San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-27
AUSTIN LETTER.
Rev. Mac Henson Discusses the
Negro and Politics-Compli-
mentS Gov. Ross.

1t has been sometime since L pre-
scented a draft on your time and pa
tience. The material for newspaper
articles are so abundant one can
scarcely resist the temptation to
group many of the important subjects
under single head.
Austin is moving onward with high
aspirations, hopes and fears of the
future. Our city has discharged from
police duty the only two colored rep
resentatives on the force. There are
no explanations given for this unex-
pected result, Notwithstanding the
feelings and interests to colored tax
payers and their rights. No one
doubts the efficiency of the present
force though, composed of our
white fellow citizens. There seems to
be great fear of negro domination,
in many portions of our glorious
country; it is hoped that hitherto fair
dealing Austin has not lost her
moral courage again to fear. Those
who howl about this being white
mans country and negro domination,
ETC., gather inspiration from the in
fernal regions. They forget that
there is something more to be dread
ed in the importation of half million
of strangers into our country annual
| ly; with these, creeps in an element
of vipers that will sting to death those
who are nesting them into life. The
negro has never defied the laws of the
country as have the Mormons and
dynamters; and the lawless
bands who prowl about numbering
negroes under cover or darkness. To
put an end to these outrages requires
| craftsmanship, and an exercise of
hitherto unknown jurisprudence.
Politics both local, and national: and
cotton picking are the chorus we sing,
to the times, the monotonous "hard
times" We regard the above
problems, as the unknown quantities;
and time alone, must furnish the sOlu-
| ton; and we are glad that wide
awake negroes, are waiting the
results, but they are working like
beavers while they wait. The cam
paign opened up grandly in our city
last Thursday night, on Robinson
Hill, where is strong negro popula-
ton, we can't understand why it
should blaze out so brilliantly among
this people; for they have prOfited by
the lessons of the past, in local as well
as national politics. If men are
elected to office who are afraid to
allow negro the rights of the COM
mon suffrages of the land, need
not calculate on the thoughtful ele-
ment, among our people. The ten
| thousand negroes lynched since 1915
in states governed by democratic adj
ministratiOns, besides thousands
driven from their hard earned homes,
withoutjudge or jury, are strong in
ducements for thinking, and intelli-
gent negroes to cast their ballots for
that element which hates them for no
reason, worse that Satan hates holy
water, and damns the negro 365 days
in the year simply because he is free.
Mr.. Editor, to speak plainly on this
subject, the negroes of America are
more determined to be free now then
they were when that immortal Lin
coin, that unequaled patriot and
nation of emancipation, January 1st,
A. d. 1868.
And we are quite certain that the
,4S7, 1923 negro voters in America, will
remember their friends at the ballot
box when election day rolls around;
no difference how they are counted,
they will for, the most part be cast
right. We have but little faith in the
new parties. We will not be hood
winked nor cajoled by the prohibition
craze, which has caused so much ill
feeling, among hitherto good friends;
we are not likely to pay homage at the
shrines of strange Gods. The man
hood of America, will rise in its ma
jesty, and see to it that fair count, as
well as clean ballot be had in every
hamlet and precinct of this country.
The force at work against this indy
ing principal, of American suffrage and
constitutional liberty can not long sur
vive on American soil. He'll, with all
it's unclaimed hounds, which go
providing through the dark, and less
protected hooks of the land, can't keep
back the final triumphs of rights over
the unblushing wrongs, stalking and
unrebuked, such as cause the arch
angels to hide their faces and weep.
The writer and thousands of his COM
panions in sorrow may be driven from
their homes for opinions and choice
sake; yea, shot or hanged to death,
but this righteous cause can not be so
easily disposed of. Sanctioned in
many instances by peace officers, the
merriest coward can shout "a niggar
uprisingW "a niggar uprising!" and |
get the aid of the state militia to put
it down.
Thank God, Texas can boast of a |
pohla damonrat his ayca11anov Gov |