Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-19

%oaSe JAe EaTIy anu Negroes
Going Democratic and Raising
Feudalism.
Fellow citizens of Christian Coun-
ty: am called upon by my own in-
stinct in the interest of my race to
say something regarding our treat
ment and privileges. When under
take to solve this intricate and COM
pick problem l am bewildered be-
You'd expression. We are humans
and you know it. Some of us have
a little sense too and are opening our
eyes. But before launching off allow
me to tell you that am staunch Re-
publican. l am no politician, have
no enemies to sponge me nor friends
to reward me on the subject. Sirs,
we have been supporting the Re-
publican ticket ever since the rights
of suffrage have been administered
us and feel it our duty so long as the
party will act its part in legality and
justice, but Sirs, we have been mob
bed by our Republican friends. Oh !
we Republicans how LONG will it re-
main? We are nearly or soon will
be on the eve of Offering you a few
colored candidates to vote for, but
Sirs you have your line drawers to
draw the color line. 1t is by our
votes that you are kept in these fat
offices. Suppose the negroes see you
are treating them wrong and change
thier politics, why Sirs, you are 10, 1t
and the victory is no longer yours. l
say Sirs, the negroes are tired of
propping and ask you to take turn
with them and prop some, or you
may fall. / don't make these asser-
tions as a candidate, for l am not
and don't expect to be, but my color
ed brethren are in the fed and l
shall 90 out in their support. re-
peat il, we are the ones who elect
you, remember it and calculate your
voters, you know you only have about
700 and we have about 2,S75, which
gives Republican vote of about
1916, and the Democrats about 1900,
a Republican majority of 800. Now
what can you do without our aid
We are due our own, we must have
our rights. We can't live Oh hand
shaking, hat raising and all such can
didate etiquette. You have never
given usa colorcd deputy under the
Sheriff, nor the Assessor. Now what
have you done for us ?Ifa colored man
votes Democratic you stigmatizc and
ridicule him without end. l don't
approve of voting against my party,
but | am not in harmony with him
who works against me. Sir, if me-
gro Democrat is q candidate at the
August election, l assure you he will
get three times as many white votes
(from the best and most wealthy cit
liens of this county, than a colored
Republican will get. This shows
you in sense, who is true to his party.
| say it is the Democrat.
Sirs am for my party and will
not kick when treated right, but if 1
must be kicked, hauled and walked
over, before my God "my right hand
may loose its cunning and my tongue
might cleave to the roof ofmy mouth"
l would notice no party. Gentlemen
we ask no favors of you, but do us
justice. Do unto us as we have done
unto you, olive or die, sink or swim"
we should have our rights. White
Republicans 1 speak TO you, sirs, our
party is weakening and you or part
of you are doing it. l love my race
as you do yours and every true pa
triots heart bl, eds when he reads the
history of his country and learns that
1t is mobbed. We have some true
Republicans but not enough to con-
ceal the treacherous deeds of the UNI
patriotic, blood-shedding color line
drawers.
Sirs, we are painting our banners
with blood and with blood that can't
be erased. fear sirs it will cry out
against us as the blood of Abel did
against Cain. You heard it cry in
the last presidential campaign and
bled your hearts like marching to
your fathers graves. 1t may be
heard in the coming election, though
! entreat you as the motto of our
state is Omitted we stand, divided we
fall"
l am, Sirs, your peaceful citizen,
j. j. FLEMING.
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