The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-13
Kellogg and the BLACKS.

Ex-senator Kellogg. who says that be is
citizen of louisiana, though he is seldom
in that state, has succeeded in creating
quite scare among the republican leaders
with respect TO the black vote. 1t is asserted
that even the President is alarmed, and that
he inspired an interview in one of the Wash
ington newspapers in which ex-senator
Bruce Of Mississippi. colored man, said
that Kellogg was mistaken when he asserted
that the blacks were dissatisfied with the
administration. and were deserving the Re-
publican party. 1t is always difficult TO de-
termine whether or not Kellogg means what
he says when he is speaking about political
matters. He attributed the defeat of the
republicans in Ohio, Iowa, Virginia and
New York, in the recent elections, to the
refusal Of the blacks to vote. He may
believe that they are dissatisfied with the
treatment which they have received from
the administration, or it may be that he
wants a few blacks to whom he owes
political debts appointed to office, and is
endeavoring to scare the President into ap-
pointing them.
IL is probably true, however, that the
black leaders who have not received offices
are dissatisfied, and that they would not
hesitate to throw their influence against the
Republican party if they thought they could
advance their political fortunes by doing
50. The most of them are republicans for
what they hope to get out of politics, rather
than because they believe in the principles
of the Republican party. As for the masses
of the blacks, they are republicans, as rule,
because they have been led to believe that
the Republican party is more friendly to
them than the Democratic party. While it
is true that they are not as strongly in favor
OF the Republican party as they once were,
it is doubtful if anything the administra-
ton has done, or left undone, bad the effect
of keeping them away from the polls in the
states which held elections last week. The
truth is, doubtless, that they are finding
out that they are just as we'll off under a
democratic as under a republican admins
tration, and they see no reason why they
should take the trouble to vote when they
have nothing to gain.
II is probable that if political agents were
sent among them to organize them, and
special effort was made to get them to the
polls, the greatmajority of them would con-
sent e, vote, but they would do SO not be-
causeoq they felt particularly inter
ested in the result of the election,
but because they were urged. All of
them remember Mr.. Cleveland's admin is
tration, and the most of them know that he
appointed more blacks to office than Presi-
dent Harrison has; and they also know that
their rights were as carefully protected
when he was President as they have been
at any other time. They feel, therefore,
that they can get on the fence and wait
until the Republican party is so badly
scared that it will give them all they want.
There are some pretty shrewd politicians
among the blacks. They know that in
several of the states they bold the balance
of power, and it would not be surprising if
in 1892 they should say to the Republican
party that they wanted to know before the
beginning of the campaign just what their
share of the spoilS would be if the Repub-
hcan party should be successful. Kellogg
and few other white republicans could be
depended upon to direct them as to the kind
of demand they should make