The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-12

lawyer VI @'NN a Yin IVY
Mr.. Stewards Letter.
Ny Dear Sir-Your open letter contain
ing several questions relating TO politics. has
reached me through the columns Of the
Freeman. have read il with great interest.
| acknowledge the honor you do Inc in seek
ing my views and express them frankly,
with the belief that even If we should not
agree we shall feel that each in his way is
striving to promote the best interests of our
common country and 10 advance our race in
the full enjoyment Of their inalienablc
rights-"lilc, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness."
You ask II believe that any colorcd man
who is cOmpOs mentis, oOnscicntiously os-
pouso the cause of the Democratic party and
subscribe to its declarations.
The cause and declarations OF a party are
usually found set forth in its latest platform.
The last Democratic national convention
formulated and promulgated sound, liberal
and practical views invite your attention
TO these particular paragraphs:
THE Democratic party OF the Union
recognizes that as the nation grows older
new issues are born OF time and progress
and old issues perish. But the fundamental
principles of the Democracy viii
ever remain as the best and only security for
the continuance of free government The
OF all citizens before the law can
never he surrendered a."
Asserting the equality Of all men before
the law, We hold that IL Is the duty of the
government in its dealing with the people 10
metc out equal and exact justice to all citi-
zcns Of whatever nativity. race, color or per-
suasion-religous or political"
| quote these particular paragraphs be-
cause they are Of special interest TO the coll
4 hos ~,
from the fact that the present federal admin
stration is acting upon The spirit and the
letter Of these declarations. The entire plat
form from which we have quoted is abreast
OF the spirit of the age-being both liberal
and progressive.
am ut loss 10 know why you ask
whether a negro who subscrbcs TO the
declarations Of the Democratic party does
not lay himself liable 10 the charge OF in
sanity or dishonesty. | know, sir, that you
are a radical Republican; but know also
that your great talents, profound learning
and high character lift you above the murky
| atmosphere in which men of small minds,
! little souls aud limited attainmcnts thrive
| men who are pigncs In the discussion Of
| great questions hut giants In the uttcrancc
of NllihCation and abuse men who, because
they cannot argue, delight TO charge every
| independent or Democratic negro with being
| in the employ Of those with whom they CO.
operate.
Gc,, sir; q negro can subscribe 10 the dec
| larnti0us and c.pouse the cause Of the Dem
ocrtic party intcligcntly and oonscicn-
tiously, without being either non compos
/ mcuts or sine CouScientia. There are at
| present in our politics colorcd Democrats
| aud cOlOrcd independents. You surely
would not lend your great name and wide
influence Ia that class Of petty men who In
every line they write or in every word they
| utter violate the instincts OF true manhood
| By crying idiot or knayc against those intel
| ligcnt, honorable gentlemen whose conyic
/ lions lead them to oppose the Republican
| party. You are too intelligent, honest and
/ generous yourself to indulge in this sort Of
disrmccful business.
You ak " the Democratic party Is not The
! same N IL was Ia lsGU! ] answer emphatic
ally. mol Why, my dear sir In 1900 the
chief aim OF the Democratic party was e
pcrpctuatc slavery. Today that issue is dcat
and buried beyond the possibility OF rcsur
! rccton, aud Democrats had a hand In the
overthrow OF slavery. Grant Mcclellan
| Hancock and Butler were war Democrats
and thousands Of Democrats In the north AM
west were abreast with A>nham Lincoln IN
| his efforts a. save the union, and they Ia
dorsed his forced emancipation proclamation
| ns n war necessity.
In 1895 the Democratic party declared IN,
war amendments 10 the constitution null
and void. Ia 1872 they accepted them ~
res adIudicnta, aud Endorsed the nomination
u that old anti'slayery hero, Hofac,
| Greeley.
Today the Democratic party declares thai
As the nation grows older new issues ar,
born Of time and progress and old issue,
| PERISH aud Asserting the equality Of all
| men before the law we (thc Democracy hold
that II Is tho duty of the government m II.
dealings with the pcoII' 10 mctc out clua
and exact justice 20 all citizens Of whatever
race tori color"
II the Democratic party were the sam,
now rs In $50 we would have slavery ~
established and the war amendments multi
lied. Instead OF this we find the ncgr,
secure In his rights under Democratic rule
appointed Ia high Office under a Democratic
administration, invited h. social gathering
nj the executive mansion, ns seen IN the lar
that our peerless Frederick Douglass la,
been the honorcd guest OF our wise AM
patriotic President on state occasions TIL,
Democratic party does not 10 it, whole dut,
10y the negro what party docsil. but | canno
say that Il Is hostile 10 our interests. Ash
party the Democracy, ! grant Is not ~ lii
cral IN Us treatment II the negro A. Il should
bo-not by any means. The prcIudiccs o.
generations 10 not die In a day. but Will,
this n true, no intelligent and fair persof
will deny that the Democratic party Il grow
ing IN llhcmlity and in knowledge.
Since lsGO new generation has come "a
the front In both races aud In both parties
sumner, John Brown. lien Wade, Morton
uruley, smith, Garrison, Phillips ct Id
umnc genus have pissrd into history AMI
men without special convictions II duty 10
ward the negy or unscliish interest M him
control the Republican party. JEFF Davis
Bob IOomhs and such men arc no longrl
leading the Democratic party; but Cleveland
Manning. Hin, Randall, Brown, Abbott
lioallcy aud Others, who werr youths h
ls01, now guide the party " Jefferson. Madi
son, Monroe and Jackson. and the tcn,lcnc,
ot these present Democratic leaders l. toWar,
| greater libcmlity and fair dealing la tbrIl
contact with their cnlorcI frllnw.ci,i,.ns.
Nor Is the colorcd race what ID was twenty
five year, HFo. Many II the older men bay,
| progressive ideas, and the Young mon ren,
history with their eyes aud not with thri
prriuliccs They know tho real cane.
agencies and motives lcidingtn the nholitio,
OF slavery and 10 the cnimnch,,omcnt of nm,
negroes aud while they give the RcpubIi
can party due credit Tor H. achievements II
the past they do not feel that tbcy wu.t 4.
blind pariisans forever borau.r III an Inc
mary debt Of gratitude. And they go fpr
Their. They believe that u l. bcst fnr an,
| colorcd vote to divide itself between A., ty',
| partiCs-best for the colorcd poople apJ Lc.
Tor the country, and seeing iho sh1prr1 M
tiiudc 81 the Democracy they are disrn.,,
20 cooperate with this party.
answer your third aud 18th oucsti.r
frankly by saying that do believe ibat Mr
Cleveland u IN advance u tho bull NJ nh
party In his views upon .ey,r,l
public questions and in his iic,,
81 public. policy, particularly ,oW,rl
tlc. colorcd people. lie Is an exceed
ingly lo,Ial an1 progressive man. Rcmem