Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-12

The colored people did not intrude themselves
upon usj they were brought here In chains and
held In the communities where they now
chiefly found by a cruel slave code. Happily
Tor both races, they are now Free They have,
from standpoint OF ignorance and pow
erty, which was our shame, not theirs,
made remarkable advances In educa-
tion, and In the acquisition Of property. They
have, as people shown themselves to be
friendly and faithful toward the white
under temptations OF tremendous strength.
They have their representatives in the
national cemeteries, where grateful govern
ment has gathered the ashes of those who
died in its defense. They have furnished to
our regular army regiments that have won high
praise from their commanding officers for cour-
age and soldierly qualities, and for fidelity to
the enlistment oath. In civil life they are now
the toilers Of their communities, making their
full contribution to the widening streams of
prosperity which these communities
ceiving. Their sudden withdrawal would stop
production and bring disorder into the house
hold as well as the shop. Generally they do
not desire to quit their homes, and their en-
ployers resent the interference of the emigra-
ton agents who seek to stimulate such de-
sire. But, notwithstanding all this, in many
parts OF our country, where the colored popu-
lation is large, the people OF that race are, by
various devices, deprived Of any effective exer-
else OF their political rights and OF many OF
their civil rights The wrong does not expend
itself upon those whose votes are suppressed.
Every constituency in the Union is wronged..
IT has been the hope OF every patriot that a
sense OF Justice and respect for the law would
work a gradual cure for these fragrant evils.
Surely, no one supposes that the present can
be accepted as permanent condition. III II is
said that these communities must work out this
problem for themselves, we have a right TO ask
whether thoy at work upon it, Do they sug-
gest any solution? When and under what condi-
tions is the black man TO have a free ballot2
When IL he in fact, to have those full civil
rights which have so long been his in law? When
is that equality Of influence which our form OF
government has intended to secure to the
electors to be restored? This generation should
courageous1y face these grave questions, and
not leave them as a heritage Of woe to the next.
IA will
calmness, and great patience, upon the lines OF
justice and humanity not of prejudice and
cruelty. No question In our country can be at
rest except upon the firm basis OF justice and OF
the law.
earnestly invoke the attention of Congress
TO the consideration of such measures within
its well defined constitutional powers will
secure 10 all people free exercise of the
right OF suffrage and every other civil right
under the Constitution and laws OF the United
States
Supervision of National Elections.
Evil, however deplorablo, can not justify the
assertion either on the part Of the Executive or
VI i be bebv PSISmabs an he Dno
granted mot wisely but firmly used to
correct these evils. The power to take the
whole direction and control of the election OF
members OF the House OF Representatives is
clearly shown by the General Government.
partial and qualified supervision of these
elections is now provided for by law AMI
in my opinion this law may be so strengthened
and extended as to secure on the whole better
results than can be attained by a law taking all
the processes Of such election into Federal con-
troll The colored man should be protected in
all of his relations to the Federal Government,
whether a litigant, juror, or witness in our
courts as an elector for members OF Congress,
or as peaceful traveller upon our interstate
railways.
Our Merchant Marine.
There is nothing more justly humiliating to
the national pride and nothing more hurtful to
the national prosperity than the inferiority of
our merchant marine compared with that OF
other nations. 1t was not always so, and our
people are agreed, think, that it shall not con-
tinue to be 80. That tho great steamship lines
sailing under the flags OF England, France,
Germany, Spain and Italy. and engaged
in foreign commerce. were promoted, and
have since been and now are literally
aided, by grants of public money, in one form
american lines OF steamsSips have been Sbs sIe
doned by US TO an unequal contest with the
aided lines Of other nations until they have
been Withdrawn, or, I'm the few cases where they
still maintained, subject to serious dis
advantages is a matter of common knowledge.
The present situations such that travellers
and merchandise find Liverpool often q neces-
sary intermediate port between New York
and some of the South American capitals.
The fact that some Of the delegates from
South American states to the conference of
American nations now in session at Washing
ton reached our shores by reversing that line
of travel, Is very conclusive of the need OF such
a conference and very suggestive as to the first
and most necessary step in the direction q
fuller and more beneficial intercourse with
IlOnb buhJ dEo HOW our neiBnDOTb upon Inc llneu
of latitude, but not upon the lines Of estab-
lished commercial intercourse
Our Foreign Commerce.
am an advocate OF economy in our national
expenditures, but 1t is a misuse OF terms to make
this word describe q policy that withholds an
expenditure for the purpose OF extending
our foreign commerce. The enlargement and
improvement of our merchant marine, the
development OF sufficient body of
trained American seamen, the promo
ton Of rapid and regular mail com
munication between the ports OF other coun-
tries and our own and the adoption OF large
and swift American merchant steamships to
naval uses, in time of war; are public pur-
poses OF the highest concern. The enlarged
participation OF our people in the
rying trade, the new and increased
markets that will be opened for the
products of our farms and factories and the
fuller and better employment of our mechanics,
which will result from n liberal Promotion OF
our foreign commerce, insure the widest possi-
diff ain Of 10 oil Ia and