The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-13

IOrty-nlne delegates present. ltTesolNcu
itself into State convention, and the
usual committees were appointed. The
session was secret.
A State ticket was nominated. The
meeting being held with closed doors,
very little of the business transacted is
known, but it is said the little conven-
ton was anything but harmonious.
A DEMOCRATIC SCHEME.
The convention was the result OF a
scheme engineered by Democratic poll.
ticians to delude the Republican colored
voters Of this State, hoping to draw them
from the support OF the Republican
ticket. No better evidence OF this fact
is needed than the circular call for the
convention. 1t has been circulated
among colored voters for some time, and
bears upon its face the Democratic
stamp.
Although the circular closes with the
hypocritiCal statement that this con-
ference is not called in the interest OF
either Of the old parties or individuals,
but purely in the interest OF our race" n
perusal OF the call is only necessary to
convince any one that 1t is really done
in the interest OF the Democratic party.
From first to lust it is TRADE of abuse
Of the Republican party, while the De-
mocracy Is handled very kindly.
In spite Of the fact that the Republi-
can party is the only party in West Vir;
ginia that has ever given the coIored
voter recognition, and the further fact
that the Democracy cannot point to
single net in convention in this State
showing either its recognition OF or
friendliness fol the negro, the circular
unblushingly states that the colored
man owes nothing to the Republican
party but ccnsure. Notwithstanding
the facts Of history, which show that it
was the Republican party of the nation
that gave to the negro the right OF suf:
frage against Democratic opposition, and
that every measure that has ever passed
Congress or Legislature giving the freed
men any political or civil rights what
ever, in the face OF the opposition OF the
Democratic party, this circular states
that the Colored race have been victims
Of Republican trickery.
No true col0red man will be deceived
by the scheme, which is q part Of the
Democratic plan OF campaign.
The following are a few extracts from
the circular referred TO, WHICH is signed
by Sharp Hayden, OF Hamlin, Lincoln
county, and ten others, presumably col
ored men who have been induced by the
Democratic managers to append their
names:
SOME EXTRACTS.
It is headed attention Independent
Colored Voters" and begins as follows:
"After twentyycarsof political slavery
in this State, and that slavery, too, has
been superinduced by the political
chlcanery OF the Republican party, who
for twenty-five years, have made the
greatest pretensions ofbeing our friends.
But the political history from 1868, down
to the present time proves otherwise,
and the trickery and deception rs prac-
ticed by the Republican party becomes
more gfaring each year. And to-day we
are simply the "hewers OF wood and
drawers 'ei water" as We have been in
the past. For twenty-five years we have
voted and worked in the interest of
the Republican party. We have
fought for It's principles the voices
OF negro eloduence all oyer this
broad land Of ours, have upheld the
party banner, and especially SO in this
State, and what has the race received at
the hands OF he.Republican party? In
letters OF shame, the whispering breeZes
answer nothing All over the country,
our race Is becoming aroused, the seal oil
political darkness is falling from their
ewes, and they are discovering fast,
that they have been plant tools in the
hands OF the "grand old party" whose
mission MS far as our race was concerned
in this State, was simply TO catch and
hold his vote by tricltery and lying, to
help place white men in Office. But
what has the dear old party, Of equal
rights.before the law, in its history in
this State when ever, and wherever Qn
opportunity presented itself, giv0n the
Negro any representation.
1--WE have plead with the party, and on
bended knees, We have implored them,
but what avail has ii been. The history
OF the party in the State toward the race
needs no comment by us. let us look
for a moment at the damnNbie, horrible,
soul-destroying and aCcursed laws, en-
acted at the very formation OF this State
Government. and these deadly laws,
chrystalised in the constitution OF the
State, and when the race remember that
this State WINS under the control Of the
Republican party, the hideousness OF
the crime becomes more damnable Us
we peruse the accused laws, and. when
we remember, too, that said laws are the
work OF the Republican party, the
negr0's irieadI The N9nstitHtian OF this
State was proposed by Republicans and
ratified in 1868. Article III, Section |,
declares, the white male citizens Of this
State shall be entitled to vote at all cleo
tions held within the distriCtwhich they
respectively reside, etc, Section 4, of the
SAME article, provides that no person ex'
cept citizens entitled to vote shall be
elected or appointed toany State, county
or municipal office, etc. The most illit-
crate negro can Immediately see by the
above section OF law, that the very Yitals
OF his life as an American citizen had
been annihilated so far as the law and
the Republican party in this State could
do it."
After references to some laws passed
by the Republican party while G6lored
men were yet slaves, and which art
evidently
PURPosELY MIscoNsTRuED
the circular continues: The Language
is verbatim.)
"Counties that are overwhelming Re
publican, and are carried year after year
but in the history OF the party, wheI
did they ever offer to put colored maj
OH the ticket2 The cry OF the Republi
can party when appealed to by our rae,
is this:
Premature! Prematurel It will Kill
the ticket. Yet they expect US year afte
wear TO be led like lambs to the slapgh
Ter and vote the ticket. But thanl
heaven the signs Of the time Indicate
! that there is a gigantic revolt airead,
inaugurated TO break away from til
party and contend manfully in tn
great political arena for our rights de
4.