The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-30

rangements,' matter that so far as one
locality Is concerned, ne is evidently in
the dark let there light"
Ten years ago at Welaka the "igno-
rant element held full control in the
Republican party, and our political flag
was trailing in the mud and slime,
through bad management-a mistaken
policy-simIlar TO the peculiar views
which my critic still seems to hold. Two
or three Northern Republicans then took
counsel together and resolved that our
party banner should 10 longer be made
a by-wOrd in the Fourth Precinct. and
from a policy inaugurated at that time
and steadily kept in view, and again in
this campaign Endorsed by table ar
engagements will be such as to give the
whites and colored people separate &C
commodations for dinner" and instead
of the Ignorant majority" wishing now
10 control, they have been gradually ed
ucated and elevated politically, so that
they knoT and see the decided advan-
tage intelligence and education has liz
leadership and management, looking to
the permanent success of the party.
That the colored voters of this precinct
have been and are to-day fully satisfied
with the policy adopted and taught here.
is shown by the fact that while tbs at
tendance at our precinct caucuses are as
four TO one colCred Republicans, the del
egates chosen 10 our county conventions
are rs four to one in favor of white del
egatI-. That fact cannot be disputed
and IS proof that the spirit of contempt
and autagonism, and a requiring of the
coloTed element Ito take a back seat at
cur political meetings" does not exist
here. The continued healthy growth of
the party and the sClidity of the colo=ed
vote in this precinct, IS Of itself one of
the strongest proofs that we have made
&c mistake, IN the past or present, with
cur - table arrangement, and the hearty
approval OF our local policy by all classes,
black and whites, Republicans and Dem
ocrats, Is standing protest against your
criticisms on my circular: and your ian
EuaGe, - | have no sympathy with this
childish class feeling" or the fear that
ignorance can ever supeTsede or con
troll intelligence, does not apply 10 the
Fourth Precinct. On the contrary. the
arrangements have been and are such
that all classes, white and black, have
the same rights and privileges to enjoy
reasonable feasts and flowing souls
with 10 one to trouble or make them
afraid, and judging from the Joy full time
the colored people seemed to have here
on the 23d, when for nearly two hours
they ate and drank and made merry,
they certainty appreciated the plan
adopted. The invitation as per circular
WAS a general one, not a special invite.
to our Democratic friends. and for their
special information, also 10 the newly
arrived Northern Republicans, the latter
class Of voters being the white Re
Publicaus referred TO III my remarks in
open convention" who would not vote
for colored candidate" If nomi-
mated.
The "table arrangements were stated,
so that any and all parties who objected
to eating and drinking with the Colored
element, would know that mixing up"
at dinner was not Republican doctrine
At Welaka, and in fact was as strongly
opposed by the cOlored people IS by the
whites. The information bore its fruits.
and for the first tine ct q Republican
mass meeting At Wel&ka, there was a fair
spriukiius of good solid Democrats who
listened with marked attention 10 even
their usual target, cur much abused
friend Thomas Hind.
The dinner was not served on IAN old
rough table stuck out in the sand" but
On tables nicely arranged in two separate
store buildings, and whatever basket
picnic" supplies were furnished by the
white ladies went 10 their tables and the
same with the coloTed, and all the tables
furnished colored walters, from the com.
mittee, with ample supplies of ham sand
witches and coffee. DinneT was served
TO about 300, nearly an equal number of
white and colored. All enjoyed their
meal, and were under less restraint than
ifthe sentiments of Mr. t--) had been
acted upon.
As q clincher to my statement that the
cable arrangements" were highly appre-
ciated by our colored friends present. =
resolution was offered by a colored
clergyman during dinner, most heartily
endorsing the programme, and express
ing themselves as greatly pleased with
the whole affair as carried out. The reso-
luton wns unanimously adopted. one ex-
ception only, and that party q colored
man from the North. To him and all
other colored men holding his views l
would make this inGuiry-''Are you
ashamed to eat, drink and associate with
your own color and race? if so, what
should you, what ought you to expect
from the white element:
Respectfully yours,
II. j. BROAD.
Nelaka, Fla, Oct. 2Sth, 1886.