our best thinkers and
writers, he forms these judgments which actuate
mis- conduct, no less politically than morally;
and he must be expected. as an intelligent and
responsible American citizen, to be able to deter
mine his action in the light of experience. not
Haou thar NIGHTS ndH nfv nf ri mr.
often without regard to former party affiliations
Or past service rendered his cause. specially by
any OF our political parties, or as hiudered by
adverse action heretofore had by the other, as
regards the withholding of his liberty or his
rights
The negro understands as we'll as any other
citizen of our country, that the Democratic party
advances, az the great body of the people, to the
acceptance of the fundamental doctrines pro-
mulgated thirty years ago by the Republican
party, woven now into the Constitution and the
laws of cur country. Since the close of the late
civil war the Democratic party, in a large meas
ure has changed its old pro-slavery ideas. its
old conservative. illogical and illegal political
ideas, and must whether it will or no, accept the
new doctrines of political reform very naturally
founded upon the new condition of things super
induced by the legitimate and logical action OF
the Republican party Hence, among the ne
groes and no less among moderate white men,
North and South, expressions are heard daily
touching the new Democracy, so-called, which
Cleveland and that class of men who still claim
to be Democrats in their affiliations but who
have come to insist that the government is
greater than either party. and that the interests
OF the people. the whole people, must be con-
served.
The colored American understands full, we'll
chat each party now claims that the civil rights as
well as the freedom and Acknowledgement of his
Glass; must be respected and sustained; that there
As nothing, so far as he is concerned, in debate
touching the permanent establishment of all the
great liberty doctrines placed in the Constitu-
tion and fixed in the laws by the action of the
Republican party. Thus schooled, the negro is
coming to understand that he has reached the
second stage of his social condition since the
time Of the reconstruction and that with parties
occupying the attitude indicated as to his lib
erty and his civil rights he may begin to study
the question and settle it in the promotion of
wise forecast and patriotic desire how he may
bring himself into such relationships with the
people of the South In whose midst he largely
dwells, 80 as to blunt the edge Of their past en-
snities toward him, and secure. if possible.
through political action. a. condition OF things
which will while it brings him industrial re-
wards, educational advantages and general i'm
pfovemsnt. secure peace through reconcilement
and general amity to both classes of the South.
To one who travels in the Southland have
done so from 1865 up to the present time-who
reads with care the newspapers and leading
Journals of that section, who gives attention to
she expressions of both white men and colored
touching the future prosperity of both races and
pr the South itself, it can but appear that Judi
eious action must result in general reconcilement,
individual and sectional progress.
To one who has known the condition and prog
Fsss of the colored American, half free, formerly
of the North. whose knowledge begins with the
desp. black hatred Of the negro in that section.
. hatred shown in the black laws that disgraced
weil.nigh every statute book, especially of the
Northwestern States Of the Union the
denial of school privileges the denial of
all rights and advantages as regards common
carriers, hotels concerts and theaters who has
understood the great change which has come to
pass in such section, and the means employed to
such end, can doubt the possibility and probable
ity OF the moral and social condition presented
Since the war the coored citizen has been
steadily rising in the North in intelligence char
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