Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-04
For the COlored People.

All classes of men except the colored peo-
pie themselves know that the republicans
use the negro in politics as cat 8 paw to
serve their own selfish interests. Another
evidence of this is found in a recent letter
from prominent white republican from
the "black district to Mr.. John s. Wise.
The writer tells Mr.. Wise that his propos.
ed plan of organization is all right for the
white counties, but will turn over the re-
publicans of the black district bag and bag
gage to the ''worst set of cut-throats that
ever disgraced a political party"
Continuing, the writer says:
"We have in this county about five hum
dred white republicans who do not attend
precinct meetings, and about fifteen hum
dred black ones who do. The result is
that no decent man can be elected from
any such meeting. The negroes take
charge and almost invariably elect the most
noisy one they can find to the position they
are called together to fill. Our last county
convention was composed entirely of
negroes, the only white man in it being
- who called the convention to or.
der by means of his having been county
chairman. Under your plan even that
much will be denied us, and we will again
have negro county chairmen.
When you place negroes in official posi-.
lions in the party, you only increase their
value to the democratic politicians who buy
them whenever we have contest for town
and county officers. The unpurchassable
negroes are like the whites, and will not
attend the. noisy and disgusting precinct
meetings, so that as ] said before the venal
and corrupt are the ones who are placed in
positions of authority
He concludes that the kickers in the
party are not kicking SO much against the
present organization as against the rule of
Malone and that their object is to force
Gen. Malone to step down and out; and
when that is done, he says, the party will
drop back into it's chronic comatose condi-
ton.
1t is evident that this writer is Ma
honeite and his reference to the colored
people may be taken as fair expression of
the views of the rest of the Malone peo-
pie in the black belt. It is here admitted
that the negroes in the black district are
not fit to rule, 'tbecause they.ars venal and
corrupt and ignorant" and yet the Ma
honeites are willing sto combine with such
people to defeat the democrats, provided
only that the white republicans can control
the organization and secure the offices.
They are violently opposed to negro rule
for themselves, but would force it upon the
democrats.
The colored people are ignorant indeed
to suffer themselves to be led to this politi
cal slaughter. For years they have taken
up with anybody who would lead them
against the democrats, and have voted al
most solidly against the best interests of
the people with whom they are associated,
and the only object they have attained is
to pnt lot of political Adventures in Of
fee. The letter of the prominent rspub-
lioan. from which we quote, ought to
show the colored people the true estimate
put upon them by their alleged political
friends, but we have no hope that it will
serve any such q purpose.
The colored people belong to the class of
persons, who, having eyes, see not, and
ears, hear not the things that SO intimately
concern them. We have no words of re-
proach for them; we rather feel sorry for
people who suffer themselves 10 be duped
aud deceived and used for purpose by
men who despise them and who throw them
the crumbs. when they have eaten to their
fill.-D0nrille Register.