The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-05
Arrogant Republicans.


The Semi-Tropicdl, a new six-column
newspaper, published in Palatka. by d.
Y. Hill, i'm the interest of the col5red
race. is edited by some one fully posted
on the subject OF race prejudice and the
feeling enter tanned for the coiored people
by northern Republicans. Two years
ago, leading Republican in this county
made a speech at the Republican conven-
ton, in this city, IN which he protested
in the strongest terms against a black
man going on the ticket, because, he
said, if such a thing Were done, large
number of Republicans would not sup
port the ticket. He asserted that they
were prejudiced against the colored peo-
pie and, while they approved of the pr'n-
ciples of the Republican party, they
would not vote for a colored Republican.
The Semi Tropical only speaks the senti-
ment of the public when it says that
the "better class of native whites
are generally more friendly and kindly
dispose tow ard the colored people, than
the ''aItogsnt and proscrirtiVe Republi-
cans" from the North.
The SomiTrOpicdi also asserts that,
although most of the newcomers from
the North are Republicans on national
issues, they are an uncertain quantity in
State pc iitics." We believe this also to
be- true.
But there is another side to this ques-
ton that our colorcd friends should con-
slider. AS a general thing the colored
men vote, not in reference to the issues
before the people, but for the nominees
of the Republican party. They do not
consider questions, but party and men.
We believe it is true that the colored peo-
pie have been more prosperous, and been
more protected in their rights, under
Democratic than under Republican rule
in Florida. We do not know but they
viii cOncede that under the National
Democratic admir- stration they have en-
joyed more real liberty, all things con-
sidered, than at any time since their
mancipat;On. But, notwithstanding
n" this, they fa', to recognize the fact,
and go on voting the Republican ticket.
the colored voters. Colored people,
when they do not irsist on ''recogn'-
ton themselves, generally select white
men for their representatives that con-
sentative northern Republicans will not
t.Cst.
If the oolored voters of tbs county
Will follow the advice of the Semi
Tropical, az this can he che 1grd. 1t
advises them 10 vote on the merits OF
the questions at issue, and to decide
for themselves whether this or that
question VIII benefit the colored race"
This is excellent advice. 1t says:
$50 that the question should be, not
whether IL or that IS Democratic or
Republican, but whether this or that
VII benefit the race. The colored peo-
pie have experienced very little, If any,
trouble on account of the government
of the State be;ng in the hands of the
Democrats. And while we are Repuh-
i'cars IN politics, yet we are GLAD to
know that the civil rights of our peo-
pie does not depend upon the suprem-
acy of any party.
n he better clsSs of rative whit is are
genery'ly friendly and kindly disposed
t)waru the coiOreu people, anu WHAT
ever oppression may te experienced
sometimes can, r'ne times out of ten,
l. , rae cable directly to IA class of new
corners who, in their eagerness to cater
to the Supposed prejudice of the old
timers, are IA more arrogant and pro-
script We than our me anest 'Bourbops.
Although most of the new corners from
the North are Republicans in rat.ora,
issues, they are Al uncertain quaint " in
State Io'tics. For, NO -wifhsi and 'ng the
absurd, SIMPLE and cheap twaddle the
oppCsi.s ply indulge in by pant .ng
the success of the Republicans AS meau-
ing burly nes.o at every cross-r. ad as
justice of the peace and isnorPnt
negroes generally as otficeholders, it
never fats . brighten our white norih-
EN- Republicans away from the psr.y or
over to lhe ranks of the L now nothiDgs."