The Washington bee., 1889-06-22
OUR LEADERS?

- 01S 4tSSto GA RSSto W oOhAAD
political recognition, he must make
himself political force. By this
we mean that he must initiate
white men in politics, white men
who today count for more, in
the estimation of this administra-
ton, and of those preceding it,
than all the Negro race put to-
gether.
Some of US are foolish enough
to imagine that we are big pota-
toes in the political busheI basket.
The truth is that Te are d mighty
poor example OF potato tops. With
the aid of mercenary and unscru
pulous Negroes who have had
themselves labeled as our leaders
have nearly gone to seed as it
is possible for race to 60.
The cowardice OF the men who
have grown fat and prosperous
through our blind faith in their
hypocritical professions, is the
fonlest and blackest blot on the es-
cutcheon ofthe representative? ne
groes whose eagerness to abandon
the race they have betrayed and
deceived, is only equalled by their
monumental gall, III still wishing
prominence, place and power, at
the hand of this administration in
return for services rendered at the
usual rates. The greed for office
has ruined the Negro. He is
chronic office seeker, and has to a
large extent suborinated every
other interest to Office getting. He
has found this a profitable, most
lucrative business, aud be would
sacrifice his mother inlaw, all his
poor relation, and b race for the
empty h"n 'rs, VIII ch lInger around
government position. No race
of men enjoy this sort of nothing
more than colored men. In politics;
they make all awful noise, an
eloquent speech, they sway great
mulitudes by the power of their
learning, logic, and oratrory.
They use great swelling words in
picturing out the danger to the
Republic in ignoring the Negro,
but they do nothing toward max
ing the Negro as dangerous as he
should be, as a political force.
There's lot of sham and humbug
about these leaders, and especially
those who have led themselves
into the secret fields of political
Eden for the last quarter of cen
tury. They have found out that
ignorant Negroes are very neces
sary 10 the success of those who
desire 10 trade on their mental
poverty. Up to date the scheme
has been worked with gratifying
results.
But the Negro Is fast realizing
the truth and force of Groyer
Cleveland's famous axiom; 'sthat
it is a condition that confronts US
not a theory" We have had our
fill Of theories and theorist, We
now want old frozen facts.
We want man who will not
isolate himself from the race, who
will not temporize with the enc
mics or apologize to white men
for the vices it has inherited from
them. We want man who Can
afford to do without an office in
order that he can speak his real
sentiments without resort to diplo-
matte lying, and a man who will
|, bend every energy and resort to
every legitimate end to make the
race a political force all over this
country. We want a NEGRO lead
er, a Negro whose every interest
is identified with those of his cli-
entale, whose heart will be in his
work and whose works will speak
for themselves. Have we such a
man, if not let US raise up a man
and stand by him with our pocket
books aud moral support. We
could sustain a leader of this
stamp easily and lib, rally. Men
come to me from time to time ia
say just what [ have already said;
they are restless and dissatisfied
they feel that somebody Is trying
to make fools of them, they com :
plain of the Indifference of the
80 called leaders-of their selfish
ness and exclusiveness.