The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-04-26
have no faith in these quick political
conversions. However 60 in lemons
and get squeezed.
PRESIDENT HARRISON AND THE
NEGRO.

DOo" Lie IuCeFVleW from
which these extracts are taken has
never been denied by the president
or any one for him, on the contrary
almost every leading party organ en-
dorses the interview as being just the
thing. Every colored man ought to
read them.
THE RACE QUESTION TO BE DROPPED.
$50 long, he said, as the parties
we're divided on the race question the
country would be divided by sections,
because the great mass of the negroes
reside in the South, and the North
ern people do not understand the
peculiar condition in which a white
property owner .cound himself in a
community where ignorant negroes
were III an overwhelming majority.
He said that his mission would be to
make the economic question the d.
viding line between parties in the
South instead of the race question.
He said it was his intention to ap-
point to Office III the South only such
men as enjoyed the entire confidence
and respect Of the communities IN
which they resided, irrespective Of
party"
HAS NO USE FOR NEGROES.
ale said he was convinced that it
would not be good policy for any
party to appoint negroes to promi-
nent Federal Offices in the South.
He said he had discussed the matter
carefully with several liberalminded
Southern men during the past few
months, and Was fully convinced that
while Southern communities were
ready to treat the negro fairly, that
is, protect him in his property; pro-
tect his life and person, and in gen.
erAl way treat him kindly; but that
the whites Of the South would never
be satisfied so long as the negroes
were placed in a position signifying
race equality, or giving negroes gov
erning power over white men. lie
said he was free to say that he rather
sympathized with this prejudice.
He said there were a number of
negroes in Indianapolis, and that
while many Of them, perhaps most
Of them, were good, honest, hard
working men, still he would not care
to have one Of them Mayor Of his
city, or Sheriff of his county; that
he would not ctre to practice before
Negro judge nor to live next door
to Negro"
Now while one :uay not care a
cent about who may get appoint
ments. or for the offices, still it is a
political custom to give offices to
those whose votes are needed. This
being the custom, its neglect carries
with it the intention to abandon those
they no longer wanr; aid when the
president himself sympathizas with
those who oppose the colored men
south, and says he has no use for the
Negro, then it is time that the Negro
! should begin to think of his future
Mr.. Harrison, like others of his
aristocratie class, does not see but
one side Of the Negro question.
Unfortunately FIR Us, he sees only
the ex-re5ei's side. IL DIES not
recognize that the Negro is advanc-
ing rapidly, and is no longer the
Ignorant Negro of % yeas ago,
That Mr.. Harrison and his fore
fathers enforced upon the Negro his
ignorance, aud that the wealth that
il now used against him is his own
but was stolen from him by the men
whom Mr.. Harrison takes kindly by
the hand and sympathises with, be
cause the Negro dares aspire to b
voted for, or asks an office from the
party that he has lifted into power
Is it to be supposed that the
\ ,,harn white man will take more