The Washington bee., 1889-04-06
AN EQUITABLE DISTRlBU.
TON.

OF an equitable dlstrlDuCl"n III
Federal patronage among the COL
ored people upon such basis a.
will insure the largest race benefit
and most wide spread satisfaction
We argued that the be-towal of
uaalay small ffices would do more
good in tie way Of substantial
help and race advancement than
the bestowal of a uery fen large
ones. We claim that some of our
coIored asplrants objected to this
policy, on the ground that it sub
stantlally waived all claims to due
hon rs which should righrfully
accrue TO the colored people by
reason of their party fidelity and
fitness. They urge that em rlu-
ment is not the only thi"g neces-
sary to satisfy the colored people.
That the colored people are
entitl' d to recognition in the
higher offices is granted. Every
sensible colored man IN the coun-
try desires To see his race honored
by high official rec 'gnition.
We are In favor OF the bestowal
of these honors. But that is not
the whole matter. Hitherto re
publican presidents have deemed
il quite srfficient to dole out a few
ordinary offic, sto few extraordina>
ry culored men, and have thought
this meagre recognition quite
satisfactory to the race. And,
while it can justly be said that the
fidelity OF the colored man to the
party is not and never has been
conditioned upon prospective
official recognition, yet, since men
are given places of emolument and
honor on account OF their repre-
sentative character, it is but
reasonable that no distinction
should be expected when the cases
of colored representatives are
considered. The colored voter is
learning to expect all that belongs
to him and will probably direct
his coutse in the future in a man
ner which will be best calculated
to obtain it. And in the light of
experience as it las been furnish
ed by previous administrations,
the question is, which is to be
preferred, q policy which places
substantial aid in the hands of
thousands, or one which places
some two or three colored men
in office of considerable honor
and emolument? If this question
was fairly answered, the colored
people would have both a goodly
number of high offices and a much
larger number of small ones.
1t is true that We expect to see
a departure on the part of Presi.
dent Harrison. But if there be
any doubt as to the policy OF
giving a full share of patronage
let 1T be understood that the
policy of giving a few Offices to 6
few so called leaders does not
meet either the desires or the
demands of the celored people
There is a growth OF young think
ing men who can and will DE-
much during the next four years
who should be encouraged anC
assisted. 1t is neither desirable
nor prof able to ignore them, anc
we think that Mr.. Harrison es
Inmates the value of this rising
element. And it will not b,
difficult for our president to d.
justly by US. He makes owe
100000 appointments, each o
which controls on an average o
ten other appointments. With I
million appointments, dlrectl.
and indirectly at his disposal, i
would seem that the col"red pee
pies claim might easily be allow
ed. How small it must seem t.
give to a class of citizeus holdin!
tue balance of power IN the mos
important republican states, but
few dozens of offices. large am
small all told, when there are sue
resources to draw from! Let ;h
negro have justice. Place him il
positions where he can show hi
capacity aid make himself meas
ureabIy independent and he vii
soon show that he is progressive
in every sense which that tern
implies. Let the manliness am
bravery of our president be mani
tested in square, pretty thing an
he will do honor to himself an
bestow q lasting benefit on strug
Cling race. Give US few larg
offices and ELL up the measur
NTH q eoodly numhar of sBnal