The Washington bee., 1888-07-07
heaven and earth than was ever
dreamed of in their philosophy"
COLORED DEMOCRATS
WILL CONFER.
AN INVITATION TO ALL COLORED IN
DEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS TO
MEET AT INDIANAPOLIS.

| hS "ho SloLS0 III hO OCh vi
Monday, June Is, the colored
voters of the United States, a
large majority of whom have
heretofore supported the nominees
of the Republican party, have
been made a doubtful political
force by the treatment they have
received from the Republican
party since 1875, and are by no
means reconciled as mass to the
platform and the nominees of the
Chicago Convention.
For some time past a confer
ence of colored independents and
Democrats has been among the
things talked of, but it is only
now that the suggestion has taken
tangible shape. The following
circular letter is being extensively
circulated throughout the country:
This year of grace 1888 will
witness a struggle between the
two great parties in this country
uneqnalled by any polite Il con-
test that has ever transpired since
the formation of our Government
While it requires no political seer
to predict that the party now in
power will exert itself to the ut
most to retain what it is in pos
session cf, it is also patent to any
man of ordinary intelligence that
the Republican party will use her.
culeau efforts to regain what it
lost in 1884, knowing, as it does,
that a repetition this year of a
similar result would mean an in
definite postponement OF it's hopes
of again becoming a controlling
factor in American politics. De-
feat to the Republicans this year
will, no doubt, lead to disinte-
grafton of their party and its re-
legation to other like organiza-
tions that haved lived, flourish
ed for a time. and, having out
lived their usefulness, are now
'numbered among the things
that were.''
Having thus briefly indicated
what the Democratic party and
the Republican party will each
contend for at the impending
election, the former for continu-
alton of the power it gained in
1884, the latter for "victory or
death" it is our opinion that the
question which ought to present
itself to the minds of the thinking
colored men of the country, para
mount to all others, is this:
What part are we going to act in
the great political drama of 1888?
Are we to stand cup and be
counted By this party or that" :"
like so many dumb driven cattle,
or, on the other hand, are We
going to act as men, each in ac-
cordance with his own uncoerced
conviction, and vote with that
party which he may deem most
likely to promote the interest of
himself and race?
1t is our opinion that more in
dividuality and less clannishness
on the part of colored people in
politics will place them on
higher plane in the estimation of
the dominant race of this conutry
than they have occupied since
their incorporation into the body
polite.
Acting under the conviction
that it would be wisdom on the
part of the great body of negro
American voters TO be an inde-
pendent and unknown quantity
in the present contest, and that
''In the multitude of counsel there
is WISDOM . we therefore take the
liberty of hereby inviting you to
attend conference of colored
men to be held at the city of
Indianapolis, Ind, ON Wednesday,
July 25, 1888, for the purpose OF
considering what recommends
tons may be decided upon as best
to promul gate to the colored cleo
tors of the conutry.
Let it be distinctly understood
that the proposed conference is
not called in the interest of any
particular party or individual,
but purely of the negro.
Hoping that you will attend at
the time and place indicated, and
that you will advise us as early
as practicable, We are;
E. q. Walker, Massachusetts,
Joseph Houser, Illinois; VIM. 7.
4