The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-01
THE NEGROES IN POLITICS.

ection, and the negroes, or those OF
1em who have sense enough to think
bout such things, are wondering as to
hat share of the fruits of victory will +
e accorded to them. Some of rho
lore intelligent and more ana stso,,a
mong the blacks, whateve NAV No
heir ideas as to the right np.ness If The
roposition, would Ii "a all the fat Of
oeS gong; others less bright, seem to
MINK II Is IN outrage that every
egro IN thu land is yet at
easE led and clothed 10y the
federal government. The Repubi-
San 'oTs.cors also on the stump profess
sTesE grief that so few black men are in
edice. After election, however, these
orators are not tro1bled ever the fate of
the African contingent of our popula-
ton.
There are indications that special eff
forts will be put forth during the cana
paign now opening 20 make the negro
vote as large as possible, and each party
will do all in it's power to capture that
vote. The Democrats are anxious to
convince the freedmen that the Repub-
licans are ungratetul to the blacks,
and the Republicans want to
make it appear that the negroes are
kept in the background by the Demo-
Gratis, who deny them free ballot and
fair count. Much consideration and
large reward will be promised the blacks
by both parties. So far as the negroes
are concerned, however, the promises
will never be realized, no matter which
party wins at the polls.
It is about time that the freedmen
came to understand the true situation
as regards themselves and the
political parties. 1t would have
been to their interest if they
had learned the truth earlier.
That truth is simply this-brains, cum
ming and ability to command votes, win
in politics. This is true of blacks and
whites alike, and will continue true to
the end of time. The whites, neither
Republicans nor Democrats, are going
to confer honors and power ard money
on the blacks simply because of the
color of the latter's skin. In some few
instances this has been done, but it
didn't work we'll, and will not be
practiced generally, if at ali, no matter
what the party leaders may promise.
The white politician wins on his merits,
his skill as manipulation or his ability
to command votes, and not
because he is white. He doesn't say Il
am ignorant, un educated and incapa.
bic, but my skin is white, and therefore
l should be given the Office" Nor does
he sit back and sulk and whine when
people do not vote for him. The negro
must do the same. That is to say, he
must win on his inherent merit, and
not on his black skin. If he wants
Office he must show his itness for it,
and convince the voters of the fact.
He must not trust to his black Skin
for there is neither ability, political
cunning Tor vote-Winning qualities in
that.
The prejudice against the negro is
softening and gradually passing away
leu years ago it was SO intense that
comparatively few people would toler-
ate the negro in social equality sense
even to the entent of seeming recog-
milton of his equality. To-day the
black man is encountered everywhere
at the best theatres, in leading hotels
occupying frst-class railway cars,
standing at bars by the side of the blue
bloods, taking part in public meetings
and political conventions and enjoying
most of the social and alI
the political rights and privileges
of the white citizen. The whites
have gradually come to DO their duty,
or even more than their daty, towards
the blacks, and now the latter must
do for themselves. They have no right
to expect more, and if they do their ex-
pectations will not be realized. Their
advancement in future will depend en.
tirely upon themselves. They will get
Office and attain prominence in the af.
fairs of their neighborhoods and of the
nation only as they acquire education
and develop ability. Brains and train
ing wilt count with them as with whites,
aud neither more nor less. If one of them
shall show equal fitness with a white
he will be equally honored and trusted.
If the negroes will work during the
campaign and will vote next November
with the truth as here expressed in
their minds, they will do more wisely
than they have done in the past, and
will prove that they comprehend the
meaning of republican citizenship. If
they will work and vote as Republicans
and Democrats, according as they are
in sympathy with the doctrines of the
respective parties, they will show that
they are no longer negroes in tho
partisan, political sense, but are
citizens with the duties and obliga ions